TY - JOUR
T1 - Uncertainty in establishing forest reference levels and predicting future forest-based carbon stocks for REDD+
AU - Mertz, Ole
AU - Grogan, Kenneth Joseph
AU - Pflugmacher, Dirk
AU - Lestrelin, Guillaume
AU - Castella, Jean-Christophe
AU - Vongvisouk, Thoumthrone
AU - Hett, Cornelia
AU - Fensholt, Rasmus
AU - Sun, Zhanli
AU - Berry, Nicholas J.
AU - Müller, Daniel
PY - 2018/3/4
Y1 - 2018/3/4
N2 - Forest reference levels (FRLs) provide a benchmark for assessing reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), and they are central to demonstrate additionality of REDD+. Attaining realistic FRLs, however, is challenging, especially in complex mosaic landscapes. We established FRLs in northern Laos for different reference periods and tested them against actual carbon stock changes. Annual time series of Landsat satellite images were used to capture the subtle changes in carbon stocks in complex landscapes characterized by shifting cultivation. We found that FRLs differ considerably depending on the reference period chosen. Abrupt land-use changes occurred when hybrid maize replaced traditional shifting cultivation and forests, and this invalidated carbon stock trends that would have been predicted had the FRL been projected into the future. We conclude that demonstrating additionality of REDD+ in fast developing areas is difficult and that payment systems rewarding potential emission reductions against hypothetical extrapolation of FRLs are unlikely to be a cost-effective strategy.
AB - Forest reference levels (FRLs) provide a benchmark for assessing reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), and they are central to demonstrate additionality of REDD+. Attaining realistic FRLs, however, is challenging, especially in complex mosaic landscapes. We established FRLs in northern Laos for different reference periods and tested them against actual carbon stock changes. Annual time series of Landsat satellite images were used to capture the subtle changes in carbon stocks in complex landscapes characterized by shifting cultivation. We found that FRLs differ considerably depending on the reference period chosen. Abrupt land-use changes occurred when hybrid maize replaced traditional shifting cultivation and forests, and this invalidated carbon stock trends that would have been predicted had the FRL been projected into the future. We conclude that demonstrating additionality of REDD+ in fast developing areas is difficult and that payment systems rewarding potential emission reductions against hypothetical extrapolation of FRLs are unlikely to be a cost-effective strategy.
U2 - 10.1080/1747423X.2017.1410242
DO - 10.1080/1747423X.2017.1410242
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1747-423X
VL - 13
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - Journal of Land Use Science
JF - Journal of Land Use Science
IS - 1-2
ER -
