The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve REDD Project

G2.3. Estimated Carbon Stock Changes for ‘WithoutProject’ Reference ScenarioCalculate the estimated carbon stock changes associated with the‘without project’ reference scenario described above. This requiresestimation of carbon stocks for each of the land-­‐use classes of concernand a definition of the carbon pools included, among the classesdefined in the IPCC 2006 GL for AFOLU. The timeframe for this analysiscan be either the project lifetime (see G3) or the project GHGaccounting period, whichever is more appropriate. Estimate the netchange in the emissions of non-­‐CO 2 GHG emissions such as CH4 andN2O in the ‘without project’ scenario. Non-­‐CO 2 gases must be includedif they are likely to account for more than 5% (in terms of CO 2 -­‐equivalent) of the project’s overall GHG impact over each monitoringperiod. Projects whose activities are designed to avoid GHG emissions(such as those reducing emissions from deforestation and forestdegradation (REDD), avoiding conversion of non-­‐forest land, or certainimproved forest management projects) must include an analysis of therelevant drivers and rates of deforestation and/or degradation and adescription and justification of the approaches, assumptions and dataused to perform this analysis. Regional-­‐level estimates can be used atthe project’s planning stage as long as there is a commitment toevaluate locally-­‐specific carbon stocks and to develop a project-­‐specificspatial analysis of deforestation and/or degradation using anappropriately robust and detailed carbon accounting methodologybefore the start of the project.Applicability of Existing MethodologyThe sections outlined below for estimating baseline CO 2 eemissions follow the methodology developed by WinrockInternational for the Mawas Conservation Project titled:“Baseline methodology for conservation projects that preventor reduce anthropogenically-­‐induced fire in peat swamp forests,Version 5.1, December 2009” The Rimba Raya project meets theapplicability conditions outlined in the methodology as follows:A. The Rimba Raya project prevents land use change ontropical peat swamp forests.B. Baseline approach (c) is the most appropriate choice fordetermination of the baseline scenario (changes in carbonstocks in the project boundary are calculated based onthe most likely land use at the time the project starts)C. The project avoids complete conversion of peat swampforests to another known land use (palm oil plantations).D. The project prevents planned land use conversion inknown, discrete parcels of peatland.E. The project avoids land use change that would be causedby corporate or governmental entities (plantationcompanies, national forestry departments, etc.) and notby community groups, community-­‐based organizations, orindividual households.F. Peat drainage in the project area would not exceed 1meter in depth.G. Carbon stocks in dead wood and litter can be expected tofurther decrease (or increase less) in the absence of theproject activity during the time frame that coincides withthe crediting period of the project activity.H. The parcels of peat swamp forest to be converted toanother land use do not contain human settlements(towns, villages, etc.) or human activities such asagriculture, grazing or fuelwood collection.I. The biomass of vegetation within the project boundary atthe start of the project is at steady-­‐state or increasing due107