Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Viktar Fenchuk (APB)
Norbert Schaffer (RSPB)
Zbigniew Karpowicz (RSPB)Yelnia raised bog, Belarus
Peatland restoration in Belarus: from grants
to carbon credits
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
- Belarus is the country of peatlands
- Peatlands cover 14.2% of the territory of Belarus (2,9 mio ha)
Why Belarus?
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Belarus
- In 1960-1990 over 50% of peatlands (1,5 mio ha) were drained.
- C. 70% are drained for agriculture
- Following the breakdown of USSR large areas of drained peatlands are now abandoned or ineffectively used
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Peat extraction
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Forestry
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Agriculture
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
From carbon sinks to carbon sources
Belarus:
#17 in peatland area in the World, but…
# 8 in CO2 emissions from degraded peatlands
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
UNDP-GEF Peatlands project (2006-2010)
GEF SGP Projects (2008 – ongoing)
Belarus Climate & Biodiversity projects (2008-2012)
Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus
Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus
Village councils
Peatland rewetting in Belarus
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
More than 20
sites
Over 50’000 ha
rewetted
Peatland rewetting in Belarus (2006- 2011)
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Dalbeniski degraded peatland / to be restored in 2011 with KfW funds
Before
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Zady degraded peatland / to be restored in 2011 with KfW funds
Before
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Hrycyna degraded peatland / restored in 2009 with KfW funds
After
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Hrycyna degraded peatland / restored in 2009 with KfW funds
After
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
From 2012 onwards
Finances thought using mechanisms of voluntary carbon market
Additional area rewetted 2012-2015 – 9 440 ha
Rewetted area managed: 18 020 ha
TOTAL emission reductions 2011-2028 – 936 000 tCO2e
Total project size: 4,5 mio euro
Belarus Peatland Rewetting (BPR) project
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Managed sites – 9 sites rewetted with KfW funds in 2008- 2011
Sites to be restored – 5 sites to be rewetted starting 2012
Belarus peatland rewetting project
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Site Name Area, ha
Hrycyna 3,505
Obal 1,780
Poplau Moch 415
Zadenauski Moch 700
Scerbinski Moch 1,400
Dakudauskaje 1,600
Zady 3,380
Dalbeniski 4,760
Chareuskoje 200
Barcianiha 280
18,020
Emission reductions from this area will be fully included in the project
BPR - Managed sites
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Site Rewetting Area (ha)
1. Bializkaje 1,600
2.Hadylova-Uchlast,southern part
2,400
3. Pcic 1,800
4. Biarozavik 2,400
5. Hladynski Moch 1,240
Total 9,440
BPR – sites to be rewetted
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Conclusion of InitialMemorandum of Understanding (MoU)* between Ministry of Environmental Protection and HLG/KfW
Conclusion of Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) between Project Entity and HLG/KfW
Submission of a Project Idea Note (PIN) to the Ministry for Environmental Protection for a Letter of Endorsement.
Submission of full Project Design Document (PDD) to the Ministry. Issuance a Letter of Approval
* Initial MoU becomes MoU after Letter of Approval is issued
National carbon project cycle
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
• World’s leading voluntary carbon standard
• 2011 – amended to allow Peatland Rewetting and Conservation Projects (PRC) – in frames of KfW funded project
• Approved monitoring and baseline methodology is under development - in frames of KfW funded project
- Voluntary Standard applied in addition to VCS
- Ascertains that projects:
• minimize climate change• support sustainable development• conserve biodiversity
International carbon standards- double certification process
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Starts after finalization of national carbon cycle and receipt a Letter of Approval from the Ministry of Environment
Registration of the project (PDD) and verification – i.e. the process of auditing the emission reductions achieved.
Registration involves the preparation of a validation report and its submission (together with other relevant documentation) to the VCS Registry Operator.
Verification involves the preparation and submission of a verification report. Once this is approved, the VCS Registry Operator will issue VCUs
Procedure
VCS PD Valid. & Verif.
Additionality Test
Methodology existing/new
Validation report
Verificationreport
Certificationstatement
Proof of title
VCS registrySerial No.
VCU Issuance
Project developer Validator & Verifier
VCS Association(Board and Secretariat)
Registry Operator(s)
appointsaccredits
International carbon project cycle
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
New VCS Methodology is developed by the Project
GEST (Green House Gas Emission Site Types) approach
GEST: vegetation types with specific water level classes and
annual GHG fluxes
Estimating Project Carbon Impact
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Estimating Project Carbon ImpactBased on vegetation mapping and prediction of habitat development
with and without rewetting
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
BACI approach (Before-After–Control–Impact)
CBM methodology
Dalbeniski raised bog – Impact (rewetting) Skuraty raised bog – Control site
Estimating Project Biodiversity Impact
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Long-term effect
Based on habitat development scenario
Species 2010 2040
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 0 10-19 pairs
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) 39-46 pairs 81-98 pairs
Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) 0 25-31 pairs
Merlin (Falco columbarius) 0 5 pairs
Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) 3 pairs 5-8 pairs
Crane (Grus grus) 3-7 pairs 17-23 pairs
Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) 86-151 males 193-340 males
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) 1 individual 3 pairs
Black stork (Ciconia nigra) 1-5 pairs 4-9 pairs
Teal (Anas crecca) 77-89 pairs 125-158 pairs
Scarlet Rosefinch (Carpodacus
erythrinus)
37-51 pairs 150-225 pairs
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 24-41 pairs 120-150 pairs
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) 64-74 pairs 69-233 pairs
Stirling conference, June 22, 2011
Thank you
Short-toed snake eagle – one of the species to benefit from restoration
