USAID LEAF Regional Climate Change Curriculum Development Module 4: Carbon Measurement and Monitoring (CMM) Section 2. Forest carbon stocks and change 2.1. Overview of forest carbon pools (stocks)

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

2.1 Overview of forest carbon pools  Lecture (40 minutes) 1. Forest carbon pools: living biomass above and belowground, dead biomass, soil 2. Variation of forest carbon stocks depending on environmental factors (effects of precipitation, temperature and soil nutrients at landscape scale) 3. Variation of forest carbon stocks across space at different levels (biome and landscape levels)  Three in-class exercises:  20 minutes, 15 minutes and 15 minutes  References and resources  Website, reports

At the end of this session, learners will be able to:  Define the major forest carbon pools  Analyze drivers of variation in forest carbon stocks

Where is carbon found in forests?

Forest carbon is stored in five pools within and around vegetation 1. Above-ground biomass: stems, bark, leaves, etc. 2. Below-ground biomass: roots of all sizes 3. Dead wood or dead organic matter in dead wood 4. Litter or dead organic matter in litter 5. Soil organic carbon (SOC)

Atmospheric Carbon (CO2) Photosynthesis Respiration Mortality Decomposition Exudation

Dry tropical forest Wet tropical forest Boreal forest Organic soil Ultic soil

 Forests are found from the tropics to sub-polar regions  Where water is limiting forests cede to grasslands and deserts Biomes on earth

At smaller spatial scales, climate factors (microclimate) and variation in soil factors result in different forest types distributed across the landscape

 Visit the GRID-Arendal website to explore information on variations in carbon stocks of different biomes (or information in hard copy is provided and answer the following questions)GRID-Arendal website  What are the top two biomes that store the greatest amount of carbon?  Where majority of their carbon is stored and why?

Source:

Source: Trumper et al. (2009)

 Consider the Table Carbon stock in forest by region and sub- region in 2010 and answer the following questions  Which region has the highest total carbon stock? Why?  What percent of the global carbon stock does it account for ?  Please also look at the data of total Carbon stock in Asia. What can you say about this?

Source: FAO (2010)

Source: Data from FAO (2010)

 Consider the Table Trends in carbon stocks in forest biomass by region and sub-region, 1990–2010 and answer the following questions  Which region has the lowest carbon stock in forest biomass per unit land area during ? Why?  Which region has the lowest carbon stocks in forest biomass in 2010 ? Why?

Source: FAO (2010)

Source: Data from FAO (2010)

 All forests have 5 major pools where carbon is stored with aboveground biomass and soil that are the most important pools  The distribution of forest biomes is largely driven by precipitation and temperature  The absolute and proportional amounts of carbon in soil and aboveground biomass are controlled by precipitation and temperature, and at local scales by soil nutrients as well.

 FAO Forest Genetic Resources Assessment 2010: Main Report. Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations, Rome.  FAO Community Guidelines for Accessing Forestry Voluntary Carbon Markets. RAP Publication 2012/16. Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations, Rome.  Trumper, K., Bertzky, M., Dickson, B., van der Heijden, G.,Jenkins, M., Manning, P. June The Natural Fix? The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation. A UNEP Rapid Response Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme, UNEPWCMC, Cambridge.  Le Quéré, C., R. Andres, T. Boden, T. Conway, R. Houghton, J. House, G. Marland, G. Peters, G. van der Werf, A. Ahlström, R. Andrew, L. Bopp, J. Canadell, P. Ciais, S. Doney, C. Enright, P. Friedlingstein, C. Huntingford, A. Jain, C. Jourdain, E. Kato, R. Keeling, K. Klein Goldewijk, S. Levis, P. Levy, M. Lomas, B. Poulter, M. Raupach, J. Schwinger, S. Sitch, B. Stocker, N. Viovy, S. Zaehle and N. Zeng (2012), “The Global Carbon Budget 1959–2011”, Earth System Science Data, html, DOI: /essdd  Global Carbon Budget Carbon Budget 2012: An Annual Updates of Global Carbon Budget and Trends. Available Source:  Kissinger, G., M. Herold, V. De Sy Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation: A Synthesis Report for REDD+ Policymakers. Lexeme Consulting, Vancouver.  GRID-Arendal website:  Earthlabs website: