Butler -Mongabay - December 2008 - REDD in the red- palm oil could undermine carbon payment schemes

[...]the economic viability of REDD schemes will depend on the profitability of alternative land uses. Oil palm agriculture has become a major driver of tropical deforestation over the last few decades. ... we model and compare the profitability of converting forest to oil palm versus conserving it for an REDD project[. ...]converting a hectare of forest for palm oil production will be more profitable to land owners than preserving it for carbon credits [..]restricted to voluntary carbon markets. Giving REDD credits price parity with carbon credits traded in compliance markets would boost the profitability of avoided deforestation.