Proposals for Verification of A/R ProjectsAlvaro VallejoRama Chandra Reddy

Roundtable on Validation and Verification Issues in LULUCF projectsCarbon Finance Unit, ENVCF, World Bank, Washington DC

August 24 & 25, 2009

Overview

• Monitoring requirements of methodologies• UNFCCC Tools• Items for monitoring• Preparation of monitoring guidance• Monitoring and Reporting Tool• Training and capacity building• Outstanding issues• Steps for improvement

Monitoring Requirements

UNFCCC Tools

The UNFCCC tools related to monitoring:• Tool for calculation of the number of sample plots for

measurements in A/R project (ver. 02).• Tool for testing significance of GHG emissions in A/R

CDM project activities (ver. 01)• Estimation of GHG emissions related to displacement of

grazing activities in A/R CDM project activity (ver. 02)

SMART – Simplified Monitoring AR Tool

SMART is the monitoring system developed by the Bio-CF to monitor AR projects. It comprises:• Documentation:– Monitoring Manual (SMART Manual)– Printed data collection formats– Reporting formats– Monitoring Report templates

• Excel spreadsheet formats• Calculation modules• Internet-based monitoring system (i-SMART)

SMART DocumentationThe SMART Manual comprises:• HOW TOs

– Task-wise, how to guidance – 24 HOW TOs planned

• Forms for field data collection– Project boundary, strata, implementation– Carbon pools– Emissions and leakage– Quality control

• Reporting formats• Monitoring Report templates• Index of variables names in all methodologies.• Tables of default values (IPCC and other sources used in

methodologies).• Ancillary documentation• References

SMART Monitoring HOW TOs

SMART Monitoring Formats

• All available in printed and Excel spreadsheets

• Modified to suit methodologies used in Bio-CF portfolio

i-SMART Monitoring and Reporting• Internet based tool covers:

– Monitoring provisions of methodologies -- Project database– Measurement data -- Calculation

modules– Quality Assurance/Quality Control -- Monitoring Reports

i-SMART Sample Plot Data

i-SMART - GHG Removals by Sinks Calculation Modules

i-SMART Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Training and Capacity Building

• Audio and videoconferences with project entities• In-country workshops on monitoring – Capacity building for field monitoring– Sample plots layout and measurement

• Support on data transfer and upload– Database and Excel reports to i-SMART

• Organization of database and reporting formats• Preparation of monitoring reports

Outstanding Issues – Project Level

• Capacity constraints– Limited trained personnel available for sample plot lay out

and inventory– Long term tasks to be implemented over several decades – Requires excellent documentation and training of new staff

• Growth data– Lack of allometric equations for most species– Limited basis for adopting biomass expansion factors used in

ex ante estimation– Potential of increasing certified credits by developing local

factors and equations

Outstanding Issues – Portfolio level

• Encourage project developers to collect field data and organize it centrally

• Make monitoring relevant and supportive to forest management activities

• Keep monitoring simple• Obtain timely and accurate carbon deliveries• Need to validate SMART tool

Outstanding Issues- Regulatory • Methodology revisions– Revisions of methodologies have not reduced the

monitoring burden. Several elements removed, but increased complexity because of versioning

– Inconsistencies and omissions in monitoring methodologies• Procedures on deviation/revision of monitoring plan unclear• Limited DOE experience on monitoring aspects

Expectations from AR WG

• Simplification of methodologies and guidance• Channel to discuss and clarify unclear methodological

and monitoring aspects• Request for inputs from project participants before

revisions to methodologies and consolidated methodologies are approved

• Timely publication of updated methodologies

Thanksfor your attention!