The Kyoto Protocol: provisions and unresolved issues relevant to land-use change and forestry

This paper describes the relevant text of the Kyoto Protocol and its implications for land-use change and forestry (LUCF) activities and addresses some of the technical issues that merit further consideration and clarification before the treaty comes into force. Although the phrasing of the Protocol is sometimes ambiguous and the opportunities limited, the Protocol does provide for some selected forest-related activities to be used to meet national commitments for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. To implement the forest-related portions of the Protocol, most importantly: (1) a clear definition for the word ‘reforestation' is required, (2) contradictory wording in Article 3.3 needs to be clarified to establish how credits are to be measured, (3) further thought should be given to the sentence in Article 3.7 which provides that countries with a net carbon sink in LUCF in 1990 cannot include emissions from land-use change in their 1990 baseline, whereas countries with a net carbon source in LUCF can include those emissions in their 1990 baseline, (4) the rules and baseline issues for joint implementation and the clean development mechanism need to be clarified and (5) inclusion of additional forest management activities needs to be considered.     

Evaluating climate impacts on carbon balance of the terrestrial ecosystems in the Midwest of the United States with a process-based ecosystem model

The Midwest of the United States includes 12 states and accounts for about a quarter of the total United State land area. In recent years, there is an increasing interest in knowing the biomass potential and carbon balance over this region for the past and the future. In this study, we use the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM) to evaluate these quantities in the region from 1948 to 2099. We first parameterize the model with field data of major crops, including corn (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), and wheat (Triticum spp); then the model is applied to the region for the historical period (1948–2000). Next, we evaluate the simulated forestry biomass with forest inventory data, the agricultural net primary production (NPP) with agricultural statistics data, and the regional NPP with a satellite-based product at the regional scale. Our results show that the simulated annual NPP for the Midwest increased by 1.75% per year and the whole Midwest terrestrial ecosystem acted as a carbon sink during 1948–2005. During the 21st century, vegetation and soil carbon fluxes and pools show an increase trend with a great inter-annual variability. The ecosystems serve as a carbon sink under future climate scenarios. NPP in the Midwest will increase and net ecosystem production (NEP) will also increase and show an even larger interannual variability. This study provides the information of the biomass and NEP at a state- level in the Midwest, which will be valuable for the region stakeholders to better manage their land for the purpose of increasing carbon sequestration on the one hand and meeting the increasing demand of biomass on the other.     

Carbon forestry economic mitigation potential in India,by land classification

Carbon forestry mitigation potential estimates at the global-level are limited by the absence or simplicity of national-level estimates, and similarly national-level estimates are limited by absence of regional-level estimates. The present study aims to estimate the mitigation potential for a large diverse country such as India, based on the GTAP global land classification system of agro-ecological zones (AEZs), as well the Indian AEZ system. The study also estimates the implications of carbon price incentive (US$50 and $100) on mitigation potential in the short-, medium- and long-term, since afforestation and reforestation (A & R) is constrained by lack of investment and financial incentives. The mitigation potential for short and long rotation plantations and natural regeneration was estimated using the GCOMAP global forest model for two land area scenarios. One scenario included only wastelands (29 Mha), and the second enhanced area scenario, included wastelands plus long fallow and marginal croplands (54 Mha). Under the $100 carbon price case, significant additional area (3.6 Mha under the wasteland scenario and 6.4 Mha under the enhanced area scenario) and carbon mitigation is gained in the short-term (2025) compared to the baseline when using the GTAP land classification system. The area brought under A & R increases by 85–100% for the $100 carbon price compared to $50 carbon price in the short-term, indicating the effectiveness of higher carbon price incentives, especially in the short-term. A comparison of estimates of mitigation potential using GTAP and Indian AEZ land classification systems showed that in the short-term, 35% additional C-stock gain is achieved in the $100 carbon price case in the enhanced area scenario of the Indian AEZ system. This difference highlights the role of the land classification system adopted in estimation of aggregate mitigation potential estimates, particularly in the short-term. Uncertainty involved in the estimates of national-level mitigation potential needs to be reduced, by generating reliable estimates of carbon stock gain and losses, and cost and benefit data, for land use sector mitigation options at a scale disaggregated enough to be relevant for national mitigation planning.     

贵州森林碳汇现状及增汇潜力分析

区域层面的森林碳收支估算研究有利于为整体层面持续固碳增汇的森林经营提供科学参考,评估森林碳汇对减少区域内碳排放的贡献。采用温室气体清单估算法,对2000、2005和2010年贵州省森林碳汇进行估算,结果表明:贵州省森林碳汇从15.380×106增长到22.447×106、24.314×106 t CO2,呈稳定增长趋势,占全省碳排放量的6.73%～10.35%。贵州省尚有161.70×104 hm2宜林地,如果能用于发展碳汇林业,每年可吸收CO2达2.379×106 t,30年内将吸收CO2达71.370×106 t。贵州省正处于碳排放增长阶段,相对于森林碳汇而言,全区域碳减排工作任重道远,森林碳汇能力有很大的提升空间。     

Development of regional climate mitigation baseline for a dominant agro-ecological zone of Karnataka,India

Setting a baseline for carbon stock changes in forest and land use sector mitigation projects is an essential step for assessing additionality of the project. There are two approaches for setting baselines namely, project-specific and regional baseline. This paper presents the methodology adopted for estimating the land available for mitigation, for developing a regional baseline, transaction cost involved and a comparison of project-specific and regional baseline. The study showed that it is possible to estimate the potential land and its suitability for afforestation and reforestation mitigation projects, using existing maps and data, in the dry zone of Karnataka, southern India. The study adopted a three-step approach for developing a regional baseline, namely: (i) identification of likely baseline options for land use, (ii) estimation of baseline rates of land-use change, and (iii) quantification of baseline carbon profile over time. The analysis showed that carbon stock estimates made for wastelands and fallow lands for project-specific as well as the regional baseline are comparable. The ratio of wasteland Carbon stocks of a project to regional baseline is 1.02, and that of fallow lands in the project to regional baseline is 0.97. The cost of conducting field studies for determination of regional baseline is about a quarter of the cost of developing a project-specific baseline on a per hectare basis. The study has shown the reliability, feasibility and cost-effectiveness of adopting regional baseline for forestry sector mitigation projects.

Assessment of GHG inventories from the LUCF sector of Annex-I countries

Reporting of CO₂ emissions and removals from the landuse change and forestry (LUCF) sector is assessed in this paper based onthe National GHG inventories and the National Communications submittedby the Annex-I countries. LUCF sector is a net sink for 27 countries outof 31 countries and a source for Australia, Estonia, Lithuania and UnitedKingdom. LUCF sector for Annex-I countries, as a group is a net sink of2035 Tg CO₂ (555 Tg Carbon). The sink feature is largely due toCO₂ removal by the existing forests, plantations and other trees.Forest and grassland conversion (deforestation) is not a major source ofCO₂ in the Annex-I countries. Many Annex-I countries have notfully adopted the reporting format of IPCC limiting the comparability andtransparency. Several Annex-I countries have modified the CO₂emission/removal estimates for 1990, but have not explained the reasons.Reporting of uncertainty is very limited. The methods adopted andparticularly reporting is inadequate to meet the requirements foroperationalising the Kyoto Protocol articles relevant to LUCF;comparability, transparency and verifiability.     

北京农业地域功能空间分异及影响因素

北京减量提质发展背景下,农业地域功能主要体现在优质农产品生产、生态保护、高端休闲娱乐供给、新业态示范、产业链拓展与融合以及就业收入拉动等方面。以184个街道、乡镇为基本研究地域单元,测算了北京农业地域功能并剖析了空间分异特征。研究发现：北京农业地域功能空间分异与城市空间开发结构密切相关,总体上表现为自城乡结合部核心区、拓展区到远郊区呈圈层递增态势;城乡结合部拓展区农业地域功能衰退趋势显著,对城市空间开发的约束变弱;远郊区农产品供给、生态保护和就业安置等基本和传统功能较强而产业融合、新业态等高级与现代功能偏低,农业地域功能仍有较大提升空间。通过OLS基本回归和分位数回归发现,土地因素是影响北京农业地域功能的关键因素,其中区位因素决定农用地规模进而影响农业地域功能,房价因素通过加速农用地流转对功能最弱地区的农业地域功能具有明显抑制作用。非农产业对农业地域功能具有促进而非挤压替代作用。     

Project Specific Monitoring and Verification: State of the Art and Challenges

Adequate monitoring of carbon sequestered by forestry activities is essential to the future of forestry as a climate change mitigation option. A wide range of approaches has been taken to monitor changes in forest carbon attributable to project activities. This paper describes simple, least-cost/least-precision methods, remote sensing, periodic carbon inventories, and traditional research methods. Periodic carbon inventories are the preferred approach because they are cost-effective, provide measurements with known levels of precision, and allow the monitoring of other values such as biodiversity and commercial timber volumes. Verification of monitoring estimates is discussed as an auditing process designed to evaluate reported carbon sequestration values. The limitations of remote sensing for biomass determination and the potential for changes in monitoring approaches due to improvements in technology are briefly reviewed.     

Adaptation and mitigation strategies in agriculture: an analysis of potential synergies

As climate changes due to rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, agriculture will be one of the key human activities affected. Projections show that while overall global food production in the coming decades may keep pace with the food requirements of a growing world population, climate change might worsen existing regional disparities because it will reduce crop yields mostly in lands located at lower latitudes where many developing countries are situated. Strategies to enhance local adaptation capacity are therefore needed to minimize climatic impacts and to maintain regional stability of food production. At the same time, agriculture as a sector offers several opportunities to mitigate the portion of global greenhouse gas emissions that are directly dependent upon land use, land-use change, and land-management techniques. This paper reviews issues of agriculture and climate change, with special attention to adaptation and mitigation. Specifically, as adaptation and mitigation strategies in agriculture are implemented to alleviate the potential negative effects of climate change, key synergies need to be identified, as mitigation practices may compete with modifications to local agricultural practices aimed at maintaining production and income. Under future climate and socio-economic pressures, land managers and farmers will be faced with challenges in regard to selecting those mitigation and adaptation strategies that together meet food, fiber and climate policy requirements.     

中国粮食主产区耕地撂荒程度及其对粮食产量的影响

耕地撂荒严重地影响着我国的粮食安全。以我国粮食主产区为研究区域,在识别撂荒地分布的基础上,测度了撂荒地空间分布格局,并建立耕地撂荒中介效应模型,探究了耕地撂荒对区域粮食产量的影响机制。结果表明：（1）中国粮食主产区耕地撂荒规模为405.53万hm²,撂荒率约为5.85%;空间上撂荒地规模分布呈“T”字形空间格局,黑龙江东北部、吉林西北部以及内蒙古南部地区为撂荒地主要集聚区。（2）耕地撂荒对于粮食主产区粮食产量具有显著负向影响,2017年我国粮食主产区因耕地撂荒损失的农田生产潜力达到1339.15万t,损失的粮食产量高达2265.6万t,损失比例达4.69%;内蒙古自治区成为粮食产出损失量和损失比例最大的地区。（3）粮食播种面积、农田生产潜力和农业技术投入均发挥了部分中介作用,系数分别为-0.194、-0.025和0.006。（4）应遵从城乡融合以及农业农村发展态势,强化粮食主产区农业生产现代要素投入与政策扶植,构建粮食生产—耕地休耕空间转换弹性机制,保障我国粮食安全。     

1975—2005年中亚土地利用/覆被变化对森林生态系统碳储量的影响

土地利用/覆被变化(LUCC)对碳循环的影响研究已覆盖全球绝大多数地区,但中亚LUCC对森林生态系统碳库的影响仍属未知。论文以人工林面积、森林产品收获产量及林地转移面积为基础数据,应用Bookkeeping模型,分析了1975—2005年期间三种LUCC方式对中亚森林碳库的影响。近30 a LUCC对其碳库的影响总体表现为碳汇,固碳量为3.07 Tg。植树造林表现出强烈的碳汇功能,总固碳量为12.97 Tg。森林采伐是最主要的碳释放来源,共释放碳5.80 Tg。林地转移呈现较强的碳释放特征,共排放为4.10 Tg。结果表明1975—2005年该区域LUCC对森林碳库具有明显的增汇效应。研究结果将有利于减少LUCC对全球碳收支影响的不确定性。     

河北沧州黑龙港地区粮食作物生产潜力估算

本文采用屡次分析法,运用1∶10万TM卫星图象对黑龙港类型区(沧州区域为例)农业生产水平类型划分的结果,分析计算了该区各种类型土地(高、中、低产田)的各级生产潜力和粮食作物生产潜力。得出沧州区域提高粮食生产潜力着眼点在高、中产田,主要措施是增加能量投入,合理用水,改良土壤。     

Implications of uncertainty and scale in carbon emission estimates on locally appropriate designs to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+)

This study combined uncertainty analysis of carbon emissions with local stakeholders' perspectives to develop an effective Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) scheme at the district level. Uncertainty of carbon emission estimates depends on scale while local stakeholders' views on plausible REDD+ schemes influence and limit transaction costs. The uncertainty analysis formed the basis for determining an appropriate scale for monitoring carbon emission estimates as performance measures for REDD+ incentives. Our analysis of stakeholder’ perspectives explored (i) potential location and activities for lower emission development pathways, and (ii) perceived fair allocation of REDD+incentives. Our case study focused on frontier forest in Tanjung Jabung Barat District, Jambi, Indonesia. The uncertainty analysis used Monte Carlo simulation techniques using known inaccuracy of land cover classification and variation in carbon stocks assessment per land cover type. With decreasing spatial resolution of carbon emission maps, uncertainty in carbon estimates decreased. At 1 km² resolution uncertainty dropped below 5 %, retaining most of the coarser spatial variation in the district. Fairness, efficiency and transaction cost issues in the design of REDD+ mechanisms were readily recognized by local stakeholders, who converged on an equal allocation to short-term efficiency (emission reduction activities) and long-term fairness (alternative livelihood development). A striking difference occurred in desirable transaction costs (which include monitoring, reporting and verification), with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) aiming for 8 %, while government and researchers accepted transaction costs of 40 %. Feasible measures for emission reduction in the district, derived from a participatory planning process, are compatible with the 1 km² spatial resolution of performance measures.     

Farm soil carbon monitoring developments and land use change: unearthing relationships between paddock carbon stocks, monitoring technology and new market options in Western Australia

This research provides a synthesis of soil organic carbon (SOC) densities in a range of Australian soils and land use types to decrease uncertainties in agricultural soil carbon (C) sequestration investments. This work provides information on existing Australian C soil stocks, the relationships between SOC with various agricultural and forestry land use changes, and options available for agriculturalists to cultivate and safeguard their C stocks. This work also includes recent developments in C rights, soil C monitoring, and verification technologies and procedures now in use for C stock inventories. This review has a special focus on known changes in SOC stocks, technological and methodological developments in the agricultural region of southern Western Australia (WA).     

银川市黄河滩区土壤重金属污染特征、生态风险评价与来源解析

为了解银川市黄河滩区土壤重金属污染现状及来源,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测定了银川市黄河滩区共92个采样点土壤样品中Zn、Cu、Cr、Pb、Ni、Cd、As和Mn这8种重金属的含量,采用富集因子、地累积指数法与潜在生态风险指数法对重金属污染特征进行分析和评价,并结合相关性分析、绝对主成分-多元线性回归受体模型（APCS-MLR）、正定矩阵因子分解（PMF）模型和地统计学对土壤重金属进行来源解析.结果表明,Cu和Pb含量平均值低于银川市土壤背景值,Zn、Cr、Ni、Cd、As和Mn含量平均值分别是背景值的1.28、1.06、1.08、1.79、1.11和1.19倍,所测8种重金属元素含量平均值均低于农用地土壤污染风险筛选值;不同用地类型之间重金属含量平均值表现为：荒地>退耕地>林地>耕地;研究区Zn和Cd呈轻微富集,其余6种元素无富集;Cd属于中度潜在生态风险水平,其余重金属处于轻度水平;联合受体模型表明交通和农业等人为活动来源对Zn和Cd的贡献较大,其余重金属受土壤母质等自然源影响较大.研究结果可为银川市黄河生态保护与可持续发展提供科学依据.     

Assessment of carbon leakage in multiple carbon-sink projects: a case study in Jambi Province,Indonesia

Rehabilitation of degraded forest land through implementation of carbon-sink projects can increase terrestrial carbon (C) stock. However, carbon emissions outside the project boundary, which is commonly referred to as leakage, may reduce or negate the sequestration benefits. This study assessed leakage from carbon-sink projects that could potentially be implemented in the study area comprised of 11 sub-districts in the Batanghari District, Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. The study estimates the probability of a given land use/cover being converted into other uses/cover, by applying a logit model. The predictor variables were: proximity to the center of the land use area, distance to transportation channel (road or river), area of agricultural land, unemployment (number of job seekers), job opportunities, population density and income. Leakage was estimated by analyzing with and without carbon-sink projects scenarios. Most of the predictors were estimated as being significant in their contribution to land use cover change. The results of the analysis show that leakage in the study area can be large enough to more than offset the project’s carbon sequestration benefits during the period 2002–2012. However, leakage results are very sensitive to changes of carbon density of the land uses in the study area. By reducing C-density of lowland and hill forest by about 10% for the baseline scenario, the leakage becomes positive. Further data collection and refinement is therefore required. Nevertheless, this study has demonstrated that regional analysis is a useful approach to assess leakage.     

Agricultural bio-char production,renewable energy generation and farm carbon sequestration in Western Australia: Certainty,uncertainty and risk

Reducing the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change while increasing primary productivity requires mitigation and adaptation activities to generate profitable co-benefits to farms. The conversion of woody-wastes by pyrolysis to produce bio-char (biologically derived charcoal) is one potential option that can enhance natural rates of carbon sequestration in soils, reduce farm waste, and substitute renewable energy sources for fossil-derived fuel inputs. Bio-char has the potential to increase conventional agricultural productivity and enhance the ability of farmers to participate in carbon markets beyond traditional approach by directly applying carbon into soil. This paper provides an overview of the pyrolysis process and products and quantifies the amount of renewable energy generation and net carbon sequestration possible when using farm bio-waste to produce bio-char as a primary product. While this research provides approximate bio-char and energy production yields, costs, uses and risks, there is a need for additional research on the value of bio-char in conventional crop yields and adaptation and mitigation options.     

National forest policy as a platform for biosphere carbon management: the case of community forestry in Cameroon

Little attention has been given to the development of national policies relevant for the uptake, development and implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. In this paper we examine the compatibility between forestry and related policy provisions in Cameroon and the CDM provisions for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). For each CDM requirement such as eligibility, additionality, impact assessment and sustainable development, relevant national forestry policy questions are identified. These relevant policy questions are applied to community forestry policy instruments in Cameroon to analyse the likelihood that they can enhance or inhibit the uptake and implementation of biosphere carbon projects. We found that choosing a single crown cover value (from between 10 and 30%) presented a serious dilemma for Cameroon given its diverse vegetation cover. Adopting any single value within this range is unlikely to optimize national carbon management potential. The current forest institutional and regulatory policy framework in Cameroon is inadequate for promoting carbon forestry under current CDM rules. We conclude that national policy in Cameroon would need to recognise the need for and adopt a pro-active approach for biosphere carbon management, engaging in institutional development, integrated planning, project development support and providing adequate regulatory frameworks to enhance sustainable development through CDM projects. The need for CDM/Kyoto capacity building support for proactive national and local policy development is highlighted.     

Land use structure optimization based on carbon storage in several regional terrestrial ecosystems across China

Land use change is a main driver of carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems. Based on land use data, research results related to carbon densities in vegetation and soil as well as government policies related to development in different regions of China, this paper optimized land use structure in 2020 for different regions with the goal of increasing terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage. We defined seven types of land use: (1) cultivated land, (2) garden land, (3) woodland, (4) pasture land, (5) other agricultural land, (6) urbanized land, and (7) a mixture of other land which we call mixed land which included open water, swamps, glaciers and other land as defined below. We found: (1) For most eastern regions, woodland has the highest carbon (C) densities while C densities of pasture land and cultivated land did not differ widely. Both have C densities higher than urbanized land while urbanized land has higher carbon densities than the areas placed in the mixed land type. (2) Under an optimized land use structure projected for 2020, the area of cultivated land will decrease compared with 2005 for most regions. The areas of garden land, pasture land and other agricultural land are much smaller compared with the mixed land use type, and the changes there are not obvious and their contributions to increased carbon storage are not significant. The area of woodland will increase the most obviously and it will contribute the most to increased carbon storage. The increasing urbanization of land and the decreasing trend of other land types make it difficult to change carbon storage patterns since the Chinese economy is expanding rapidly. (3) The optimized land use structure presented here will have effects on the entire country though with regional differences. Some inland regions will always have a larger potential to increase carbon storage than other areas because the potentialities in some coastal regions are limited by social and economic development.     

土地用途管制下基本农田发展权受限的区域差异及经济补偿——以湖北省武汉、荆门、黄冈等地区为实证

以湖北省武汉、荆门、黄冈等地区为实证,分析重点开发区、农产品主产区及生态功能区农民收入及土地利用行为受土地用途管制的影响,测算基本农田发展受限下农民的福利损失及空间异质性。结果表明:① 农民收入及土地利用行为具有显著的空间差异,农产品主产区农业收入较重点开发区农业收入高30 929.29 元/(户·a),生态功能区农民倾向于种植经济作物,江汉平原农产品主产区农民更愿意种植粮食作物,农地经营意愿也最强烈,而重点开发区及生态功能区农民转入农地、扩大农业经营规模的意愿较弱;② 土地用途管制对农业收入较高、农地投入较大、农地经营意愿较低、单纯种植粮食作物和兼营粮食作物与经济作物农民的影响较大;③ 土地用途管制强度及其给农民福利带来的损失具有显著空间差异,重点开发区的管制程度最强,生态功能区的管制程度最弱,其中重点开发区农民的福利损失最大[23 839.34 元/(hm²·a)],其次为生态功能区[22 266.71 元/(hm²·a)],农产品主产区最低[14 445.58 元/(hm²·a)]。