1 What is the Clean Development Mechanism?
		What is covered by the definitions of 'afforestation' and 'reforestation'?
		Although afforestation and reforestation are the only eligible land-use activities in the CDM, there is some uncertainty over which definitions will be adopted. This is currently under review, with a decision expected at the 9th CoP, in 2003. The definitions in the official negotiating text, as of 2002, relate to Articles 3.3 and 3.4 of the Protocol (forest and land-use activities within developed countries):
		'Afforestation' is the direct human-induced conversion of land that has not been forested for a period of at least 50 years to forested land through planting, seeding and/or the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources. 'Reforestation' is the direct human-induced conversion of non-forested land to forested land through planting, seeding or human-induced promotion of natural seed sources, on land that was forested but that has been converted to non-forested land. For the first commitment period (2008-2012), reforestation activities will be limited to reforestation occurring on those lands that did not contain forest on 31 December 1989. 'Forest' is a minimum area of land of 0.05-1.0 hectares with tree crown cover of more than 10-30 per cent with trees with the potential to reach a minimum height of 2-5 meters at maturity in situ. A forest may consist either of closed forest formations, where trees of various storeys and undergrowth cover a high proportion of the ground or open forest. Young natural stands and all plantations which have yet to reach a crown density of 10-30 per cent or tree height of 2-5 metres are included under forest, as are areas normally forming part of the forest area which are temporarily unstocked as a result of human intervention such as harvesting or natural causes but which are expected to revert to forest.
		Even if these definitions are applied to the CDM, it is likely that developing-country governments will have to decide what definitions best apply to their natural ecosystems, within the scope of the definitions quoted here. The strict application of these definitions to CDM, however, would exclude any forest rehabilitation, revegetation, enrichment planting and natural regeneration type projects that did not involve the conversion of 'non-forest vegetation' to 'forest vegetation'. This would restrict the scope and possible benefits arising from CDM land use projects: Rehabilitating degraded areas: Face Foundation in Malaysia.
		What other CDM rules remain to be decided?
		Contact information		Glossary				Copyright information