Global Climate Change: Carbon Reporting Initiative

The initiative aims to expand the ability of USAID to report global climate change impacts for forest-based activities by developing and implementing innovative tools with high scientific integrity. The AFOLU carbon calculator (ACC) is a key tool in this initiative, and under Year 6 of the cooperative agreement, efforts are focused on improving the calculator by adding updated data sets, extra calculator modules, and improving the user interface. The tool will also allow for different levels of control by administrators and improve reporting capability across all projects entered into the calculator. Task 1 of the Year 6 activities involves developing a detailed workplan for the year. This task has been completed, and sub-tasks have been initiated to improve the AFOLU carbon calculator. Sub-task 1a focuses on data collection for emission factors, including literature reviews to identify new spatial and non-spatial datasets that can be used to improve the USAID tool. Carbon stocks in mangrove forests are a key area of focus, with a literature review conducted to identify additional sources of information on improving carbon stock and deforestation estimates in mangrove forests. Spatial analysis products have been identified that better detail the spatial extent and biophysical characteristics of mangroves, and new literature values of biophysical characteristics have been added to the current database for Micronesia. Agroforestry systems are another area of focus, with carbon accumulation rates identified as a main data gap within the AFOLU Carbon Calculator. Two renowned agroforestry experts have been contracted to help Winrock expand the data base, and the consultancy aims to review the methods used in the Agroforestry Tool and allow users to insert a more complete set of data into level B of the Tool. Selective logging timber extraction rates are also a key area of focus, with no global database currently existing that reports average timber extraction rates per country. Winrock is identifying consultants who are experts in tropical selective logging to collect and compile such data for a few select countries. Secondary forests are another area of focus, with Winrock conducting a search and review of the literature on biomass accumulation rates of tropical secondary forests. The information gathered in the literature review will be compiled into the database for further application in the Forest Restoration/Plantation Tool. Additional datasets have been identified, including the Global Agro-Ecological Zones (GAEZ) web site, which has been developed for more than 30 years by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The GAEZ portal provides statistics and spatial data on global agricultural resources and potential, and Winrock is currently looking at incorporating these data into the agriculture tool for the ACC. Sub-task 1b involves updating national data sets, with a consultancy established with Dr. Sassan Saatchi to update the forest carbon stock map. Sub-task 1c involves refining estimates of deforestation rates, with Winrock reviewing new tools reporting on deforestation, including the Forest Monitoring for Action (FORMA) system.