degradation Archives - Page 5 of 9 - Resilient Landscapes (RL)

The context of REDD+ in Brazil: drivers, agents, and institutions – 3rd edition

This study presents a complete update of the Brazil profile in the global and national context, as relates to the development and implementation of the national strategy for Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions arising from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), as part of CIFOR’s Global Comparative Study on REDD+.

Since 2007, Brazil has developed instruments and programs to better value its standing forests in the realm of the global Climate Convention. Over this period, federal and state governments have adopted public policies directed toward the reduction of deforestation, grounded in different measures and successive revisions since 2004 in the Plan for Prevention of Deforestation of the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm), resulting in a significant decline of 79% in deforestation rates between 2005 and 2013. But deforestation still represents over 5,000 km2 of tropical forests each year in the Brazilian Amazon alone. In fact, the current political arena promotes activities that stimulate deforestation, motivated in part of by the revisions in the national Forest Code in 2012. The study describes the actors, institutions and strategies adopted throughout this period, evaluating the context of implementation of REDD+ in the country. In conclusion, it indicates the potential to achieve continuous reduction in deforestation in an efficient, effective and equitable fashion, seeking to attain the “zero illegal deforestation” target by 2025 adopted by Brazil in its contribution to the Paris Agreements of 2015.

The context of REDD+ in Myanmar: Drivers, agents and institutions [Burmese]

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a forest resource-rich country, but is also facing serious deforestation and forest degradation problems. Currently, Myanmar’s forest still covers more than 40% of the country’s land area (Aung (2001) but 70% of its population live in rural areas, and the agricultural sector is the main contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) (30%) (World Bank 2014). The country faces the all-too-common dilemma of how to develop its economy while at the same time curbing environmental degradation and contributing to carbon emissions reduction. In 2013, Myanmar adopted a REDD+ program and started its preparatory phase. Myanmar established and developed its National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and Reference Emission Levels (RELs) for REDD+ following the guidance and modalities set out by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Implementing REDD+ requires political commitment to address direct and indirect drivers of deforestation, an adequate funding mechanism that is based on a thorough analysis of all costs and benefits, a transparent and equitable benefit-sharing mechanism, and a participatory decision-making approach in which all stakeholders can take part in REDD+. The Global Comparative Study on REDD+, together with its country partners, is compiling profiles of 14 countries to better understand the socioeconomic contexts in which REDD+ policies and processes emerge.

Stocks and fluxes of carbon associated with land use change in Southeast Asian tropical peatlands: A review

The increasing and alarming trend of degradation and deforestation of tropical peat swamp forests may contribute greatly to climate change. Estimates of carbon (C) losses associated with land use change in tropical peatlands are needed. To assess these losses we examined C stocks and peat C fluxes in virgin peat swamp forests and tropical peatlands affected by six common types of land use. Phytomass C loss from the conversion of virgin peat swamp forest to logged forest, fire-damaged forest, mixed croplands and shrublands, rice field, oil palm plantation, and Acacia plantation were calculated using the stock difference method and estimated at 116.9 ± 39.8, 151.6 ± 36.0, 204.1 ± 28.6, 214.9 ± 28.4, 188.1 ± 29.8, and 191.7 ± 28.5 Mg C ha-1, respectively. Total C loss from uncontrolled fires ranged from 289.5 ± 68.1 Mg C ha-1 in rice fields to 436.2 ± 77.0 Mg C ha-1 in virgin peat swamp forest. We assessed the effects of land use change on C stocks in the peat by looking at how the change in vegetation cover altered the main C inputs (litterfall and root mortality) and outputs (heterotrophic respiration, CH4 flux, fires, and soluble and physical removal) before and after conversion. The difference between the soil input-output balances in the virgin peat swamp forest and in the oil palm plantation gave an estimate of peat C loss of 10.8 ± 3.5 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. Peat C loss from other land use conversions could not be assessed due to lack of data, principally on soil heterotrophic respiration rates. Over 25 years, the conversion of tropical virgin peat swamp forest into oil palm plantation represents a total C loss from both biomass and peat of 427.2 ± 90.7 Mg C ha-1 or 17.1 ± 3.6 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. In all situations, peat C loss contributed more than 63% to total C loss, demonstrating the urgent need in terms of the atmospheric greenhouse gas burden to protect tropical virgin peat swamp forests from land use change and fires.

Peatlands of the Central Congo Basin, current realities and perspectives

Globally peatland ecosystems — wetlands with an accumulation of partially decomposed organic matter in the soil — store the largest amount of terrestrial carbon per unit area (Rydin and Jeglum 2006; Leifeld and Menichetti 2018). Globally peatlands cover almost three percent of the global land surface (Yu et al. 2010; Page et al. 2011; Dargie et al. 2017), representing more than the total carbon stored in Earth’s vegetation and almost twice as much carbon as found within the world’s forests (Crump 2017). Drained and degrading peatlands are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, annually releasing 5 percent of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC 2014), which is expected to increase. Therefore, protection and sustainable management of peatlands and urgent action to restore peatlands including through rewetting can avoid carbon emissions and maintain the carbon stored in the peatland ecosystem (Leifeld and Menichetti 2018; FAO 2020b).

Declining Amazon biomass due to deforestation and subsequent degradation losses exceeding gains

In the Amazon, deforestation and climate change lead to increased vulnerability to forest degradation, threatening its existing carbon stocks and its capacity as a carbon sink. We use satellite L-Band Vegetation Optical Depth (L-VOD) data that provide an integrated (top-down) estimate of biomass carbon to track changes over 2011–2019. Because the spatial resolution of L-VOD is coarse (0.25°), it allows limited attribution of the observed changes. We therefore combined high-resolution annual maps of forest cover and disturbances with biomass maps to model carbon losses (bottom-up) from deforestation and degradation, and gains from regrowing secondary forests. We show an increase of deforestation and associated degradation losses since 2012 which greatly outweigh secondary forest gains. Degradation accounted for 40% of gross losses. After an increase in 2011, old-growth forests show a net loss of above-ground carbon between 2012 and 2019. The sum of component carbon fluxes in our model is consistent with the total biomass change from L-VOD of 1.3 Pg C over 2012-2019. Across nine Amazon countries, we found that while Brazil contains the majority of biomass stocks (64%), its losses from disturbances were disproportionately high (79% of gross losses). Our multi-source analysis provides a pessimistic assessment of the Amazon carbon balance and highlights the urgent need to stop the recent rise of deforestation and degradation, particularly in the Brazilian Amazon.

Potentials for “results-based payments” in the forest sector under the Paris Agreement

The forest sector contributes to high emissions worldwide through the loss of historically built-up carbon stocks, mainly from deforestation and forest degradation. The REDD+ approach aims at compensating developing countries for efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, to maintain and increase forest carbon stocks or to manage forests sustainably. This report examines how, and under which circumstances, different forms of results-based financing are suitable for reducing emissions and enhancing removals in the forest sector in the context of different countries and mitigation measures.

Major carbon losses from degradation of Mauritia flexuosa peat swamp forests in western Amazonia

Tropical peat swamp forests are major global carbon (C) stores highly vulnerable to human intervention. In Peruvian Amazonia, palm swamps, the prevalent peat ecosystem, have been severely degraded through recurrent cutting of Mauritia flexuosa palms for fruit harvesting. While this can transform these C sinks into significant sources, the magnitude of C fluxes in natural and disturbed conditions remains unknown. Here, we estimated emissions from degradation along a gradient comprising undegraded (Intact), moderately degraded (mDeg) and heavily degraded (hDeg) palm swamps. C stock changes above- and below-ground were calculated from biomass inventories and peat C budgets resulting from the balance of C outputs (heterotrophic soil respiration (Rh), dissolved C exports), C inputs (litterfall, root mortality) and soil CH4 emissions. Fluxes spatiotemporal dynamics were monitored (bi)monthly over 1–3 years. The peat budgets (Mg C ha−1 year−1) revealed that medium degradation reduced by 88% the soil sink capacity (from − 1.6 ± 1.3 to − 0.2 ± 0.8 at the Intact and mDeg sites) while high degradation turned the soil into a high source (6.2 ± 0.7 at the hDeg site). Differences stemmed from degradation-induced increased Rh (5.9 ± 0.3, 6.2 ± 0.3, and 9.0 ± 0.3 Mg C ha−1 year−1 at the Intact, mDeg, and hDeg sites) and decreased C inputs (8.3 ± 1.3, 7.1 ± 0.8, and 3.6 ± 0.7 Mg C ha−1 year−1 at the same sites). The large total loss rates (6.4 ± 3.8, 15.7 ± 3.8 Mg C ha−1 year−1 under medium and high degradation), originating predominantly from biomass changes call for sustainable management of these peatlands.

Emission Reductions Program for Addressing Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation: An Insight from the Terai Arc Landscape in Southern Nepal

As part of the REDD+ program, for the past decade, Nepal has been working with the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility on its Emission Reductions Program (ER-Program). The ER-Program was designed for a program area covering 13 districts in the Terai Arc Landscape. Approved in 2018, the Emission Reductions Program Document (ERPD) identified six major drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the program area: unsustainable and illegal harvesting of timber and fuelwood; overgrazing; forest fires; encroachment and conversion of forest land for other land uses; resettlement; and infrastructure development. The ER-Program aims to address these drivers and help the conservation and enhancement of existing forest carbon stock through the sustainable management of forest resources. To do so, seven program interventions have been designed, ranging from localized and improved community-based forest management, through private sector engagement in the forestry sector and alternative energy promotion, to integrated land-use planning. The February 2021 Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) between the Government of Nepal and the World Bank has paved the way for official implementation of these interventions on the ground. These interventions unlock the potentiality of up to USD 45 million in results-based payments for emission reductions of up to nine million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2025. Accordingly, the ER-Program is expected to address the drivers of emissions-causing deforestation and forest degradation and enhance forest carbon stock, ultimately paving the way for results-based payments for future emissions reductions.

Land Cover and Land Use Changes between 1986 and 2018, and Preliminary Carbon Footprint Implications for Manoka Island (Littoral Region of Cameroon)

Land and resource use patterns in coastal areas play a key role in the resilience of ecosystems and populations to climate change. Knowing their spatiotemporal dynamics therefore constitutes a strategic tool to help decision-makers. Based on documentary research, geographic information system (GIS), image processing, and field work, this article maps land use on Manoka Island between 1986 and 2018 and identifies the drivers of change and avenues for intervention with a view to strengthening climate change mitigation. The results show a decrease of 4% in forest area on Manoka Island, representing an average of 112 ha of inland forest and 267 ha of mangrove converted between 1986 and 2018. This increases the degraded forest area by 268% (degraded mangrove and degraded inland forest) and exposes some camps to erosion and flooding. Reduction in forest area is mainly linked to the harvesting of fuelwood and the conversion of forests into farmland and residential areas. Settlements have increased in area from 15 ha in 1986 to 90.4 ha in 2018 to the detriment of natural spaces.

REDD+ Challenges and Lessons Learnt

Experience to date stemming from the different phases of REDD+ in over 65 countries provides useful insights into both challenges and lessons for the future of REDD+. The questions we seek to answer in this chapter are: 1. Which current technical, institutional, management and financial challenges at the local, sub-national, national and international scales, as well as across these scales, are likely to affect future implementation of REDD+ and related forest-based mitigation activities? 2. For each of these spatial scales, what relevant lessons can be identified for different stakeholder groups? In light of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021 – 2030), we also chose to place an emphasis on exploring some of the parallels between REDD+ and forest landscape restoration (FLR) given that forest restoration is one of the dimensions of REDD+ and an important component of the UN Decade.

Stay ahead of the curve