METHODS AND GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION PROJECTS UNDER CDM Indu K. Murthy Indian Institute of Science

Objectives  Explore the feasibility of afforestation and reforestation as potential CDM activity Adopt the guideline prepared by the Executive Board (EB) for energy and other Non-LULUCF sector activities – for forestry sector project activities Adopt the guideline prepared by the Executive Board (EB) for energy and other Non-LULUCF sector activities – for forestry sector project activities Conduct a case study in Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh Conduct a case study in Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh Develop a baseline Develop a baseline Identify potential CDM activities Identify potential CDM activities

Guidelines  The CDM guideline outlines the following steps Description of project area and activities Description of project area and activities Baseline methodology Baseline methodology Calculation of GHG/CO 2 emissions (and removal by sinks) Calculation of GHG/CO 2 emissions (and removal by sinks) Monitoring methodology Monitoring methodology Environmental impacts Environmental impacts

Description of Project Area  Land use/forest/vegetation categories in the region  The study region- district/forest division Forest division Geographic area (ha) Area (in ha) Dense forest Open forest Scrub forest BlanksTotal Mancherial (49%) Jannaram (86%)

Proposed CDM Activities Activities Reforestation Secondary forest regeneration Teak regeneration Eucalyptus plantation Teak plantation AfforestationTeak Eucalyptus Mango (Agro-forestry)? Will it satisfy the definition of forest and afforestation?

Purpose of Activity Environmental – GHG relevant  Revegetate degraded forests and non-forest lands through reforestation and afforestation  Sequester carbon in vegetation and soil Environmental – Non-GHG related  Protection of watersheds  Promotion of biodiversity Socio-Economic  Enhance the biomass production and supply (FW, poles and timber to local communities  Enhance production and access to NTFPs  Create employment to local communities  Build local institutions and strengthen their capacity

Technical Description of Project Activities Activities Technical Interventions Mixed forest regeneration Protection Teak regeneration Removal of weeds, protection Eucalyptus Land preparation, planting, protection… Mango

Compatibility with Sustainable Development Goals  A&R programs are part of forest development in the district  Increased participation of local communities  JFM (CFM program) – ongoing Will adopt guidelines of this program Will adopt guidelines of this program  Socio-economic development of forest- dependent communities through increased Biomass supply Biomass supply NTFP supply NTFP supply

Baseline Development and Methodology  Types of Baseline Project-Specific Project-Specific Regional Regional Multiproject Multiproject C stocks – Measured in the Baseline

GHGs to be Monitored  Within the project boundary the GHG to be monitored is; Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide  Dominant GHG in A&R activities  A&R activities involve removal of carbon dioxide from atmosphere and fixing it in vegetation and soil

Land Categories and Features Baseline status of land Tenure/Ownership Dependence of community Degraded secondary forest Reserve forest – Forest Dept. Subject to excessive extraction Degraded teak Reserve forest – Forest Dept. Cropland Private - Farmers Marginal cropping / fallow

Methods Carbon Pool Method Adopted AGB Quadrat/transect – Basal area Biomass equations BGB Coefficients (Ratio of AGB/BGB) LitterLiterature SoilSampling Organic C estimation in the laboratory

C Stocks in Baseline and CDM Scenarios Land category Total C tC/haBSL tC/haCDM Total C Increment tC/ha Secondary forest (4,6) Teak (2,8) Cropland22-- Mango-36 13* (5) Eucalyptus * (3) * Options for cropland under BSL; ( )No. of years under protection

Costs & Potential CER Income from Natural Regeneration & Plantations Natural regeneration costs – Behrunguda Natural regeneration costs – Behrunguda Plantation cost – AP FD Plantation cost – AP FD CER units for forest carbon estimates are Rs. 500/MtC/yr ($10) CER units for forest carbon estimates are Rs. 500/MtC/yr ($10) Current prices lower Current prices lower Type of reforestation strategy Establishment cost (Rs/ha) Projected C sequestered (MtC/ha/yr) Gross annual income from CERs (Rs/ha/yr) Natural regeneration to Eucalyptus plantation to

Transaction Cost For One Time Assessment Per Village Veg type Cost estimate for vegetation C estimation (Rs.) Cost estimate for soil C estimation (Rs.) Total Cost (Rs.) Field Data entry AnalysisFieldLab Degraded teak BSL Degraded secondary forest BSL Cropland Reg secondary forest CDM Reg teak CDM Eucalyptus Mango

CDM Project Activities  Land category  Extent (in ha) to be covered  Phasing  Type of afforestation/ reforestation Natural regeneration / planting Natural regeneration / planting Silvicultural practices Silvicultural practices Rotation period Rotation period

Methods of Projecting C Stock Changes & Operational Life of the Project  Biomass growth models  COMAP  CO 2 FIX  Actual measurements from similar projects implemented in the region  Operational life of the project - Crediting period:  Rotation period varies for each project activity  Secondary forest regeneration – no logging of timber (NTFP & FW extraction permitted)  Teak: Long rotation – Over 30 years  Eucalyptus: Short rotation ~ 10 years  Mango: Long rotation – NTFP yield

Monitoring Methodology & Institutional Arrangements ParameterMethods Data to be monitored Frequency Institutional arrangement Survival rate Quadrats – counting No. of seedlings AnnualParticipatory Biomass growth Quadrats – measure DBH & height Basal area Annual Research Team Soil carbon Field methods Soil sampling Lab estimation of soil C Soil organic carbon Once in 2 years Research team or Educational institution

Environmental & Socio-Economic Impacts – Issues, Parameters & Methods IndicatorParameterMethodFrequency Biodiversity No. of species/ha Quadrat Annual/Alt year Ground water Depth of water Water height from surface Once a month Alternate years NTFP species diversity - No. of plant spp. - Products HH survey Annual Employment generation Person days/year Annual/Seasonal Gender benefits Women days of employment/ Yr Annual NTFP availability - Income - No. of HHs collecting Annual

Observations on Use of Guidelines Developed for Non-LULUCF Projects  Standard field ecological methods and forest mensuration techniques can easily be applied  Forest carbon pools  AGB  BGB; ratio of AGB/BGB  Litter (marginal); field measurements & literature  Soil C  Non-GHG benefits  Biodiversity, ground water, NTFP availability can be measured  Employment generated & income flows can be estimated  Participatory monitoring is feasible & desirable for some parameters  Compatibility with sustainable development goals can easily be demonstrated  Transaction cost of estimating baseline is significant but not very high

Issues Size and type of projects Size and type of projects Project boundary – needs to be clearly defined to facilitate accurate accounting & verification Project boundary – needs to be clearly defined to facilitate accurate accounting & verification C pools to be monitored & credited C pools to be monitored & credited Soil pools large, high spatial variability, low annual increase Soil pools large, high spatial variability, low annual increase Uncertainty in measurement of carbon stocks is not addressed Uncertainty in measurement of carbon stocks is not addressed Non-permanence Non-permanence Leakage – important Leakage – important For certain types of forestry projects although not for A&R projects For certain types of forestry projects although not for A&R projects SBSTA & IPCC are developing Guidelines, Methods & Models to address these Issues

Acknowledgements Ministry of Environment and CES Ministry of Environment and CES Community Forestry International Community Forestry International