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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

Conceptof a

Green Carbon Meta-Standard Framework

Prof. Dr. Martin Walter

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

The Challenge

Carbon projects must :

• deliver long lasting reductions of atmospheric Green House Gas content (permanence)

• account for off-project increase of emissions (leakage)• provide reductions higher than the baseline scenario

(additionality)

Special features of Carbon Projects

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

The Challenge

Forest projects

• require long-term planning due to long duration of project implementation

• change land use and land tenure patterns• have high impacts on rural livelihoods and ecosystem

services

• operate in an environment of conflicting interests between land uses and land users

• are characterised through significant trade-offs between interests

Special features of Forest Projects in general

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

The Challenge

Forest carbon projects must consider that :

• forests can be a sink but also a source for carbon• carbon pools in forests are characterised by high

spatial and temporal variation

Special features of Forest Carbon Projects

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

The Standard System

• realistic and sound carbon calculation procedures • efficient safeguards for avoiding or mitigating social

and environmental impacts

• third party evaluation

• confidence for project developers and investors and• credibility to consumers

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Building blocks

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

The Standard System

Project phases and related modules

Project Design Phase

Project Implementation Phase

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

• additionality – leakage - permanence

• assessment of social and environmental impacts • identification of High Conservation Values• long-term viability • stakeholder consultation and transparency

• validation of the anticipated emission reductions• validation of the project proposal • accreditation of bodies for validation

The Standard System

Project design phase

Module 1: carbon accounting

Module 2: social and environmental impacts

Module 3: validation and registration of project design

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

The Standard System

Project implementation phase

• maintenance of High Conservation Values • adherence to social and environmental performance standards• legal compliance of operations

• verification of achieved GHG benefits• verification of the social and environmental performance• accreditation of bodies for verification

• registration of carbon credits• efficient procedures for the handling of carbon credits

Module 4: social and environmental performance

Module 5: verification

Module 6: registration and issuance of carbon credits

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

Validation of project design and the accreditation of validation bodies

Identification of High Conservation Values

Verification of performance for REDD and forest protection

Performance standards for REDD and forest protection projects

Issues for further development

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Forest Carbon– solid standards and challenges –

the road towards a meta-standards framework

Prof. Dr. Martin WalterUniversity of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan

Prof. Dr. Martin Walter