Climate and biodiversity projects in Belarus and Ukraine: Re-wetting degraded peatlands Dr Zbigniew Karpowicz

Why peatlands? The already well-known facts: Peatlands are the most space effective stores of carbon In the boreal zone they contain seven times more carbon per ha than any other ecosystem Carbon is accumulated and stored as long as the peatland stays wet In Belarus, peatlands occupy 1,4 mln ha 50% of Belarusian peatlands were drained in 1950-1980 and drainage of peatlands leads to huge emissions

Yelnia raised bog Ramsar site Dziakuj / Thank you

Two projects 1. Belarus 2. Ukraine

Project overview In Belarus, with BirdLife partner APB: re-wetting 18,000 ha of degraded peatland (2008-2011); In Ukraine, with BirdLife partner USPB: re-wetting 20,000 ha of degraded peatland (2009-2012); Michael Succow Foundation, based in Germany, are a partner with key responsibility for the development of the GEST approach; Carbon experts from the Silvestrum Ltd, Emmer International, Climate Focus and Beyond Carbon are being contacted for specific tasks; Both projects seek to sell voluntary Carbon credits from the re- wetted areas, income that will be re-invested in the long-term management of sites to fund further restoration after the projects end

The 7-M approach Measuring CO2 equivalents – develop a methodology – the GEST method Making the VCU (Voluntary Carbon Units) Making the Rewetting Monetising of Rewetting Monitoring the Areas Managing the Areas Maximising the Approach

Measuring CO2 equivalents Greenhouse Gas Emission Site Types (GESTs) Synergy of vegetation and gas emissions to map/estimate the baseline emissions before rewetting and to monitor the emissions after rewetting

2. Making the VCU Avoidance model Joosten, Augustin, 2006 Avoidance model estimates GWP potential of natural and degraded mires (IMCG) links mire restoration with the amounts of avoided CO2-eq emissions

3 (i) Making the rewetting

3 (ii) Making the Rewetting Site selection according to desired specifications Maximize carbon Maximize biodiversity Compromise Other incentives

3 (iii) Making the Rewetting (procedure from Belarusian experience) Site selection according to desired specifications Work out the scientific baseline study Acquisition of rewetting permission (1 month) Development of engineering plan (3-5 months) Agreement of engineering plan by Ministry of Nature Resources (1 month) Ecological expertise (3 months) Call for tender of construction work Implementation of engineering activities (3-5 months) Inspection and approval of construction work, transfer under authority of land manager Monitoring

3 (iv) Making the Rewetting Total rewetting procedure takes 1.5 years Costs depend on size of peatland & complexity of construction works Range between 15 – 150 €/ha pict. Provided by A. Kozulin

4 . Monetise the rewetting - Offering credits Offering the VCUs to potential investors: * EC and USA industrial concerns * commercial groups outside the ETS ie. 3% Group * Carbon brokers/traders Explore Green Investment Schemes Preparing for post-Kyoto Joint Implementation

5. Monitor the sites Site by site regular monitoring scheme (remote sensing) Documentation of changes in: Plant and bird species, water level stability Condition of dykes, sluices and other restoration devices Verification of conditions (aim to build-up a centralised database to store and analyse the revealed data): Biodiversity characteristics Physical characteristics

6. Manage the Areas: Benefits from the Re-wetting For conservation (biodiversity) For climate (maintenance of carbon equivalents reductions over time, prevention of fires) For community (employment and rural re-renewal: biomass production as an alternative to peat as an energy source) For capacity building (strengthening technical, scientific and NGOs)

Neighbouring countries: Ukraine and Russia 7. Maximize the approach Neighbouring countries: Ukraine and Russia Degraded peatlands Restored peatlands Carbon credits Restoration Avoidance model Restoration Management Voluntary market (now) Kyoto market (JI, post-2012) Trust fund PA scheme

Results Belarus: 8840 ha re-wetted as of 1st September 2010; Negotiations underway with potential first buyer of voluntary carbon credits; Ongoing biodiversity monitoring taking place to demonstrate benefits to birds and biodiversity; Emissions reductions gains of 3-6 tonnes CO2 equivalents per hectare/per annum from the re-wetted sites; Ukraine: Re-wetting will begin in early 2011, half of which (10,000 ha) will be within the existing protected areas network; Preparations for the creation by USPB of a Carbon Fund and a Land Fund that would rent, manage and financially maintain the rewetted sites; Operational and technical lessons learnt from the Belarus project will be transferred to the Ukraine project.

All pictures by: S.Koltovich/A.Osipovich Location: Grichino-Starobinskoje rewetted peat extraction site: 3 years after rewetting

All pictures by: S.Koltovich/A.Osipovich Location: Grichino-Starobinskoje rewetted peat extraction site: 3 years after rewetting

Zbigniew Karpowicz, Programme Coordinator (zbig.karpowicz@rspb.org.uk) Dziakuj / Thank you Zbigniew Karpowicz, Programme Coordinator (zbig.karpowicz@rspb.org.uk)