Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) [search] proposals to use carbon market monies to protect forests appear to be gathering steam [ark], something that Ecological Internet cautiously supports as long as it does not pay for first time logging of primary forests [search]. More of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems have already been lost and diminished than required to maintain an operable climate, all species and a fully operable biosphere. As we have written before, Earth needs more old forests and other natural habitats -- both strictly protected primary forests and restored old growth forests -- for continued existence.

Insofar as the carbon market can pay for this protection and restoration; without allowing over-developed countries to continue polluting, threaten indigenous and local land rights, while supporting community based ecoforestry uses of standing forests, they are worthy of support. If carbon monies pay for non-existent "sustainable management" and other industrial development of primary forests, replacing them with plantations and much diminished secondary forests (both in terms of biodiversity and carbon), it will facilitate the biosphere's continued decline. Old forest destruction must end to sustain Earth.

Others like RAN and Greenpeace [search] disagree and support first time "well-managed" ancient forest logging. They are dangerously wrong and will bear the shame of having enabled such activities at this critical juncture for global ecological sustainability.