USAID LEAF Regional Climate Change Curriculum Development Module: Carbon Measurement and Monitoring (CMM) Section 1. Overview of Climate Change and Forest Carbon 1.3. Role of forest carbon and forests in global climate negotiations

NameAffiliationNameAffiliation Deborah Lawrence, Co-leadUniversity of VirginiaMegan McGroddy, Co-leadUniversity of Virginia Bui The Doi, Co-leadVietnam Forestry UniversityAhmad Ainuddin NuruddinUniversiti Putra Malaysia Prasit Wang, Co-leadChiang Mai University, Thailand Mohd Nizam SaidUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Sapit DiloksumpunKasetsart University, ThailandPimonrat TiansawatChiang Mai University, Thailand Pasuta SunthornhaoKasetsart University, ThailandPanitnard TunjaiChiang Mai University, Thailand Wathinee SuanpagaKasetsart University, ThailandLawong BalunUniversity of Papua New Guinea Jessada PhattralerphongKasetsart University, ThailandMex Memisang PekiPNG University of Technology Pham Minh ToaiVietnam Forestry UniversityKim SobenRoyal University of Agriculture, Cambodia Nguyen The DzungVietnam Forestry UniversityPheng SoklineRoyal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Nguyen Hai HoaVietnam Forestry UniversitySeak SophatRoyal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Le Xuan TruongVietnam Forestry UniversityChoeun KimsengRoyal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Phan Thi Quynh NgaVinh University, VietnamRajendra ShresthaAsian Institute of Technology, Thailand Erin SwailsWinrock InternationalIsmail ParlanFRIM Malaysia Sarah WalkerWinrock InternationalNur Hajar Zamah ShariFRIM Malaysia Sandra BrownWinrock InternationalSamsudin MusaFRIM Malaysia Karen VandecarUS Forest ServiceLy Thi Minh HaiUSAID LEAF Vietnam Geoffrey BlateUS Forest ServiceDavid GanzUSAID LEAF Bangkok Chi PhamUSAID LEAF Bangkok

IOVERVIEW: CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST CARBON 1.1Overview: Tropical Forests and Climate Change 1.2Tropical forests, the global carbon cycle and climate change 1.3Role of forest carbon and forests in global climate negotiations 1.4Theoretical and practical challenges for forest-based climate mitigation IIFOREST CARBON STOCKS AND CHANGE 2.1Overview of forest carbon pools (stocks) 2.2Land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) and CO 2 emissions and sequestration 2.3Overview of Forest Carbon Measurement and Monitoring 2.4IPCC approach for carbon measurement and monitoring 2.5 Reference levels – Monitoring against a baseline (forest area, forest emissions) 2.6 Establishing Lam Dong’s Reference Level for Provincial REDD+ Action Plan : A Case Study IIICARBON MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING DESIGN 3.1Considerations in developing a monitoring system IVCARBON STOCK MEASUREMENT METHODS 4.1Forest Carbon Measurement and Monitoring 4.2Design of field sampling framework for carbon stock inventory 4.3Plot Design for Carbon Stock Inventory 4.4Forest Carbon Field Measurement Methods 4.5Carbon Stock Calculations and Available Tools 4.6Creating Activity Data and Emission Factors 4.7Carbon Emission from Selective Logging 4.8Monitoring non-CO 2 GHGs VNATIONAL SCALE MONITORING SYSTEMS

At the end of this session, learners will be able to:  Determine the essential steps for including forests in the international climate negotiations  Analyze how afforestation/reforestation (A/R) evolved into RED and then REDD+  Investigate the current issues in REDD+ negotiations  Evaluate the environmental, social, and political factors influencing the adoption of REDD+

 Lecture (60 minutes)  How has forest carbon been incorporated into action on global climate? What were the major steps?  How did A/R become RED and then REDD+?  What is the current status of REDD+?  Why is forest-based mitigation promising—environmentally, socially, and politically?  Pre-lecture assignment (two options, 60 minutes)  4 classroom activities, 3 background readings  Reference website

 Have students read all of Tracing the official role of forests in the international climate negotiationsTracing the official role of forests in the international climate negotiations  Have students create a time line for the inclusion of forests in the negotiations, note the  Name of text  Year of text  Treatment of forests

 Divide the class into groups of seven students  Each student will be assigned one of the seven texts to present to their group  Before class, or in class, break into groups and have each student present  Date  Major decision taken  Which countries are affected  How is forest/land use change treated

 How has forest carbon been incorporated into action on global climate? What were the major steps?  How did afforestation/reforestation (A/R) become RED and then REDD+?  What is the current status of REDD+?  Why is forest-based mitigation promising— environmentally, socially, and politically?

History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

 Who were the big emitters? Who were the big emitters? History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits What were the major drivers of GHG emissions?

 What are the major drivers of GHG emissions?  Note: in 1992, deforestation was 20-25% of total GHG emissions What are the major drivers of GHG emissions? Note: in 1992, deforestation was 20-25% of total GHG emissions History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

Goal: “…stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

Principle: “…common but differentiated responsibilities” Developed and developing nations have different obligations History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

 Context: global emissions growing  Fraction of global emissions due to tropical deforestation still high  Key points  Formal agreement  Annex I vs non-Annex I History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

 Demonstrate the use of WRI’s Data Explorer at this web page:  Divide the class into groups (at least 4)  Have groups identify top 5 emitters (countries) at say 3 or 4 times by key events (e.g., pre- Kyoto, time of signing Kyoto, Bali Action Plan, and Copenhagen).  Have groups identify top emitters by total GHG emissions including LULUCF vs. excluding LULUCF; only CO2 vs. all GHG emissions; total emissions vs. on a per capita basis.  Have groups compare results and discuss.

Country (date KP ratified)% of Global CO 2 emissions USA36.1% European Union (2002)24.3% Russia (2004)17.4% China (2002) 9.9% Japan (2002) 8.5% Brazil (2002) 4.3% Australia (2007) 2.1% History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

Annex I (developed) countries  Article 2 “shall: ….Implement and/or further elaborate policies and measures in accordance with its national circumstances, such as: … (ii) Protection and enhancement of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases … promotion of sustainable forest management practices, afforestation and reforestation; History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

Annex I countries  Article 3: Net emissions from deforestation shall be included in the calculation of the 1990 baseline emissions History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

1. The Bali Action Plan Decision 1/CP13 Para 1 (b) (iii)  “Policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries” History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

There were five main issues, which remain contentious: 1. Scope – what should be included in the definition of REDD 2. Measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) 3. The rights of indigenous people 4. Financing options 5. Institutional arrangements – whether REDD activities were considered National or project level activities.

 First time that developing countries made official commitments  Agree that the goal is to limit warming to < 2° C  Developed countries commit up to US$ 30 billion for adaptation and mitigation for the period  Copenhagen Green Climate Fund established to support mitigation projects in developing countries

1. Requests developing country Parties, … (a) To identify drivers of deforestation and forest degradation resulting in emissions and also the means to address these; (b) To identify activities within the country that result in reduced emissions and increased removals, and stabilization of forest carbon stocks; (c) To use the most recent IPCC guidance and guidelines, … as a basis for estimating anthropogenic forest-related greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks, forest carbon stocks and forest area changes; (d) To establish, according to national circumstances and capabilities, robust and transparent national forest monitoring systems …

 Annex I countries commit to emissions targets by 2020  Non Annex I countries will implement mitigation actions including national inventories  Included enhancing and maintaining carbon stocks (the “+” in REDD+)

 Conversation evolved from ‘what is included’ to ‘methods’ to ‘safeguards’  Forest discussions often paved the way for discussions of the entire forum, for example on MRV, role of markets

 Concept map of developments, not just time but key issues:  Scope – what should be included in the definition of REDD  Measurement, reporting and verification (MRV)  Safeguards  The rights of indigenous people  Biodiversity and natural forests  Financing options  Institutional arrangements – whether REDD activities were considered National or project level activities.

Already hit 400 in 2013 Scientists say: Stay below 450 ppm History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

 Avoided deforestation  Avoided degradation  Conservation of forest carbon stocks  Enhancement of forest carbon stocks  Sustainable management of forests History of UNFCCC Including forests Mitigation and other benefits

 Developing nations transition to low emission development without losing all forest  Developed nations obtain offsets to ease transition to new energy economy  Buy in from all parties to the whole process

 Kyoto: JI and CDM  UNFCCC: REDD+  Voluntary Carbon Market (corporate social responsibility)  European Trading System  State-level actions in USA

Are there extra benefits to forest mitigation?  Enforcement of current laws  New forest policy  Good governance  Transparency  Equity  Land tenure reform  Enforcement of current laws  New forest policy  Good governance  Transparency  Equity  Land tenure reform These are co-benefits Plus : Biodiversity conservation Water management Human right

 SBSTA Subsidiary body for scientific and technical advice (this is where REDD started in 2005)  World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (informal conversations about how to implement REDD+)  UNREDD (like World Bank group, above)  Bilateral agreements (Norway)

 Since Kyoto the discussion of the role of forests in tropical countries in GHG emissions has evolved from a focus on reforestation to preventing deforestation and forest degradation as well as improving forest C pools (REDD+)  Reducing emissions from LULUCF in the tropics alone will not resolve the problem of anthropogenic climate change but it is one part of the solution and the payment mechanisms set up allow both developed and developing countries to participate

 The conditions necessary for REDD+ to succeed (Tranparency, Good governance, Equity etc) are all co- benefits as well

Eliash Review Climate Change: Financing Global Forests Korhonen- Kuhki et al Multiple levels and multiple challenges for REDD+ In Analyzing REDD+ Challenges and Choices.Angelsen, A., Brockhaus, M., Sunderlin, W.D. and Verchot, L.V. (eds) CIFOR Bogor Indonesia Kholloway, V. and E. Giandomenico Carbon Planet White Paper. The History of REDD Policy. Carbon Planet Limited Adelaide SA

Dickson et al. UN-REDD Programme Policy Brief REDD+ Beyond Carbon: Supporting Decisions on Safeguards and Multiple Benefits Pacala, S. and R. Sokolow Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies. Science, Vol. 305: 968–972. Paz- Rivera REDD+ negotiations and key milestones from Cancun to Durban Palmer, C Property rights and liability for deforestation under REDD+: Implications for ‘permanence’ in policy design. Ecological Economics 70 : 571– 576

 Have students read Carbon Planet White Paper - The History of REDD Policy  Describe the critical issues facing Copenhagen (COP 15)  How were they resolved at COP 15?  What has changed since COP 15?  Follow up with Clea Paz’ UNREDD discussion of path from Cancun to Durban