On January 28 2019, our major partner organisation Group Training Northern Territory (GTNT) launched a new NGO and office in Dili. Known as COTI- Carbon Offsets Timor Leste, the aim is to consolidate carbon offset activities in Laclubar and Soibada with potential to expand within the area and beyond to other sites over time. The Facebook address is https://www.facebook.com/pg/COTI01/about/
The launch was addressed by Dr Jose Ramos Horta on Timor Leste in a Global context, and Mr Manual Mendes, Director General, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Dept of Forestry. CEO of COTI, Mr Alex Sarmento explained Community Forest Carbon and what has transpired in Timor Leste to date. Presentations were also given by the Director of the National Directorate of Climate Change, Mr Augusto Pinto; and Dr Adao Soares Barbosa, Director of UNTL Centre for Climate Change and Biodiversity and TL focal point to the UNFCCC.