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

2. 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
Conduct a case study in Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh
Develop a baseline
Identify potential CDM activities

3. Guidelines The CDM guideline outlines the following steps
Description of project area and activities
Baseline methodology
Calculation of GHG/CO2 emissions (and removal by sinks)
Monitoring methodology
Environmental impacts

4. 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
Blanks
Total
Mancherial
225299
29100
48614
24395
8560
110669
(49%)
Jannaram
70550
29011
17806
12922
1121
60860
(86%)

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

6. 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

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

8. 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
Socio-economic development of forest-dependent communities through increased
Biomass supply
NTFP supply

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

10. GHGs to be Monitored
Within the project boundary the GHG to be monitored is;
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

11. 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
Cropland
Private - Farmers
Marginal cropping / fallow

12. Methods Carbon Pool Method Adopted AGB Quadrat/transect – Basal area
Biomass equations
BGB
Coefficients (Ratio of AGB/BGB)
Litter
Literature
Soil
Sampling
Organic C estimation in the laboratory

13. C Stocks in Baseline and CDM Scenarios
Land category
Total C
tC/ha
BSL
CDM
Total C Increment
Secondary forest 39
58-59
19-20 (4,6)
Teak 31
61-90
30-59 (2,8)
Cropland 22 -
Mango 36
13* (5)
Eucalyptus
32-51
9-28* (3)
* Options for cropland under BSL; ( )No. of years under protection

14. Costs & Potential CER Income from Natural Regeneration & Plantations
Natural regeneration costs – Behrunguda
Plantation cost – AP FD
CER units for forest carbon estimates are Rs. 500/MtC/yr ($10)
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
500
6.3 to 10.9
Eucalyptus plantation
24000
1.4 to 9.5

15. 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
Analysis
Lab
Degraded teak BSL
1200
600
500
100
1800
4200
Degraded secondary forest BSL
850
3750
Cropland 50 -
1950
Reg secondary forest CDM
1700
Reg teak CDM
1450
700
4550
Eucalyptus
550
250
2800
Mango
300
2550

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

17. Methods of Projecting C Stock Changes & Operational Life of the Project
Biomass growth models
COMAP
CO2FIX
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

18. Monitoring Methodology & Institutional Arrangements
Parameter
Methods
Data to be monitored
Frequency
Institutional arrangement
Survival rate
Quadrats – counting
No. of seedlings
Annual
Participatory
Biomass growth
Quadrats – measure
DBH & height
Basal area
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

19. Environmental & Socio-Economic Impacts – Issues, Parameters & Methods
Indicator
Parameter
Method
Frequency
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
NTFP availability
- Income
- No. of HHs collecting

20. 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

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

22. THANK YOU Acknowledgements Ministry of Environment and CES
Community Forestry International
THANK YOU