 His first step as a green governor was to embrace the establishment of carbon trading in Aceh using the "REDD" mechanism, (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) to reinvigorate the faltering economy and prevent further destruction of Aceh's rainforests.Irwandi declared a moratorium on all logging in Aceh in March 2007, and personally drove out to villages to conduct spot inspections of former logging camps, encouraging the locals to take up sustainable new professions.However, in 2011, Irwandi's apparent pro-environmental efforts were abruptly halted and reversed.