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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