Quantification of forest degradation and belowground carbon dynamics: ongoing challenges for monitoring, reporting and verification activities for REDD+

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 579-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Vargas ◽  
Fernando Paz ◽  
Ben de Jong
Author(s):  
Susan E. Crow ◽  
Lauren M. Deem ◽  
Carlos A. Sierra ◽  
Jon M. Wells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Arnaud ◽  
Paul J. Morris ◽  
Andy J. Baird ◽  
Thuong Huyen Dang ◽  
Tai Tue Nguyen

<p>Mangroves are hotspots of carbon sequestration, providing ecosystem services worth US$194 000 per hectare per year. In response to widespread mangrove losses, reforestation projects have been promoted. Monitoring and assessment of those projects have mainly focused on aboveground carbon stocks, but most of the carbon is found underground (as soil carbon and roots) and little is known about belowground carbon dynamics in mangroves. In particular, it is unknown how fine root production develops during the period following reforestation. A better understanding of fine root production is important, since fine root production is a major driver of soil organic matter accumulation, which allows mangroves to occupy vertical accommodation space to withstand sea-level rise. Using minirhizotrons, we characterised the variation of fine root production along a chronosequence of mangroves in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam replanted in 1978, 1986 and 1991. We found that fine root production declines with: i) mangrove age, as a result of the self-thinning processes associated with mangrove ageing; and ii) soil depth, likely due to a vertical gradient in soil nutrient availability. Our findings have important implications for understanding belowground carbon dynamics, and highlight the need to account for mangrove age when forecasting mangrove carbon dynamics and resistance to sea-level rise.</p>


2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 203-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela F. Cusack ◽  
Whendee L. Silver ◽  
Margaret S. Torn ◽  
William H. McDowell

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 1047-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. N. Palma ◽  
J. Crous-Duran ◽  
A. R. Graves ◽  
S. Garcia de Jalon ◽  
M. Upson ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 2531
Author(s):  
Efraín Duarte ◽  
Juan A. Barrera ◽  
Francis Dube ◽  
Fabio Casco ◽  
Alexander J. Hernández ◽  
...  

Current estimates of CO2 emissions from forest degradation are generally based on insufficient information and are characterized by high uncertainty, while a global definition of ‘forest degradation’ is currently being discussed in the scientific arena. This study proposes an automated approach to monitor degradation using a Landsat time series. The methodology was developed using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) and applied in a pine forest area of the Dominican Republic. Land cover change mapping was conducted using the random forest (RF) algorithm and resulted in a cumulative overall accuracy of 92.8%. Forest degradation was mapped with a 70.7% user accuracy and a 91.3% producer accuracy. Estimates of the degraded area had a margin of error of 10.8%. A number of 344 Landsat collections, corresponding to the period from 1990 to 2018, were used in the analysis. Additionally, 51 sample plots from a forest inventory were used. The carbon stocks and emissions from forest degradation were estimated using the RF algorithm with an R2 of 0.78. GEE proved to be an appropriate tool to monitor the degradation of tropical forests, and the methodology developed herein is a robust, reliable, and replicable tool that could be used to estimate forest degradation and improve monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems under the reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) mechanism.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bidya Nath Jha ◽  
Govinda Paudel

Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is an incentive based approach for climate change mitigation that has gained global attention. Following the global discourse and trend, Nepal is preparing herself to participate in the REDD implementation process with the financing from the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). Developing a measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system of monitoring carbon emissions is one of the most important aspects of the REDD mechanism. In this article, we analyse the existing forest resource monitoring system in Nepal with reference to requirements for the REDD MRV design as suggested in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) good practice guide. Our analytical focus revolves around understanding the current policy provisions and institutional infrastructure, as well as identifying existing gaps Similarly, we also analyse the national capacity gaps for designing and adopting the REDD MRV. Finally we have outlined possible issues and challenges for designing and implementing REDD MRV in Nepal. Based on all these aspects, we have suggested a MRV system design that would acknowledge the role of existing institutions and consider the state restructuring.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v9i1.8591 Journal of Forestry and Livelihood Vol.9(1) 2010 21-32


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (6) ◽  
pp. 3015-3025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne S. Walker ◽  
Seth R. Gorelik ◽  
Alessandro Baccini ◽  
Jose Luis Aragon-Osejo ◽  
Carmen Josse ◽  
...  

Maintaining the abundance of carbon stored aboveground in Amazon forests is central to any comprehensive climate stabilization strategy. Growing evidence points to indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) as buffers against large-scale carbon emissions across a nine-nation network of indigenous territories (ITs) and protected natural areas (PNAs). Previous studies have demonstrated a link between indigenous land management and avoided deforestation, yet few have accounted for forest degradation and natural disturbances—processes that occur without forest clearing but are increasingly important drivers of biomass loss. Here we provide a comprehensive accounting of aboveground carbon dynamics inside and outside Amazon protected lands. Using published data on changes in aboveground carbon density and forest cover, we track gains and losses in carbon density from forest conversion and degradation/disturbance. We find that ITs and PNAs stored more than one-half (58%; 41,991 MtC) of the region’s carbon in 2016 but were responsible for just 10% (−130 MtC) of the net change (−1,290 MtC). Nevertheless, nearly one-half billion tons of carbon were lost from both ITs and PNAs (−434 MtC and −423 MtC, respectively), with degradation/disturbance accounting for >75% of the losses in 7 countries. With deforestation increasing, and degradation/disturbance a neglected but significant source of region-wide emissions (47%), our results suggest that sustained support for IPLC stewardship of Amazon forests is critical. IPLCs provide a global environmental service that merits increased political protection and financial support, particularly if Amazon Basin countries are to achieve their commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.


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