ClearSky Climate Solution’s CEO, Keegan Eisenstadt, recently visited Madagascar.  We would like to share a few photos from his trip.

Dancing Sifaka Lemurs at a lemur sanctuary near Antananarivo, Madagascar. They bound about with an energy and precision that is astounding and inspiring!

First stages of mining activity in Madagascar. Forests are cleared for access to subsurface minerals. Trees are hand-felled at a slow daily rate to encourage biodiversity to relocate. Wood is then given to the communities that control the area. It is a gentle approach, but the outcome is still a destroyed forest.

Uneven aged, native species restoration trials in the highlands of Central Madagascar. Looking to rehabilitate a large deforestation event has led to field trials of various tree and grass species, as well as ‘foster ecosystem habitats’ for amphibians and reptiles. The lava rock pile is home to hand-transplanted reptiles and native epiphytes.

Village in the central highlands of Madagascar, as seen from the foundations of their new forest tree nursery. The community is part of a stakeholder engagement activity that could play a role in REDD+.

Last month, ClearSky Climate Solutions taught a two-day course, Carbon Offsets 101.  The class covered the entire start-to-finish process of creating a carbon offset project.  Course instructors, Stephen and Molly, began with teaching how to scope a potential idea, determine eligibility under the various carbon standards and trading markets, and what financing options exist for performing the necessary work.  They covered the analysis and modeling necessary to determine the carbon benefits of a project, the validation and verification process, and on-going project monitoring.  The second day was devoted to current events and group work, including a Climate Action Reserve webinar and a workshop to begin initial prefeasibility of participants’ projects.

The course was attended by individuals working within academia, environmental consulting, energy industry, conservation, and international development.  Participants thought, “It was a very good introductory course, it was well worthy my time and fun!” and, “It was one of the best trainings I’ve been to!”