Mangroves and coastal wetlands have long protected the Mississippi Delta from floods, but the degradation of those wetlands leaves the region more vulnerable to events like Hurricane Katrina. Carbon finance can help reverse the degradation – and new rules for developing bayou credits could make that finance possible.

Modern farming methods churn up soil and release carbon into the air, where it contributes to climate change. Ultra-modern methods conserve topsoil and increase production, trapping small amounts of carbon in the earth and plants. The Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project aims to leverage that little bit of carbon to spark an agriculture revolution.

 As the year draws to a close, the Forest Carbon Portal is taking a look back at the biggest stories of 2012. Take our reader's poll to choose your top ten:

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The developing and developed countries came together to develop the Durban Platform, an agreement to establish mandatory emissions caps.  But what happens until then?  Here is a "just-the-facts" look at the COP17 decisions that spell out interim activities and will inform the eventual treaty.