VCSMethodologyVM0035MethodologyforImprovedForestManagementthroughReducedImpactLoggingVersion1.028April2016SectoralScope14VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope142Thismethodologywasdevelopedby:TheNatureConservancyTerraCarbon,LLCVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope143TableofContents1SUMMARYDESCRIPTIONOFTHEMETHODOLOGY.......................................................................42DEFINITIONS........................................................................................................................................53APPLICABILITYCONDITIONS.............................................................................................................64PROJECTBOUNDARY.........................................................................................................................75BASELINESCENARIO........................................................................................................................106ADDITIONALITY..................................................................................................................................107QUANTIFICATIONOFGHGEMISSIONREDUCTIONS....................................................................11BaselineandProjectEmissions.......................................................................................................117.1Leakage............................................................................................................................................157.2SummaryofGHGEmissionReductionand/orRemovals...............................................................157.38MONITORING......................................................................................................................................16DataandParametersAvailableatValidation..................................................................................168.1DataandParametersMonitored......................................................................................................208.2DescriptionoftheMonitoringPlan...................................................................................................268.39REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................26APPENDIX1:REGION-SPECIFICPERFORMANCEMETHODREQUIREMENTS.................................27VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1441SUMMARYDESCRIPTIONOFTHEMETHODOLOGYAdditionalityandCreditingMethodAdditionalityPerformanceMethodCreditingBaselinePerformanceMethodThismethodologyisapplicabletoprojectswhichimplementreducedimpactloggingpracticestoreducegreenhousegas(GHG)emissions(hereaftertermedRIL-Cpractices)inoneormoreofthreeGHGemissionsourcecategories(ie,timberfelling,skiddingandhauling).RIL-Cpracticesmayentailarangeofimprovedloggingandharvestplanningpractices,including,butnotlimitedto,directionalfelling,improvedlogbucking(topermitgreaterrecovery),improvedharvestplanningviapre-harvestinventory,skidtrailplanningand/ormonocablewinching,andreductioninwidthofhaulroadsandsizeofloglandings.TheeffectivenessofRIL-Cpractices,andaccountingofemissionreductionsattributabletothosepractices,isassessedonthebasisoftheirimpactspost-harvest.Emissionreductionsareaccountedforbyapplyingaperformancemethodapproach,wherebyemissionreductions(netofbaselineandprojectemissions)areassignedasafunctionofthedifferencebetweenasetcreditingbaselineforeachemissionsourcecategory(ie,felling,skiddingandhauling)andthemeasuredimpactofthoseparametersintheprojectscenario.Toensurecredibleestimationofemissionreductions,theimpactparametersappliedbythismethodologyarequantitativeandoutcome-based,ratherthanprocess-based(whicharetypicallylimitedtodemonstratingthatthepracticeisinplace,butmayprovidenoinformationonhowsuccessfultheimplementationofthepracticeis).Further,emissionreductionsareestimatedasacontinuousfunctionoftheimpactparametervalueswithwhichtheycorrespond,providingbetterresolutionofoutcomesthanaflatdefaultfactor.Thismethodologyhasbeendesignedtoensurethatemissionreductionsachievedbasedononeimpactparameterarenotreversedbyexcessiveemissionswithrespecttoanotherimpactparameter,byrequiringthatallimpactparametersmustbeatorbelowthecreditingbaselineinorderforcreditstobegeneratedbasedonanyoneimpactparameter.Accountingisfurthersimplifiedbyincorporatingtheassumptionthatleakageequalszeroandthewoodproductspoolcanbeexcludedbecausethemethodologyrequiresthatthereisnoreductioninharvestlevels.Accountingisfocusedonemissionsatthetimeofharvestfromoperationsincludingfelling,skiddingandhauling,anddelayedemissionsfrombelowgroundbiomass.Anynetsequestrationfromcomparativelyimprovedgrowthpost-RIL-Charvestisconservativelyignored.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope145Accountingofemissionreductionsbeginsontheprojectstartdateandisdeterminedonallharveststhroughtheprojectcreditingperiod.Thisdocumentprovidestheframeworkforthemethodology,andservestooutlinecoreaccountingprocedures.Keyparameterssuchasadditionalitybenchmarks,creditingbaselines,impactparameters,emissionreductionequationsandmonitoringproceduresareprovidedincorrespondinggeographic-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodules.Thismethodologymustbeusedinconjunctionwitharegion-specificperformancemethodmodule.ThelistofapprovedperformancemethodmodulesapplicabletothismethodologycanbefoundontheVCSwebsite.2DEFINITIONSInadditiontothedefinitionssetoutinVCSdocumentProgramDefinitions,thefollowingdefinitionsapplytothismethodology:AdditionalityBenchmarkThelevelofagivenimpactparameterbelowwhichaprojectisdeemedadditional,specifiedintermsofimpactparametervalueswhichrepresentacertainbaselevelofperformanceamongloggingoperationswithinasampledlogginglandscape.CreditingBaselineThelevelofagivenimpactparameterbelowwhichemissionreductionsmaybecredited,specifiedintermsofimpactparametervalueswhichrepresentacertainbaselevelofperformanceamongloggingoperationswithinasampledlogginglandscape.Thecorrespondingbaselinescenarioisrepresentedbyanaggregateofindividualloggingoperationsfromthelogginglandscapeoperatingatthisspecifiedlevelofperformance.ImpactParameterQuantitativeparameterbasedonfieldmeasurementswhichdefinesboththecreditingbaselineandtheadditionalitybenchmark.Eachimpactparameterhasanestablishedempiricalrelationshipwithemissionslevels,andisthususedasaproxyforemissionsthatcanbereadilymeasuredinthefield.LoggingLandscapeThegeography,classofactors/sector,majorloggingsystem(eg,selectiveharvest)andtimeframewithinwhichtherelationshipsoftheimpactparameter(withemissionreductions)areapplicable,andwhichisdefinedinthecorrespondingregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope146ReducedImpactLogging(RIL-C)Measuresthatreduceemissionsfromtimberharvestinoneormoreofthreeemissionsourcecategories:felling,skiddingandhauling.Componentpracticesmayinclude,butarenotlimitedto,directionalfelling,improvedlogbucking,improvedharvestplanningviapre-harvestinventory,skidtrailplanning,mapping,andoversightand/orlongcablewinching,andreductioninwidthofhaulroadsandsizeofloglandings.1,23APPLICABILITYCONDITIONSThismethodologyappliestoprojectactivitieswhichimplementRIL-Cpracticesinforests.Projectsapplyingthismethodologymustmeetthefollowingapplicabilityconditions:1)Theprojectactivitydoesnotinvolveadeliberatereductioninharvestlevels.ThecriteriatodemonstratenointentionalreductioninharvestlevelareprovidedintheapplicableRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.2)Theprojectactivityandthebaselinescenariodonotinvolveconversionofforesttoanon-forestlanduse/landcover(ie,bothrepresentforestsremainingasforests,sensuIPCCGL2006).3)Ineveryyearcredited,theprojectproponentmustholdlegalauthorizationforallloggingactivitiesreferencedintheprojectfromtherelevantgovernmentauthority.4)Theprojectareamustbelocatedinalogginglandscapedevelopedforacorrespondingregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.Itmustbedemonstratedthattheentireprojectareaiscontainedwithintheapplicablelogginglandscape.5)Theentireprojectareameetsthedefinitionofforest,eitherhostcountry-specific,UNFCCCorFAOdefinition.6)RIL-Cpracticesimplementedaspartoftheprojectactivitymustnotincreasebusiness-as-usuallevelsofimpactonpre-existingdeadwoodstocksthroughslashmanagement,salvageharvestingorotherplannedremovalofdeadwood.3Requirementsfordevelopinganewregion-specificperformancemethodcanbefoundin0.1Notethatsomepracticesmayapplytomorethanoneemissionsourcecategory.Directionalfelling,forexample,canservetoalignlogswiththeplannedskiddingnetwork,reducingskiddingdamage,andreducedamagetothefelledlog,improvingroundwoodrecovery.2NotethatRIL-Cpracticesdonotincludeslashmanagement,salvageharvestingorotherplannedremovalofdeadwood.3VVBsneedonlyconfirmthatthisisthecasethroughoneofthefollowing:aqualitativeassessmentofnoevidenceofremovalofdeadwoodonsite(ie,lookingforevidenceofremoval,orcomparingdeadwoodcarbonstocksintheprojectareatosurroundingareas),interviewingprojectproponents,reviewingmanagementplans,oraquantitativeassessmentofinventorydataofdeadwoodcarbonstocks(iftheyexist).VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1474PROJECTBOUNDARYGeographicboundaryTheprojectareaisdefinedastheareaoverwhichtheprojectproponentholdsauthorizationtoconducttimberharvestoverthelengthoftheprojectcreditingperiod.Theareainitsentiretymustmeetthedefinitionofforest(seeSection3abovefordefinitionofforest).Theprojectareamaybeasubsetoftheconcessionholdingsoftheprojectproponent,butthatthefullextentoftheprojectareamustbedefinedatvalidation.TheboundaryoftheprojectareamustbeclearlydelineatedanddocumentedwithdigitalmapsintheformatspecifiedbytheVCSrules.TemporalboundaryThetemporalboundaryoftheprojectissetfromtheprojectstartdate,markingtheinitialharvestonwhichRIL-Cpracticesareimplemented,andtheendoftheprojectcreditingperiod.PoolsandSourcesTable1belowdiscussesthecarbonpoolsincludedintheprojectboundary.Poolsincludedintheprojectboundaryarerestrictedtoabove-andbelow-groundtreebiomass.Table2belowdiscussestheemissionsourcesthatareincludedintheprojectboundary.Emissionsfromfossilfuelcombustionareconservativelyexcluded.Notethattherearenooptionalpools,andthattheincludedpools/sources(above-andbelowgroundtreebiomass)areaccountedinboththebaselineandprojectscenarios.Table1:GHGPoolsIncludedinorExcludedfromtheProjectBoundaryCarbonpoolsIncluded?Justification/ExplanationAbovegroundtreebiomass(includedinabovegroundcarbon,AGC)YesMustbeincluded–representsasignificantpoolaffectedbytheprojectactivityAbovegroundnon-treebiomassNoConservativelyexcluded–thispoolisexpectedtoincreaserelativetothebaselineasaresultoftheprojectactivity(fromreducedskiddingdamage)BelowgroundbiomassYesMustbeincludedinallcases–representsasignificantpoolaffectedbytheprojectactivityVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope148Deadwood(includedinabovegroundcarbon,AGC)YesStandingandlyingdeadwoodproducedbyharvestareincluded.Changesinstocksofpre-existingdeadwoodareconservativelyignored(furtherexplainedbelow).HarvestedwoodproductsNoApplicabilitycondition1obviatestheinclusionofthewoodproductspoolbecausethereisnodifferenceinharvestlevelsbetweenthebaselineandprojectscenarios.LitterNoNosignificantchangeisexpectedinthispoolasaresultoftheprojectactivitySoilNoNosignificantchangeisexpectedinthispoolasaresultoftheprojectactivityAbovegroundcarbonstocksincludebothliveanddead(standingandlying)pools.Emissionreductionsquantifiedfortheabovegroundcarbonpoolrepresenttransferofbiomasscarbonfromlivetreestodeadwood,followedbysteadyemissionsviadecomposition,withoutexplicitlyseparatingtheaccountingoftheseelements,asdescribedinFigure1below.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope149Figure1:SchematicofPoolsandFluxesIncorporatedinAbovegroundCarbon(AGC)EmissionsEmissionsfromthedeadwoodpoolincludedinaccountingarefromdeadwoodproducedduringharvest(ie,slashandnewstandingdeadwoodfromharvestandcollateraldamage).Thismethodologyconservativelydoesnotaccountforchangesinpre-existingstandingandlyingdeadwoodafterharvest;thesestockswouldbeexpectedtobegreaterintheprojectscenariopost-harvestduetoless-impactfulRIL-Cpractices.AsRIL-Cpracticesimplementedaspartoftheprojectactivitydonotincludeslashmanagement,salvageharvestingorotherplannedremovalofdeadwood,thisassumptionisfurtherassured.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1410Table2:GHGEmissionSourcesIncludedInorExcludedFromtheProjectBoundarySourceGasIncluded?Justification/ExplanationBaselineFossilfuelemissionsCO2NoConservativelyexcluded-projectactivityisexpectedtoresultinloweremissions(frommoreefficientuseofskidders)fromuseofmachineryCH4NoConservativelyexcluded-projectactivityisexpectedtoresultinloweremissions(frommoreefficientuseofskidders)fromuseofmachineryN2ONoConservativelyexcluded-projectactivityisexpectedtoresultinloweremissions(frommoreefficientuseofskidders)fromuseofmachineryProjectFossilfuelemissionsCO2NoSameasforbaselinescenarioCH4NoSameasforbaselinescenarioN2ONoSameasforbaselinescenario5BASELINESCENARIOThebaselinescenarioisestablishedbytheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule,andrepresentsloggingoperationsinaggregate,operatingataspecifiedlevelofperformance,forthereferencedlogginglandscape.Thebaselinescenarioisrepresentedbyregion-specificcreditingbaselinessetforeachimpactparameter(ie,proxyfactor)bytheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.6ADDITIONALITYThismethodologyusesaperformancemethodforthedemonstrationofadditionality.Step1:RegulatorySurplusTheprojectproponentmustdemonstrateregulatorysurplusinaccordancewiththerulesandrequirementsregardingregulatorysurplussetoutinthelatestversionoftheVCSStandard.Step2:PerformanceBenchmarkProjectsmustexceedtheregion-specificperformancebenchmarkforeachimpactparameter(ie,proxyfactor),asprovidedintheapplicableRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.OneormoreimpactparametersaredefinedintheapplicableRIL-Cperformancemethodmoduleforeachofthreecategories:fellingimpacts,skiddingimpactsandhaulingimpacts.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1411Projectsmayonlybecreditedforemissionreductionsfromoneormoreimpactparametersiftheyaredeemedadditional.Aprojectisdeemedadditionalforoneormoreimpactparametersiftheimpactparameterisbelowtheadditionalitybenchmarkassignedforthatimpactparameter.Theprojectmayonlybecreditedforemissionreductionsifallimpactparametersareatorbelowtheirrespectivecreditingbaselines.Thisbenchmarkthresholdshouldbeconservativeandstrikeabalancebetweenrestrictionoffreeridersandfeasibilityofparticipation.Thisthresholdmaybedifferentfrom(ie,lowerthan)thecreditingbaseline.Thus,whileaprojectmustbebelowtheadditionalitybenchmarkinordertoreceiveanyemissionreductionscredits,oncebelowtheadditionalitybenchmark,theamountofcreditsgeneratedismeasuredusingthecreditingbaseline.7QUANTIFICATIONOFGHGEMISSIONREDUCTIONSBaselineandProjectEmissions7.1Baselineandprojectemissionsareaddressedsimultaneously,wherebyanemissionreductionvalue(specifiedintonnesofCO2reduced(ie,netofbaselineandprojectemissions))isassignedasafunctionofthedifferencebetweentheimpactparameter(proxyvariable)intheprojectandinthecreditingbaselineforeachemissionsourcecategory(felling,skiddingandhauling).Assignedemissionreductions,expressedonaperhectarebasis,arethensummedforthethreeemissionsourcecategories,andmultipliedbythenumberofhectaresintheharvestareainyeart.Step1:DetermineHarvestAreaTheharvestareainyeartshouldbedelineatedonthebasisofpapermapsorGISfilesspecifyingtheactualharvestareainyeart.Fromthisarea,theprojectproponentmustdelineateandexcludeanyareaswheretimberharvestimpactswillnothappenforanyreason(eg,duetogeographicfeatures,lowstocking,setasidesorpoorplanning).TheresultingareaisspecifiedinhectarestoproduceparameterAt.Step2:CalculateEmissionReductionsBasedonMeasuredImpactParametersCalculateemissionreductionsforeachemissionsourcecategorybasedonmeasuredimpactparameters.EachequationbelowcalculatesemissionreductionsintCO2/ha(thedependentvariable)asafunctionof(ie,fAGC)aspecificimpactparameter(theindependentvariable).Functionsandcorrespondingunitsareprovidedintheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.ERfell_AGC,t=fAGC(FELLt)(1)ERskid_AGC,t=fAGC(SKIDt)(2)VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1412ERhaul_AGC,t=fAGC(HAULt)(3)ERfell_BGB,t=fBGB(FELLt)(4)ERskid_BGB,t=fBGB(SKIDt)(5)ERhaul_BGB,t=fBGB(HAULt)(6)Where:FELLt=Fellingimpactparametermeasuredinyeart(unitspecifiedinperformancemodule)SKIDt=Skiddingimpactparametermeasuredinyeart(unitspecifiedinperformancemodule)HAULt=Haulingimpactsmeasuredinyeart(unitspecifiedinperformancemodule)ERfell_AGC,t=Emissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtofellinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERskid_AGC,t=Emissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtoskiddinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERhaul_AGC,t=Emissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtohaulinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERfell_BGB,t=Emissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtofellinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERskid_BGB,t=Emissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtoskiddinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERhaul_BGB,t=Emissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtohaulinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)t=1,2,3,…ttimeelapsedsincethestartofprojectactivity(years)Step3:SumEmissionReductionsSumallemissionreductionstodeterminethecombinedemissionreductionsfromabove-andbelowgroundbiomass.Foranytimet,ifanyimpactparameterisgreaterthanorequaltothecreditingbaselineforthatyear,parametersRILC,AGC,tandRILC,BGB,tmustbesettozero.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1413RILCAGC,t=ERfell_AGC,t+ERskid_AGC,t+ERhaul_AGC,t(7)RILCBGB,t=ERfell_BGB,t+ERskid_BGB,t+ERhaul_BGB,t(8)IfERFelltand/orERSkidtand/orERHault<0thenRILCAGCt=0andRILCBGBt=0.Where:RILC,AGC,t=CombinedemissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonfromRIL-Cinyeart(tCO2e/ha)RILC,BGB,t=CombinedemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassfromRIL-Cinyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERfell_AGC,t=Emissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtofellinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERskid_AGC,t=Emissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtoskiddinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERhaul_AGC,t=Emissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtohaulinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERfell_BGB,t=Emissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtofellinginyert(tCO2e/ha)ERskid_BGB,t=Emissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtoskiddinginyeart(tCO2e/ha)ERhaul_BGB,t=Emissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtohaulinginyeart(tCO2-e/ha)t=1,2,3…ttimeelapsedsincethestartofprojectactivity(years)Step4:DetermineEmissionReductionsbyHarvestAreaEmissionsfromabovegroundcarbonresultfromtransferofabovegroundlivebiomasstothedeadwoodpoolfollowedbysteadydecomposition.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1414Emissionreductionsfromtheabovegroundcarbonpoolaredeterminedeitherbyapplyinganapplicabledeadwooddecompositionrate,usingequation9a,orbyapplyinga10-yearlineardecayrate,usingequation9b.Emissionreductionsfromthebelowgroundbiomasspoolmustapplya10-yearlineardecayrate(inbothequations9aand9b).Thus,foragivenyeart,annualemissionreductionsfromabove-andbelowgroundcarbonaresummedacrossareaspreviouslyharvested.𝐶𝑅𝑅𝑅,𝑡=∑𝐴𝑡∗𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝐴𝐴𝐴,𝑡∗(1−𝐾)𝑡−𝑡∗∗𝐾𝑡𝑡=1+∑𝐴𝑡∗𝑡𝑡−10𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵𝐵,𝑡∗(110)(9a)Where:CRIL,t=Totalemissionreductionsattimet(tCO2e)RILC,AGC,t=CombinedemissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonfromRIL-Cinyeart(tCO2e/ha)RILC,BGB,t=CombinedemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassfromRIL-Cinyeart(tCO2e/ha)K=Deadwoodannualdecompositionrate(percent/year)At=Harvestareainyeart(ha)t=1,2,3…ttimeelapsedsincethestartoftheRILprojectactivity(years)𝐶𝑅𝑅𝑅,𝑡=∑𝐴𝑡∗𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝐴𝐴𝐴,𝑡∗(110)𝑡𝑡−10+∑𝐴𝑡∗𝑡𝑡−10𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵𝐵,𝑡∗(110)(9b)Where:CRIL,t=Totalemissionreductionsattimet(tCO2e)RILC,AGC,t=CombinedemissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonfromRIL-Cinyeart(tCO2e/ha)RILC,BGB,t=CombinedemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassfromRIL-Cinyeart(tCO2e/ha)At=Harvestareainyeart(ha)t1,2,3,…ttimeelapsedsincethestartoftheRILprojectactivity(years)Ex-anteProjectionsofGHGEmissionReductionsAtprojectvalidationand10yearbaselinere-assessment,anex-anteestimateofGHGemissionreductionmustbeproducedinaccordancewithVCSrules.TheprojectionwillapplyallVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1415calculationsoutlinedabove,incorporatingimpactparametersandfunctionstoestimateemissionreductions(ie,fAGCandfBGB)providedintheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.Anticipatedareaharvestedperyear(At)willbereferencedfromannualauthorizedharvestareasspecifiedintheprojectmanagementauthorization;itisunderstoodthattheseareasmaydifferfromtheareasactuallyharvestedexpost.Foreachimpactparameter(eg,FELLt)thatwillbeaddressedthroughtheprojectactivityandforeachyear,theprojectproponentmustassumeaconservativelevelofeffectivenessachieved,asapercentimprovementfromthecreditingbaselinevalueprovidedintheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.Theanticipatedpercentimprovementisavalue<1.0,andmustbejustifiedreferencingspecificoperationalmanagementproceduresand/orinfrastructuretobeputinplaceduringprojectimplementation.Forexample,ifa30%improvement(indicatingreducedemissions)frombaselineisanticipatedforagivenimpactparameter,andassumingthatlevelofimprovementmeetstheadditionalitybenchmark,thenmultiplythecreditingbaselinevalueoftheimpactparameterby(1–0.30)=0.70.Theresultingvalueoftheimpactparameteristhebasisforcalculatingemissionreductionsfromthecreditingbaseline.Notethatifagivenimpactparameterisconstructedtoincreasefromthebaselinevaluewithadeclineinassociatedemissionlevels(ratherthandeclinefrombaselinevaluewithdecliningemissionsasassumedabove),thentheexampleequationabovewouldbemodifiedaccordingly.Leakage7.2Sincetheapplicabilityconditionsdonotallowforchangesinharvestlevels,itcanbeconservativelyassumedthatleakageiszerobecausethereisnodifferenceinharvestlevelsbetweenthebaselineandprojectscenarios.SummaryofGHGEmissionReductionand/orRemovals7.3UncertaintySourcesofuncertaintyincludeuncertaintywithrespecttothecalculationofemissionreductionsfromimpactparameters,anduncertaintywithrespecttoestimatesofimpactparameters.Thesetwosourcesofuncertaintyareaddressedbysettingdemonstrablyconservativeemissionreductionsassociatedwitheachimpactparameterandthroughimposedminimumsamplingintensityrequirementsforestimationofimpactparameters,allestablishedintheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.Therefore,nouncertaintydeductionisnecessary.Itisassumedthatprojectareaboundaries,At,areknownexactly.NetGHGemissionreductionsarecalculatedasfollows:𝐸𝐸𝑡=𝐶𝑅𝑅𝑅,𝑡(10)VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1416Where:ERT=NetGHGemissionreductionsinyeart(tCO2e)CRIL,t=Totalemissionreductionsattimet(tCO2e)EmissionreductionseligibleforissuanceasVerifiedCarbonUnits(VCUs)arecalculatedbysubtractingtheAFOLUpooledbufferaccountcontributionfromERt,referencingtheproject’sriskratingattimetusingthemostrecentversionoftheVCSAFOLUNon-PermanenceRiskTool.8MONITORINGThepurposeofmonitoringistogeneratefieldmeasurementsaftereachharvestfromwhichemissionreductionscanbeestimated.Thus,followingcompletionofeachharvest,allimpactparametersfromallloggingemissionsourcecategories(felling,skiddingandhauling),asidentifiedintheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule,mustbesampledinthefieldandestimatedaccordingtoproceduresdetailedintheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethod.Throughouttheprojectcreditingperiod,monitoringmustbeconductedwithinfiveyearsaftereachharvestunlessotherwisespecifiedintheapplicablegeographic-specificperformancemethodmodule.Theexpectationofusersofthismethodologyandfuturemodulesdevelopedbasedonthismethodologyisthatverificationauditteamsareabletoresamplemonitoringactivitiesthathaveoccurredoveranentireverificationperiod.Theappropriatemonitoringtimeframewillbedictatedbyregionalforestregrowthratesanddecompositionrates.Forexample,areasindryforestwithslowforestregrowthanddecompositionmaybeabletomonitorevery5years,andareasinwettropicalforestwithveryfastgrowthratesanddecompositionmayneedtobemonitoredevery2years.DataandParametersAvailableatValidation8.1Data/ParameterfAGC(FELLt)DataunitDimensionlessDescriptionEquationestimatingemissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtofellinginyeart(ERfell_AGC,t)asafunctionoffellingimpactsmeasuredinyeart(FELLt)Equation1SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1417ValueappliedJustificationofchoiceofdataordescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandproceduresappliedRefertoapplicableRIL-CperformancemethodPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentData/Parameter:fBGB(FELLt)DataunitDimensionlessDescriptionEquationestimatingemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundcarbonrelatedtofellinginyeart(ERfell_BGB,t)asafunctionoffellingimpactsmeasuredinyeart(FELLt)Equation4SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleValueappliedJustificationofchoiceofdataordescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandproceduresappliedRefertoapplicableRIL-CperformancemethodPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentData/Parameter:fAGC(SKIDt)DataunitDimensionlessDescriptionEquationestimatingemissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtoskiddinginyeart(ERskid_AGC,t)asafunctionofskiddingimpactsmeasuredinyeart(SKIDt)Equation2SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleValueappliedJustificationofchoiceofdataordescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandproceduresappliedRefertoapplicableRIL-CperformancemethodVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1418PurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentData/Parameter:fBGB(SKIDt)DataunitDimensionlessDescriptionEquationestimatingsavingsfactorforemissionsfrombelowgroundcarbonrelatedtoskiddinginyeart(ERskid_BGB,t)asafunctionofskiddingimpactsmeasuredinyeart(SKIDt)Equation3SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleValueappliedJustificationofchoiceofdataordescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandproceduresappliedRefertoapplicableRIL-CperformancemethodPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentData/Parameter:fAGC(HAULt)DataunitDimensionlessDescriptionEquationestimatingsavingsfactorforemissionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtohaulinginyeart(ERhaul_AGC,t)asafunctionofhaulingimpactsmeasuredinyeart(HAULt)Equation3SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleValueappliedJustificationofchoiceofdataordescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandproceduresappliedRefertoapplicableRIL-CperformancemethodPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1419Data/Parameter:fBGB(HAULt)DataunitDimensionlessDescriptionEquationestimatingsavingsfactorforemissionsfrombelowgroundcarbonrelatedtohaulinginyeart(ERhaul_BGB,t)asafunctionofhaulingimpactsmeasuredinyeart(HAULt)Equation6SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleValueappliedJustificationofchoiceofdataordescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandproceduresappliedRefertoapplicableRIL-CperformancemethodPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentData/Parameter:KDataunitPercent/yearDescriptionDeadwoodannualdecompositionrateEquation9aSourceofdataValuesfromtheliterature(eg,Chambersetal.2000)mustbeusedValueappliedJustificationofchoiceofdataordescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandproceduresappliedTherateusedshouldbederivedfromasimilarclimateregimeandforesttypeastheprojectareaPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentNotethatthisrateisjustifiedandappliedinprojectaccounting(usingequation9aexpost),andisnotspecifiedorincorporatedintheRIL-Cperformancemethodmodules.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1420DataandParametersMonitored8.2Data/ParameterAt.DataunitHaDescriptionAreaofactualharvestareainyeart.Itisexpectedthatthisareamaybesmallerthantheauthorizedareaofharvestduetoun-stockedareasorareaswheretimberharvestandskiddingareinfeasible(eg,duetogeographicfeatures),orareassetasidefromloggingactivity.Equations9a,9bSourceofdataPapermapsorGISfilesDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedAnyimageryorGISdatasetsusedmustbegeo-registeredreferencingcornerpoints,clearlandmarksorotherintersectionpoints.PurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethod.CommentData/Parameter:FELLtDataunitUnitsasspecifiedintheapplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleDescriptionFellingimpactparameter,measuredinyeartEquation1,4SourceofdataDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedSeeproceduresasspecifiedinapplicableRIL-CPerformanceMethodFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedSeeapplicableRIL-CperformancemodulePurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1421CommentData/ParameterSKIDtDataunitUnitsasspecifiedintheapplicableperformancemoduleDescriptionSkiddingimpactparameter,measuredinyeartEquation2,5SourceofdataDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedSeeproceduresasspecifiedintheapplicableperformancemoduleFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedSeeapplicableperformancemodulePurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentData/ParameterHAULtDataunitUnitsasspecifiedintheapplicableperformancemoduleDescriptionHaulingimpactparameter,measuredinyeartEquation4,6SourceofdataDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedSeeproceduresasspecifiedintheapplicableperformancemoduleFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedSeeapplicableperformancemodulePurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1422Data/ParameterERfell_AGC,tDataunittCO2/haDescriptionEmissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtofellinginyeartEquation1,7SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentData/ParameterERskid_AGC,tDataunittCO2/haDescriptionEmissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtoskiddinginyeartEquation2,7SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentData/ParameterERhaul_AGC,tDataunittCO2/haDescriptionEmissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonrelatedtohaulinginyeartVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1423Equation3,7SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentData/ParameterERfell_BGB,tDataunittCO2/ha/yearDescriptionEmissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtofellinginyeartEquation4,8SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentEmissionreductionsfromthebelowgroundbiomasspoolareappliedannuallyovera10yearperiodpost-harvest(annualemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassareequalto1/10ofthetotalemissionreduction)Data/ParameterERskid_BGB,tDataunittCO2/ha/yearDescriptionEmissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtoskiddinginyeartEquation5,8VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1424SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentEmissionreductionsfromthebelowgroundbiomasspoolareappliedannuallyovera10yearperiodpost-harvest(annualemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassareequalto1/10ofthetotalemissionreduction)Data/ParameterERhaul_BGB,tDataunittCO2/ha/yearDescriptionEmissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassrelatedtohaulinginyeartEquation6,8SourceofdataApplicableRIL-CperformancemoduleDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCommentEmissionreductionsfromthebelowgroundbiomasspoolareappliedannuallyovera10yearperiodpost-harvest(annualemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassareequalto1/10ofthetotalemissionreduction)Data/ParameterRILC,AGC,tDataunittCO2/haVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1425DescriptionEmissionreductionsfromabovegroundcarbonfromRIL-CinyeartEquation7,9a,9bSourceofdataCalculatedDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodAnycommentData/ParameterRILC,BGB,tDataunittCO2/ha/yearDescriptionEmissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassfromRIL-CinyeartEquation8,9a,9bSourceofdataCalculatedDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentEmissionreductionsfromthebelowgroundbiomasspoolareappliedannuallyovera10yearperiodpost-harvest(annualemissionreductionsfrombelowgroundbiomassareequalto1/10ofthetotalemissionreduction).Data/ParameterCRIL,tDataunittCO2-eVM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1426DescriptionTotalemissionreductionsattimetEquation9a,9bSourceofdataCalculatedDescriptionofmeasurementmethodsandprocedurestobeappliedFrequencyofmonitoring/recordingFollowingcompletionofeachannualharvestQA/QCprocedurestobeappliedPurposeofdataCalculationofemissionreductionsCalculationmethodCommentDescriptionoftheMonitoringPlan8.3Monitoredparameters,andsamplingandmeasurementproceduresarespecifiedintheapplicableregion-specificRIL-Cperformancemethodmodule.9REFERENCESChambers,J.Q.,N.Higuchi,J.P.Schimel,L.V.Ferreira,andJ.M.Melack.2000.DecompositionandcarboncyclingofdeadtreesintropicalforestsofthecentralAmazon.Oecologia122:380–388.IPCC.2006.IPCCGuidelinesforNationalGreenhouseGasInventories.Chapter4AFOLU(Agriculture,ForestryandOtherLand-use).PreparedbytheNationalGreenhouseGasInventoriesProgramme.IGES,Japan.Availableat:http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.htmlOlson,D.M.,Dinerstein,E.,Wikramanayake,E.D.,Burgess,N.D.,Powell,G.V.N.,Underwood,E.C.,D'Amico,J.A.,Itoua,I.,Strand,H.E.,Morrison,J.C.,Loucks,C.J.,Allnutt,T.F.,Ricketts,T.H.,Kura,Y.,Lamoreux,J.F.,Wettengel,W.W.,Hedao,P.,Kassem,K.R.2001.Terrestrialecoregionsoftheworld:anewmapoflifeonEarth.Bioscience51(11):933-938.VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1427APPENDIX1:REGION-SPECIFICPERFORMANCEMETHODREQUIREMENTSPerformancemethodmodulesmaybedevelopedforvariousgeographies.Generalrequirementsforcreditingandadditionalitybenchmarks,andproxyemissionreductionrelationships,include:1)Theperformancemethodmustclearlyspecifythelogginglandscapeandtimeframewithinwhichthevalues/relationshipsareapplicable(ie,thesamplepopulation4).Thelogginglandscapemustbedefinedbybroadparametersofconsistentforeststructureandcomposition(eg,theWWFForestedEcoregions(Olsonetal.2001)).2)Theperformancemethodmustdefineadditionalityandcreditingbaselinesintermsofimpactparameters.Impactparametersmustcoverthefollowingthreesourcesofloggingemissions:felling,skiddingandhauling.Oneormoreimpactparametersmaybeidentifiedforeachofthethreeemissionssourcecategories.Whenmorethanoneimpactparameterisidentifiedforanemissionsourcecategory,theymustbemeasuresofdistinct(non-overlapping)componentsofthatemissionssourcecategory.3)Theperformancemethodmustrelateemissionreductionstoimpactparametersandquantifyanddiscountuncertaintyinthedependentvariable(ie,emissionreductions).Emissionreductionsarecalculatedfrom(baseline)emissionsassociatedwiththecreditingbaselinevalue.Relationshipsbetweenimpactparametersandemissionreductionsmustbedevelopedforaboveandbelowgroundtreebiomassforeachemissioncategory(logging,fellingandhauling)andexpressedinunitsoftCO2e/ha.4)Theperformancemethodmustspecifymonitoringproceduresforalldefinedimpactparameters.AnexampleofthederivationofapplicablebenchmarksandproxyrelationshipsisprovidedinVMD0047PerformanceMethodforReducedImpactLogging(RIL-C)inEastandNorthKalimantan.4Notethatconservativebiasisallowedinsampling(ie,skewedtowardloggingoperationsallowingaccesstoresearchers).VM0035,Version1.0SectoralScope1428DOCUMENTHISTORYVersionDateCommentv1.028Apr2016Initialversionreleased.