Annual Report: CIRAD 2007

The CATIE Global Change Group, in Costa Rica, and CIRAD have undertaken a series of research studies on climate change policy instruments. These studies are jointly focused at the global, ie negotiations on the Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, national and local levels. Scientists can provide policy-makers with basic elements required for effective international negotiations and for implementing the resulting policies in the field. Some decisions made concerning the Kyoto Protocol could, for instance, have impacts on economic stakeholders at the national level, as well as on local communities and ecosystems.

On a global scale, in the framework of Latin American negotiations on the Convention on Climate Change, specific research issues have been outlined concerning the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) guidelines. These are, for instance, issues on certain technical aspects such as carbon credit accounting methods in forestry projects under this mechanism. Few negotiators would be able to devote enough time for an in-depth analysis of the different options considering the complexity of the methods proposed and the broad range of topics for discussion. Models have therefore been developed to assess the impact of these options on forestry projects. The modelling results are passed on to interested parties prior to negotiations so as to provide them with a solid foundation for discussion on these issues. A similar study was carried out on simplified modalities and procedures for small-scale CDM forestry projects.

This research has real measurable spinoffs. Peru, in the name of eleven Latin American countries, referred to one of these studies during global climate negotiations. Moreover, in September 2007, the World Bank Carbon Finance Unit sent the Secretariat of the Convention on Climate Change a proposal to raise the baseline for the eligibility of small-scale CDM forestry projects that could benefit from the simplified modalities and procedures—the research studies of CIRAD and CATIE directly underpinned this World Bank request.

On a national scale, this research can assist authorities in applying the CDM by supplying them with technical data. Developing countries should select relevant parameters for defining forests under CDM projects and activities. This choice will have a major impact on determining what land would be eligible for such projects, as well as the activities that could be carried out under the projects. Studies undertaken with national stakeholders of some Latin American countries such as Costa Rica and Guatemala gave rise to a policy that addresses these countries’ CDM expectations.

On a local scale, studies are under way to assess the carbon footprint of projects with respect to local development and biodiversity. The findings should be useful in drawing up the Climate, Communities and Biodiversity (CCB) Standards. Technical assistance was also set up for project designers in Latin America. This will facilitate their task in dealing with the complexity of the CDM process, and useful lessons have already been learnt for further projects.

Contact

Bruno Locatelli, e-mail , Forest Resources and Public Policies (UPR)

Partners

• CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Costa Rica)
• Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR, Indonesia)

For further information

• Locatelli B., Pedroni L., 2006. Will simplified modalities and procedures make more small-scale forestry projects viable under the clean development mechanism? Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 11 : 621-643.
• Locatelli B., Pedroni L., Salinas Z., 2008. Design issues of forestry projects under the Clean Development Mechanism. In : Climate change and forests: emerging policy and market opportunities, Streck C. et al. (éd.). Washington : Brookings Institution Press (sous presse).
• Martínez C., Imbach P., Locatelli B., 2008. ¿Cómo seleccionar una definición de bosque en un país para el Mecanismo de Desarrollo Limpio? Recursos Naturales y Ambiente (sous presse).
• Website : http://climat.cirad.fr/