REDD+ Methodology Development: A Decade of Leadership by Winrock International

Sandra Brown, Nancy L. Harris, Timothy R.H. Pearson, and Sarah M. WalkerWinrock International, Ecosystem Services Unit, 2121 Crystal Drive Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22202, USA

What are methodologies and why are they important?Under both compliance and voluntary markets, the integrity of offsets is assured through the use of approved accounting methodologies.Methodologies outline the steps a project developer must follow to demonstrate additionality, identify the baseline scenario, and determine howgreenhouse gas sources, sinks and pools will be measured and monitored to calculate net emission reductions resulting from project activities.

Winrock’s history in methodology developmentFor the past decade, Winrock International’s Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO-WI) has led the development of procedures and approaches required toproduce credible accounting methodologies. Here we discuss some key examples of methodologies produced by ECO-WI.

First certified REDD methodology (Noel Kempff Project, Bolivia)

Reforestation or afforestation of land currently under agricultural use (CDM AR-AM0004)

Improved Forest Management through extension of rotation age (VCS VM-0003)

Avoided planned land use conversion in peat swamp forests (VCS VM-0004)

N2O emission reductions through changes in fertilizer management

AD Partners REDD methodology modules

Two methodologies weredeveloped for calculatingoffsets from the Noel KempffMercado Climate ActionProject, a 650,000 haconservation project.

One methodology applies tostopping timber harvestingactivities in natural forests(LtPF) and is based on field-based emission factors causedby logging activities and amodel of the Bolivian timbermarket. It projects baselineemissions and leakage for theproject area.

The other methodologyapplies to projects that avoidunplanned deforestation byagents that are resident andbound to a certain region. Themethodology quantifies howmuch area would have beendeforested and its location inthe baseline case usinghistorical data and spatialmodeling.

Both methodologies weredeveloped with support fromTNC and were independentlycertified by SGS in 2005.

This was the fourthmethodology to be approvedunder Sectoral Scope 14 ofthe Clean DevelopmentMechanism. Themethodology applies toprojects that reforest orafforest current agricultural orgrazing lands that may or maynot be in a slash and burncycle.

The methodology was the firstand until this year the onlymethodology to covercroplands.

The methodology includes anovel component for leakageaccounting, wherebyemissions are estimated inthe case where the projectactivity leads to a shift of pre-project agricultural activitiesoutside the project boundary.

The CDM A/R Working Groupvalidated the methodology in2006. Of 20 approved A/RCDM methodologies AR-AM0004 has been the 4th

most commonly used.

This methodology was thefirst AFOLU (agriculture,forestry and other land uses)methodology to be approvedby the Voluntary CarbonStandard.

The methodology was writtenby Winrock Internationalunder support from Ecotrust.

It applies to improved forestmanagement (IFM) VCSproject activities that involvean extension in rotation age(ERA).

The methodology isapplicable to forests withclear-cut or patch-cutmanagement.

The baseline is modeledbased either on historicpractices or commonpractices in the projectregion. In the project casechanges in stock are directlymeasured.

This methodology wasvalidated in 2010 after doubleapproval by SCS and DNV.

This methodology was thefirst REDD methodology andthe first peat methodology tobe approved by VCS. Itoutlines transparent andconservative methods toestimate avoided netgreenhouse gas emissionsresulting from projectactivities implemented toprevent land-use change inthe undrained tropical peatswamp forests of SoutheastAsia. These highlythreatened landscapes storevast quantities of carbon.

The methodology accountsfor changes in carbon stocksin aboveground biomass andalso accounts for emissionsfrom peat drainage andburning. It was first developedfor the Mawas PeatlandsConservation Project InCentral Kalimantan,Indonesia.

The methodology wasvalidated in 2010 after doubleapproval by RainforestAlliance and Bureau VeritasCertification.

This methodology was thefirst to cover agricultural landmanagement (ALM) projectactivities in the voluntarymarket and has beenapproved by the AmericanCarbon Registry.

Project activities may includechanges in fertilizer rate(quantity), type (specificsynthetic or organicfertilizers), placement, timing,use of timed-releasefertilizers, use of nitrificationinhibitors and other factors.

The methodology uses a peer-reviewed, tested and highlyparameterized model (DNDC)to estimate, for baseline andproject scenarios, direct N2Oemissions from fertilizer useand indirect emissions fromleaching and ammoniavolatilization.

The methodology wassubjected to a rigorousexternal peer-review processand public comment period aspart of ACR validationprocedures.

This methodology will be thefirst to cover unplanneddeforestation and avoideddegradation, as well as coverplanned deforestation, in theVCS’s REDD category.

The methodology takes aninnovative modular approach.There are 18 individualmethodology components, ormodules, that projectdevelopers can fit together tosuit the needs of a particularREDD project.

The modules are applicable toproject activities that reduceemissions from avoidingplanned and unplanneddeforestation, and foractivities to reduce emissionsfrom forest degradation dueto fuelwood collection andcharcoal production.

The methodology moduleshave been successfullyvalidated by SQS andRainforest Alliance and are inthe final stages of doubleapproval.

ECO-WI: Leaders in Methodology Development for the Land Use Sector

For more information, contact carbonservices@winrock.org

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and

sustain natural resources.