Winrock International - Project Fact sheet: Logging and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Indonesia

Project Title:
Logging and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Indonesia

Project Website - n/a

Program Group:
Environment: Forestry, Energy & Environmental Services

Country:
Indonesia

Project Length:
2009 - 2011

Funding:
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Estimate Carbon Emissions from Logging Practices

There is great potential for cost-effective REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation) projects in developing countries where Winrock has many other type of activities. However, without the development and refinement of methods and technologies that allow accurate and cost-effective assessments of the emissions reduction benefits of REDD activities the international community may not recognize these approaches as a credible means for reducing greenhouse gases. Through the ongoing development and testing of methods and procedures associated with monitoring reductions in carbon emissions from demonstration projects in key forested countries such as Indonesia, Winrock can contribute considerably to the advancement of the state of the science of carbon monitoring methodologies. This work will build on Winrock's history of developing methods and procedures based on good science for measuring and monitoring carbon in land use and forestry projects.

The goal of this study is to estimate carbon emissions per unit land area (emissions factors), per unit of timber produced, and per unit area of gap created from logging in the major natural types of forests where logging concessions occur in the district of Berau, Indonesia.

1. Stratify study area relevant to carbon stocks and logging activities.

2. Collect field data needed to estimate carbon emissions from logging in each forest type-logging type class combination. This will be done through a combination of (i) aerial imagery collection and analysis, and (ii) field data collection soon after or during logging activities. Supplementary data will also be acquired where possible from concessionaires and/or other sources. The goal is to collect aerial and ground data in four concessions in Berau, to be confirmed after field scoping.

3. Analysis of data products from steps 1 and 2 to estimate carbon emissions resulting from logging events in each concession, characterized by one or more forest type-logging type class combination.

4. Analysis of data products from steps 1 and 2 to estimate potential reduced emissions from improved logging practices. Specific improved logging practices to analyze will be determined based on practices relevant in Berau, and may include: improved road design, directional felling, liana cutting, increased rotation length, avoidance of steep slopes, avoidance of riparian zones, and avoidance of high conservation value forests (HCVF).

Aerial imagery could not be collected, so an alternate method based on satellite imagery has been adoped. Additional results will be noted as the project progresses.