VM0004v1.0.pdf

Copyright © Infinite Earth, Ltd. 2010 Approved VCS ology VM0004 Version 1.0 “ology for Conservation Projects that Avoid Planned Land Use Conversion in Peat Swamp Forests” Sectoral Scope 14 Table of Contents 1. Sources . 3 2. Summary Description of the ology . 3 3. Applicability Conditions 5 4. Project Boundary . 6 5. Stratification 8 6. Procedure for Determining the Baseline Scenario . 11 7. Procedure for Demonstrating Additionality. 11 8. Baseline Emissions 11 9. Ex Ante Actual Net Avoided GHG Emissions . 39 10. Leakage 40 11. Ex Ante Net Anthropogenic GHG Emissions Avoided . 51 12. Uncertainties and Conservative Approach. 52 13. Data Needed for Ex Ante Estimations . 56 14. Monitoring . 67 15. Monitoring of Project Implementation 67 16. Sampling Design and Stratification . 68 17. Calculation of Ex Post Net Baseline GHG Emissions . 69 18. Data to be Collected and Archived for the Estimation of Net Baseline GHG Emissions . 70 19. Calculation of Ex Post Net Actual GHG Emissions Avoided . 70 20. Data to be Collected and Archived for Ex Post Net Actual GHG Emissions Avoided . 87 21. Calculation of Leakage 94 22. Data to be Collected and Archived for Leakage 94 23. Ex Post Net Anthropogenic GHG Emissions Avoided 96 24. Accounting for Uncertainties . 96 25. Other Ination 98 VM0004, Version 1.0 Sectoral Scope 14 2 26. List of Variables Used in Equations 102 27. List of Acronyms Used in the ology 102 28. References 103 VM0004, Version 1.0 Sectoral Scope 14 3 1. Sources This ology is based on elements from the following ologies AR-AM0004 version 1.0 NMBL_NKCAP_A AR-AM0007 version 1.0 AR-AM0005 version 1.0 AD Partners REDD ology Module version 1.0, June 2010 This ology refers to the latest approved versions of the following tools VCS Tool for the Demonstration and Assessment of Additionality in VCS Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use AFOLU Project Activities‖ CDM Tool Calculation of the number of sample plots for measurements within A/R CDM project activities.‖ VCS Tool for Non-Permanence Risk Analysis and Buffer Determination No approved ology was available at the time this ology was created because these activities were not eligible under the CDM. Although avoided land use conversion was eligible as a REDD activity under the VCS, peat was not currently an eligible carbon pool under the VCS at the time of this ology validation. The CDM A/R ology template as used here was the only ology template available at the time that this ology was first developed. As such, the s outlined in this ology are comprehensive. The leakage approach outlined in this ology was adapted from the most current versions of the leakage modules for estimation of emissions from activity shifting for avoided planned deforestation‖ and estimation of emissions from market effects‖ as summarized in the Avoided Deforestation Partners REDD ological Modules v. 1.0, June 2010. 2. Summary Description of the ology This ology outlines transparent and conservative s to estimate the avoided net greenhouse gas emissions resulting from project activities implemented to stop planned land use conversion in tropical peat forest. It allows for the estimation of changes in carbon stocks in selected aboveground carbon pools and also accounts for peat emissions. It conservatively draws the baseline scenario from amongst the plausible scenarios, and presents s to transparently estimate the GHG emissions expected from the most likely land uses prior to the start of the project activity. This ology adopts a baseline approach which accounts for changes in carbon stocks in the pools within the project boundary from the most likely land use at the time the project starts‖, taking into account national, sectoral, and local policies influencing the land use prior to the start of the project activity; the scope of project alternatives relative to the baseline; and barriers to implement the avoided deforestation project activity. This ology anticipates several possible baseline scenarios and uses the latest version of the VCS Tool for the Demonstration and Assessment of Additionality in VCS Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use AFOLU Project Activities1‖. 1 Available at http//www.v-c-s.org/docs/VCS-Tool-VT0001_Tool-for-Demonstration-and-Assessment-of-Additionality-in-AFOLU-Project-Acitivities.pdf VM0004, Version 1.0 Sectoral Scope 14 4 Baseline ology steps 1. The project boundary is defined for all eligible discrete parcels of land to be protected from land use change that are under the control of the project participants at the starting date of the project activity. 2. Stratification of the project area is based on local site classification maps/tables, the most updated land-use/land-cover maps, satellite images, vegetation maps, land maps as well as supplementary surveys, and the baseline land-use/land-cover is determined separately for each stratum. 3. The baseline scenario is determined by applying the Tool for the Demonstration and Assessment of Additionality in VCS Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use AFOLU Project Activities‖. 4. The ex ante calculation of baseline net GHG emissions is pered by strata. The baseline carbon stock change in aboveground biomass is estimated based on s developed in IPCC 2003 Good Practice Guidance GPG for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry LULUCF as well as on s that utilize high resolution aerial digital imagery. The baseline GHG emissions from peat are estimated based on regional data on CO2 emissions and emission factors. 5. Additionality is demonstrated using the latest version of the Tool for the Demonstration and Assessment of Additionality in VCS Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use AFOLU Project Activities‖ approved by the VCS Board. 6. The ex ante actual net GHG emissions avoided are estimated for each stratum in the project activity. 7. Leakage emissions, including carbon stock decreases and peat emissions outside the project boundary, are accounted for activity displacement and market effects. The ology also outlines s to monitor both carbon stock changes in the living biomass and peat emissions of project activities and increases in the GHG emissions that result from the implementation of the project activity. It outlines s and procedures that complement the provisions of the baseline ology. As per this ology, the baseline scenario is identified and quantified ex ante at the beginning of the project activity and shall be re-assessed/revised every 10 years in accordance with VCS guidelines to take into account the latest scientific and technical understanding. The ology outlines s for assessing and accounting for displacement of economic activities attributable to the project activity and for emissions that occur due to market effects. The ology recommends the use of remotely sensed data to monitor the project carbon stocks as well as disturbances within the project boundary. The ology specifies annual monitoring and supports the recording of disturbances, if any. It recommends the adoption of standard operating procedures for monitoring, data collection and archival in order to maintain the integrity of the data collected in the monitoring process. Monitoring ology steps 1. The project implementation is monitored, including the project boundary, the area prevented from land use change and any activities that reduce carbon stocks or result in peat emissions in the project area over the crediting period. If the project boundary is not a functionally discrete hydrological unit, a buffer zone around the project boundary is also monitored to ensure against drainage activities occurring outside the project boundary that could potentially impact peat emissions in the project area, per Applicability Condition K of this ology. 2. Stratification of the project area is monitored periodically because two different strata may become similar enough in terms of carbon to justify their merging. The ex-post stratification considers monitoring of the project strata to verify the applicability of the ex-ante stratification, and variables VM0004, Version 1.0 Sectoral Scope 14 5 that influence the strata. The ex post stratification procedures facilitate cost-effective, consistent and accurate monitoring of carbon stock changes of the project during the crediting period. 3. Baseline net GHG emissions are not monitored in this ology. The ology prescribes validity of the baseline identified ex ante at the start of the project activity for the crediting period, thereby avoiding the need for monitoring of the baseline over the crediting period, and achieves savings in the costs associated with baseline monitoring. However, the baseline is re-assessed/revised every 10 years. 4. The calculation of ex-post actual net GHG emissions avoided is based on data obtained from sample plots, regional literature values and s developed in IPCC GPG-LULUCF to estimate carbon stock changes in the carbon pools and peat emissions. 5. Leakage due to activity displacement and market effects is monitored and accounted in order to calculate the net GHG emissions avoided. 6. The QA/QC guidelines proposed as part of the monitoring plan verify the accuracy and consistency of field measurements and ensure the integrity of data collection, management of project databases and the database archival during the crediting period. When a project is undergoing validation and verification, non-permanence risk analysis shall be conducted by both the project developer and the verifier at the time of verification in accordance with the VCS Tool for AFOLU Non-Permanence Risk Analysis and Buffer Determination. 3. Applicability Conditions Project activities must satisfy the following conditions in order for the ology to be applicable A. The ology was developed for and is applicable to preventing land use change on undrained tropical peat swamp forests in southeast Asia only; it is not applicable to peatlands in other regions or climatic zones boreal peat bogs, etc. or to previously drained peatlands. Forest shall be defined according to the host country‘s forest definition as agreed upon under UNFCCC participation that includes minimum thresholds for area, height and crown cover. Peat shall be defined as organic soils with at least 65 organic matter and a minimum thickness of 50 cm2. B. The application of the procedure for determining the baseline scenario in Section 6 leads to the conclusion that baseline approach c is the most appropriate choice for determination of the baseline scenario see Kyoto Protocol Decision 5/CMP.1 paragraph 22. C. The ology is applicable only for avoiding complete conversion of peat swamp forests to another known land use; it is not applicable for avoiding forest degradation. It is assumed that land preparation during the conversion of peat forest would have removed all existing aboveground biomass stocks through logging and/or burning. D. The ology is applicable only for preventing planned land use conversion in known, discrete parcels of peatland, not for deforestation trends that follow a frontier‖ approach. The land use conversion avoided must be in areas officially and legally designated for and under direct threat of such conversion, and the area and specific geographic location of all planned land use conversions in the baseline must be known and come from written documentation including land use conversion permits, government records, concession maps, etc. Planned deforestation must be projected to occur within ten years of the project start date. E. The ology is applicable only for avoiding land use change that would be caused by corporate or governmental entities plantation companies, national or provincial forestry departments, etc. and not by community groups, community-based organizations, individuals or households. 2 Rieley, J.O. and S.E Page. 2005. Wise Use of Tropical Peatland Focus on Southeast Asia. Alterra, Wageningen, The Netherlands. 237 p. ISBN 90327-0347-1. VM0004, Version 1.0 Sectoral Scope 14 6 F. Peat drainage emissions in the baseline scenario shall be calculated using a net peat drainage depth of no more than one meter. G. Carbon stocks in dead wood and litter can be expected to further decrease or increase less in the absence of the project activity during the time frame that coincides with the crediting period of the project activity. H. The parcels of peat swamp forest to be converted to another land use must not contain human settlements towns, villages, etc. or human activities that lead directly to deforestation, such as clearing for agriculture or grazing land. Activities that involve the utilization of natural resources within the project boundary that do not lead to deforestation are permitted e.g., selective logging, collection of NTFPs, fuelwood collection, etc. as this degradation is accounted for in the monitoring ology. I. The biomass of vegetation within the project boundary at the start of the project is at steady-state, or is increasing due to recovery from past disturbance, and so monitoring project GHG removals by vegetation can be conservatively neglected if desired. J. The volume of trees extracted as timber per hectare prior to land conversion in the baseline is conservatively assumed to be equivalent to the total volume or biomass of all trees of commercial value above the minimum size class sold in the local timber market. K. The project boundary shall be hydrologically intact such that the project area is not affected by drainage activities that are occurring outside the project area in a defined buffer zone if applicable at the start of the project as detected from satellite or other remote sensing imagery. Both the project boundary and the buffer zone if applicable shall be monitored for new drainage activities over the life of the project. The width of the buffer zone to be monitored shall be set to a default value of 3 km from the edge of the project boundary or the distance to the edge of the peat dome, whichever is smaller. The monitoring ology accounts for the impacts of future drainage activities that occur within the project boundary, but if future monitoring detects significant new drainage within the buffer zone such as that associated with new canals designed for transportation by boat or for developing plantations, then this ology is no longer applicable in its current and it shall be revised to take into consideration the extent of the outside drainage activity’s impact on GHG emissions occurring within the project boundary. This drainage impact shall be determined using a combination of hydrological modelling a