MODULE

5

LAND-USE CHANGE &FORESTRY

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5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

5.

5.1

L A N D -U S E C H A N G E &FORESTRY

Introduction
The priority calculations of emissions from land-use change and forestry
focus upon three activities which are sources or sinks of carbon dioxide. It
must be pointed out that there are inherently large uncertainties or errors
associated with these calculations. Future work will develop guidance for
estimating and expressing these errors. One of these activity types is also asource of non-CO2 trace gas (CH4, CO, N2O, and NOx) emissions, andthese are also calculated here. NMVOCs are not treated here, although it
is recognised that forests are a potential anthropogenic source of thesegases.
On a global scale the most important land-use changes and management
practices that result in CO2 emissions and uptake are:•changes in forest and other woody biomass stocks•

forest and grassland conversion•

abandonment of managed lands

The immediate release of non-CO2 trace gases from the burning associatedwith forest/grassland conversion is also calculated. These calculations arevery similar to calculations of non-CO2 trace gas emissions from burning ofsavannas and agricultural residues (in the Agriculture module, Chapter 4).
Calculations of non-CO2emissions from biomass fuel combustion is done in
the Energy Module. The present module deals with the sources and sinksof greenhouse gases from biomass and soil.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

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5.1

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYFIGURE 5-1 : RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CATEGORIES
L
A
N
D
U
S
E
C
H
A
N
G
E

Forest and Grassland
Conversion

C

Off-site Burning

Non-CO2 Trace
Gases fromOpen Burning

CH4, CO, N2O andNOX Emissions

Delayed Release from Decay (10 yrs)

CO2 Emissions

Abandonment of Managed Lands

CO2 Removals
Quantity ofBiomass Fuel

Changes in Forest and Other&

Annual harvest from Stocks =total fuelwood demand - quantityof fuelwood from cleared forests+ commercial and other non-fuelharvests

Net CO2
Annual Growth
Increment
minus
Harvest from
StocksEmissions andRemovalsAnnual Growth Increment

CO2 Emissions and Uptake by Soils fromLand-Use Change and Management
Emissions and Removals from Soils (20 yrs)

E
N
E
R
G
Y

On site Burning

Immediate Release from Burning

Woody Biomass Stocks

F
O
R
E
S
T
R
Y

Total

Non-CO2 Gases from Biomass Fuel
Combustion

CO2 Emissions andRemovals

CH4, CO, N2O
and NOX
Emissions

The diagram above illustrates the relationships between the categories inthis module and also with biomass fuel combustion in the Energy module.
The key linkages are:5.2

1

To estimate CO2 emissions from burning during forest/grassland
conversion it is only necessary to know the total amount of biomass
burned as a result of that land conversion in the particular year of theinventory.

2

Total biomass burned must be divided into on-site and off-site (i.e.,
fuelwood) because the type of burning affects the emissions of nonCO2 trace gases such as methane, and therefore different emissions
factors may be applied to open burning (on-site) and to fuelwood use(off-site).

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5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

3Countries which have good statistics on direct harvesting of all types ofwoody biomass and all uses of biomass for fuel should use these data. In
many countries, significant amounts of wood removed from forests andother biomass stocks (primarily for domestic use) are not included incommercial harvest statistics. These countries can use statistics offuelwood consumption published by the FAO. These statistics are
based on household and other fuel consumption surveys, scaled topopulation, in order to estimate annual demand for fuelwood and othertraditional fuels. This information can be used instead of or in
combination with commercial harvest and sales statistics.
Fuelwood consumption information is used in two ways:

5.2•

for estimating non-CO2 trace gas emissions from biomass fuelcombustion.

•

total wood consumption, corrected to deduct any wood which hascome from forest and grassland conversion (CO2 alreadyaccounted for) is also a key input for calculating net CO2 emissions
or removals due to changes in forest and other woody biomass
stocks.

Changes in Forest and Other Woody
Biomass Stocks
5.2.1 Introduction
This submodule deals with the emissions or removals of carbon (and carbon
dioxide) due to changes in forest and other woody biomass stocks affectedby human activity.

5.2.2 Data Sources
FAO Yearbooks of Forest Products (annual)
There are also a number of international data bases with country-specificstatistics, as well as studies of individual countries. These include:
Forest Resources Assessment 1990: Tropical Countries (FAO, 1993).
The Forest Resources of the Temperate Zones (ECE/FAO, Geneva, 1992).
For a fuller bibliography, see The IPCC Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reference
Manual.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

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5.3

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

CATEGORIES OF WOODY BIOMASS
Village, farm or urban trees and otherafforestation
programmes
areincluded to allow users to accountfor biomass in trees outside normal
forests. These may be important for
fuelwood accounting in somecountries. Users must provide alldata for these categories.

5.2.3 Methodology
To calculate the net uptake of CO2, the annual increment of biomass inplantations, forests which are logged or otherwise harvested, the growth oftrees in villages, farms and urban areas and any other significant stocks ofwoody biomass, is estimated.
Wood harvested for fuelwood, commercial timber and other uses is also
estimated as significant quantities may be gathered informally for traditional
fuelwood consumption. In this case the commercial statistics should be
supplemented by FAO fuelwood consumption data.
The net carbon uptake due to these sources is then calculated. If the figure
is positive then this counts as a removal of CO2, and if the figure is negative,
it counts as an emission. Finally, the net carbon uptake/emission isexpressed as CO2.

Completing the Worksheet
USING THE WORKSHEET•

Copy the Worksheet at theend of this section to complete
the inventory.

•

Keep the original of theWorksheet blank so you canmakefurthercopiesif
necessary.

STEP 1 ESTIMATING TOTAL CARBONCONTENT IN ANNUAL GROWTH OF LOGGED
AND PLANTED FORESTS
Use WORKSHEET 5-1 CHANGES IN FOREST AND OTHER WOODY BIOMASSSTOCKS at the end of this module to record inventory data.
1

For each type of biomass stock, enter the Area of Forest/Biomass
Stocks in kilohectares (kha) in lower column A.

2

For dispersed (non-forest) trees (e.g., urban, village and farm trees),
enter the number of trees (in 1000s of trees) in lower column A.

3

For each type of forest, enter the Annual Growth Rate (in tonnes ofdry matter per hectare) in column B.

The default statistics in Tables 5-1 or 5-6 can be used if national data are
not available. Using defaults would result in highly uncertain national
estimates.

5.4

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LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYTABLE 5-1
AVERAGE ANNUAL ACCUMULATION OF DRY MATTER AS BIOMASS IN
PLANTATIONSForest Types

TropicalTemperate

Annual Increment in
Biomass(tonnes dm/ha/year)
Acacia spp.

15.0

Eucalyptus spp.

14.5

Tectona grandis

8.0

Pinus spp

11.5

Pinus caribaea

10.0

Mixed Hardwoods

6.8

Mixed Fast-Growing
Hardwoods

12.5

Mixed Softwoods

14.5

Douglas fir

6.0

Loblolly pine

4.0

Note: These are average accumulation rates over expected plantation lifetimes; actual rates
will depend upon the age of the plantation.
The data for the temperate species are based upon measurements in the United States. Dataon other species and from other regions should be supplied by individual countries (asavailable).
Additional temperate estimates by species and country can be derived from data in ECE/FAO(1992), assuming that country averages of net annual increment for managed and unmanaged
lands are reasonable approximations for plantations.

4

For other non-forest trees, enter the Annual Growth Rate in kilotonnes ofdry matter per thousand trees in column B, i.e., take average growth rate
per tree and multiply by 1,000.

5For each type of forest/grassland, multiply the Area of Forest/Biomass
Stocks by the Annual Growth Rate to give the Annual Biomass
Increment in kilotonnes of dry matter. Enter the result in column C.

6For non-forest trees, multiply the Number of Trees by the Annual
Growth Rate to give the Annual Biomass Increment in kilotonnes of dry
matter. Enter the result in column C.

7

For each type of biomass stock, enter the Carbon Fraction of Dry
Matter.
The default value is 0.5 for all biomass, if specific values are notavailable.

8

Multiply the Annual Biomass Increment by the Carbon Fraction of Dry
Matter to give the Total Carbon Uptake Increment. Enter the result incolumn E.

9

Add the figures in column E and enter the total in the Total box at thebottom of the column.

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5.5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYUSING COMMERCIAL HARVESTSTATISTICS
Commercial harvest statistics are often
provided for the commercial portion of thebiomass only, in cubic metres (m3) ofroundwood. In this case the harvested
amounts must be adjusted in two ways toreflect the values needed for theemissions/removals calculations. The volume
of biomass expressed as m3 must be
converted to mass of dry matter expressed
as tonnes (t dm).

•

The default conversion ratio is
0.5 t dm/m3.

In addition, an expansion ratio can beapplied to account for the non-commercial
biomass (limbs, small trees etc.) harvested
with the commercial roundwood and left todecay. The following default ratios can beused:•Undisturbed forests 1.75
Logged forests 1.90
Unproductive forests 2.00

If the forest type from which commercial
roundwood has been harvested is known,
the appropriate ratio can be applied. The
value for logged forests could be used as a
general default. More detailed formulae forderiving expansion ratio as a function of preharvest biomass density are discussed in the
Reference Manual.
If both conversion and expansion areneeded, they can be combined by using
ratios which are the product of the two:Forest typet dm total biomass/ m3
commercial roundwood

Undisturbed
forests

0.88

Logged forests

0.95

Unproductive
forests

1.0

Some harvest statistics are provided on a
total biomass basis (expansion ratios alreadyapplied) or may be provided in mass of dry
matter rather than volume. It is importantthat users determine carefully the nature of
the values in their sources of commercial
harvest data, then apply the appropriate
conversions or expansions to get total
biomass harvested. This can be:

STEP 2 ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF
BIOMASS HARVESTED
1Enter the amount of the Commercial Harvest in thousands of cubic
metres in column F.
These values should be taken from local sources. FAO published values
can be used as defaults. See the margin box Using Commercial Harvest
Statistics.

2

Enter the Biomass Conversion/Expansion Ratio in tonnes of dry matterper cubic metre (t dm/m3) in column G if necessary.

3

Multiply the Commercial Harvest by the Biomass Conversion/Expansion
Ratio (if necessary) to give the Total Biomass Removed in Commercial
Harvest in kilotonnes of dry matter. Enter the result in column H.

4Enter Total Fuelwood Consumed (including wood for charcoal
production) from FAO fuelwood consumption statistics.

5

Enter the quantity of Total Other Wood Use in kilotonnes dm incolumn J.
If any wood is removed but is not accounted for in harvest statistics forcommercial harvest or fuelwood consumption it can be entered here.

6

Add the Total Fuelwood Consumed (column I) to the Total Biomass
Removed in Commercial Harvest (column H) and Total Other Wood
Use (column J) to give Total Biomass Consumption. Enter the result incolumn K. Sum this column and enter the result in the Totals box at
the foot of the column.

7Enter Wood Removed From Forest Clearing (total figure fromcolumn M, Worksheet 5-2, sheet 3, Quantity of Biomass Burned Off
Site) at the bottom of column L.

8

Subtract Wood Removed From Forest Clearing from Total Biomass
Consumption to give Total Biomass Consumption From Stocks inkilotonnes of dry matter. Enter the result in the box at the bottom ofcolumn M.

STEP 3 CONVERT WOOD HARVESTED TO
CARBON REMOVED
1Enter the Carbon Fraction in column N (the general default value forlive biomass is 0.5).

2Multiply Total Biomass Consumption From Stocks (column M) by
Carbon Fraction (column N) to give Annual Carbon Release (inkilotonnes of carbon). Enter the result in column O.

a volume to mass conversion aloneb expansion from commercial to total massof dry matterc a combination of both (a and b)

5.6

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LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYSTEP 4 ESTIMATE THE NET ANNUAL
AMOUNT OF CARBON UPTAKE OR RELEASE

5.3

1

Subtract Annual Carbon Release (column O) from Total Carbon
Increment (column E) to give Net Annual Carbon Uptake or Release. Enterthe result in column P.

2

Multiply the Net Annual Carbon Uptake or Release (column P) by
44/12 to give the Annual CO2 Removal (if a positive value) or Emission(if a negative value). Enter the result in column Q.

3

For summary reporting purposes and for consistency with otheremission/removal categories, it is necessary to reverse the sign of theseresults, to express emissions as a positive value and removals as
negative.

CO2 Emissions from Forest andGrassland Conversion
5.3.1 Introduction
Forest and grassland conversion to permanent cropland or pasture is primarily
an activity of the tropics. Tropical forest clearing is usually accomplished by
cutting undergrowth and felling trees followed by burning biomass on-site or as
fuelwood. By this process some of the biomass is burned while some remains
on the ground where it decays slowly (usually over a period of ten years in thetropics). Of the burned material, a small fraction (5-10 per cent) is converted to
charcoal which resists decay for 100 years or more, and the remainder isreleased instantaneously into the atmosphere as CO2.
Where conversion of forest and grassland to permanent cropland andpasture occurs outside the tropics, the basic calculations should still be thesame.
Carbon is also lost from the soils after conversion, particularly when theland is cultivated. Conversion of grasslands into cultivated lands also resultsin CO2 emissions, mainly from soils. Estimates of carbon emissions fromthese practices in Section 5.6.

5.3.2 Data Sources
To carry out the inventory task in this section you need the following
forest/grassland area statistics.
Forest/grassland areas converted to cropland and pasture, by type over twotime periods:•

the inventory year•

the past ten years

Satellite images, aerial photography and land-based surveys are all possible
sources of data.

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5.7

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

There are also a number of international data bases with country-specificstatistics, as well as studies of individual countries. These include:
Forest Resources Assessment 1990: Tropical Countries (FAO, 1993). Summary
tables for tropical countries are included in the Workbook.
The Forest Resources of the Temperate Zones, (ECE/FAO, Geneva, 1992).
For a fuller bibliography, see Reference Manual.

5.3.3 Methodology
Three sets of calculations are used to produce estimates of CO2 emissions
due to forest/grassland conversion:•

Carbon dioxide emitted by burning aboveground biomass(immediate emissions, occurring in the year of conversion)•

Carbon dioxide released by decay of aboveground biomass (delayedemissions, occurring over a ten-year period)•

Carbon dioxide released from soil (calculated in Section 5.6).

The totals are added together to arrive at total for carbon released fromvegetation. Total carbon released is then converted to CO2 emissions.

Completing the Worksheet
USING THE WORKSHEET•

Copy the Worksheet at theend of this section to complete
the inventory.

•

Keep the original of theWorksheet blank so you canmakefurthercopiesif
necessary.

STEP 1ESTIMATING BIOMASS CLEARED

Use WORKSHEET 5-2 FOREST AND GRASSLAND CONVERSION, at the end of
this module to record inventory data. You should do this for each
forest/grassland type:1

Enter the figures for Area Converted Annually in kilohectares in column
A. Default values for tropical forests from FAO, reported by the forest
categories in Box 2 and Table 5-1 of the Reference Manual are shown in
Table 5-4.
See also Technical Appendix, Chapter 5 of the Reference Manual for a
discussion of other international sources of data.

2

Enter the figures for Biomass Before Conversion in tonnes of dry
matter per hectare (t dm/ha) in column B. Default values are shownin Tables 5-5 and 5-6.

3Enter the figures Biomass After Conversion in tonnes of dry matterper hectare (t dm/ha) in column C.

This figure includes any biomass not fully cleared (default value = 0) plus
regrowth in agricultural use. The default value is 10 tonnes dry matter per
hectare if annual crops; and can be significantly higher if woody perennials(e.g., coffee, rubber trees) are planted (see Reference Manual).

5.8

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5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYTABLE 5-4
FOREST AREA (1000 HA) AND RATES OF CONVERSION (RC, 1000 HA/YR) FOR TROPICAL COUNTRIES
AfricaCountries

Wet
1980

AngolaBotswana
BurundiCameroon
Cape VerdeCentral African Rep.
Chad
Congo
Benin
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Djibouti
Gabon
GambiaGhana
GuineaIvory Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
MalawiMali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Guinea-Bissau
Zimbabwe
RwandaSenegalSierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
UgandaBurkina Faso
Zaire
Zambia
TOTAL

1990

Moist
With Short Dry Season
RC

36.5

Moist
With Long Dry Season

1980

1990

RC

1980

1990

RC

3123.32904.521.9

9717.99037.368.1

8573.28098.1

47.5

50.6
1987.547.0
1793.60.4
19.4

11095.2

10504.759.0

18400.94414.017761.83932.263.9
48.2

12197.9
838.4
929.6

19.5
0.9
3.6

3903.13344.555.9

85.5
6581.05820.03482.879.1
5575.55060.23312.1

0.6
100.5
76.0
17.1

4190.93397.94082.83777.12947.73705.6

41.4
45.0
37.7

8386.08020.5

706.3

706.3

7794.87667.1

12.8

915.7

882.2

3.3

12393.0
847.1
965.4

1228.21154.57.4

18170.017080.0109.0

3910.91204.38537.012.93939.13575.91119.87519.212.9
3740.8

33.5
8.5
101.8

388.3

384.7

0.4

948.0
4780.9892.5
4506.7

5.5
27.4

19.8

965.9

903.0

6.3

6180.55623.055.7

6649.12050.96027.51892.062.2
15.9

2766.9296.52585.9
278.4

18.1
1.8

12456.1
15738.5
1214.01229.02265.15446.724221.2

10674.913502.2
1025.21090.82112.54829.021676.1

178.1
223.6
18.9
13.8
15.3
61.8
254.5

146629.2

131691.0

1493.81269.11196.67.2

6371.4129.45983.5
129.4

38.8

805.2

756.1

4.9

883.3

829.4

5.4

2149.3667.7
320.5

1797.5
626.0
293.1

35.2
4.2
2.7

64047.760436.6

361.1

42769.140380.1

238.9

91270.086603.9466.6127027.8119463.4

756.4

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

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5.9

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYTABLE 5-4 (CONT.)FOREST AREA (1000 HA) AND RATES OF CONVERSION (RC, 1000 HA/YR) FOR TROPICAL COUNTRIES
AfricaCountries

AngolaBotswana
BurundiCameroon
Cape VerdeCentral African Rep.
Chad
Congo
Benin
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Djibouti
Gabon
GambiaGhana
GuineaIvory Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
MalawiMali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Guinea-Bissau
Zimbabwe
RwandaSenegalSierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
UgandaBurkina Faso
Zaire
Zambia
TOTAL

5.10

Dry

Montane Moist

Montane Dry

1980

1990

RC

1980

1990

RC

7761.83098.97218.12940.454.4
15.8

3401.33163.1

23.8

637.8

584.5

5.3

59.8
1897.7

56.8
1767.4

0.3
13.0

845.8
5285.5816.85024.3

2.9
26.1

806.3

772.2

3.4

894.1

764.4

13.0

2065.82007.65.8

14.9
5524.214.3
5347.9

0.1
17.6

19.0
438.2

17.5
403.8

0.1
3.4
145.4
77.6
725.4
0.2
4985.4
422.1

127.6
72.7
678.0
0.2
4596.2
372.7

1.8
0.5
4.7
0.0
38.9
4.9

1980

1990

RC

136.2

128.8

0.7

838.3

824.9

1.3

240.0

230.2

1.0

30.7

29.9

0.1

18.8

18.8

2424.5191.04954.62219.3165.64547.6

20.5
2.5
40.7

10881.1
2607.3190.4
1444.610162.92520.9190.4
1380.1

71.8
8.6

14.0

13.1

0.1

6.4

267.4

243.2

2.4

8258.87729.4

52.9

73.3
137.5

68.6
134.0

0.5
0.3

1845.81716.3

12.9
26.3

24.7

0.2

600.3
3054.7502.3
2705.2

9.8
34.9

235.9
367.8

217.3
329.5

1.9
3.8

19514.6
13677.7
36.9

17757.2
12374.6
34.5

175.7
130.3
0.2

4701.04281.5

42.0

763.1

698.2

6.5

1643.8118.211347.8

1533.1111.010287.7

11.1
0.7
106.0

8138.5361.67448.3
337.5

69.0
2.4

76.4

69.8

0.7

100202.7

92526.9767.635434.9

32727.3

270.8

2688.32528.5

16.0

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYTABLE 5-4 (CONT.)FOREST AREA (1000 HA) AND RATES OF CONVERSION (RC, 1000 HA/YR) FOR TROPICAL COUNTRIESContinental and Insular South and South-East Asia
Countries

Wet
1980

1990

RC

Bangladesh
BhutanBrunei
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
India
Indonesia
Cambodia
Laos
Malaysia
Nepal
PakistanPapua New Guinea
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

895.5
186.3
476.4
13709.9263.2
8723.4104211.8
1873.04356.4
20028.0
647.9

572.2
176.0
458.3
12093.8247.0
8228.593949.9
1689.33960.2
16338.8
608.7

32.3
1.0
1.8
161.6
1.6
49.5
1026.2
18.4
39.6
368.9
3.9

30244.2
6610.24.4
4589.93371.629323.54214.24.4
3081.62894.5

92.1
239.6

TOTAL

200192.2

177840.6

2235.2

Countries

TOTAL

Moist
With Long Dry Season

1980

1980

1990

RC

249.5

197.3

5.2

12123.8705.8
7422.8457.84002.94969.910426.7605.3
7044.7360.8
3610.44542.4

169.7
10.1
37.8
9.7
39.3
42.7

1382.815.4

1300.1
10.9

8.3
0.5

1442.11004.043.8

7189.33939.15231.73381.6195.8
55.7

43901.3

37715.9618.5

3284.0

727.2
919.6

1990

1990

RC

3005.3

27.9

705.0
593.6

2.2
32.6

150.8
47.7
4930.9Dry
1980

Bangladesh
BhutanBrunei
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
India
Indonesia
Cambodia
Laos
Malaysia
Nepal
PakistanPapua New Guinea
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

Moist
With Short Dry Season

4303.962.7

Montane Moist
RC

Montane Dry

1980

1990

RC

2360.92230.413.1

6588.857.6
9159.013555.9
94.5
2667.51517.62691.2824.5
5538.42019.45941.857.3
8803.812083.2
92.7
2403.51244.32361.2583.35369.82019.4

64.7
0.0
35.5
147.3
0.2
26.4
27.3
33.0
24.1
16.9

393.4
988.1
28393.580.0
7506.82473.5351.1
836.1
26252.3
72.9
6770.72267.0

4.2
15.2
214.1
0.7
73.6
20.7

39.3
5.9
430.4

37.1
4.2
417.2

0.2
0.2
1.3

4382.61108.53159.1
951.6

122.3
15.7

1726.11263.31262.91084.546.3
17.9

45801.9

41119.2

468.3

50064.445538.0

452.6

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

1980

1990

RC

116.4

116.4

1186.4

839.3

34.7

1302.8

955.7

34.7

5.11

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYTABLE 5-4 (CONT.)FOREST AREA (1000 HA) AND RATES OF CONVERSION (RC, 1000 HA/YR) FOR TROPICAL COUNTRIESCentral and South America and Caribbean
Countries

Wet
1980

Antigua And Barbuda
BahamasBolivia
BrazilBelizeColombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
EcuadorEl Salvador
French Guyana
GrenadaGuadeloupe
Guatemala
GuyanaHaiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Martinique
MexicoNicaragua
PanamaParaguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent
SurinamTrinidad and Tobago
Venezuela
TOTAL

5.12

1990

Moist
With Short Dry Season
RC

1980

1990

Moist
With Long Dry Season

RC23967.7
95197.021453.8
87729.1

251.4
746.8

705.7

549.5

15.6

1619.51350.8

26.9

3.1

3.1

1980

1990

RC

10.0
153.7
16024.9118943.9238.44347.10.0
1372.69.8
123.8
14128.2
109353.2
238.4
3551.00.0
1246.8

0.0
3.0
189.7
959.1

362.3
381.0
15.3

273.3
317.8
12.2

8.9
6.3
0.3

3.6

5.5

-0.2

730.5
4039.8
14.3
542.4
240.7

730.5
3901.4
8.8
436.6
113.4

13.8
0.6
10.6
12.7

13091.1
419.6
67.6
7681.411110.3
347.8
66.5
5564.2

198.1
7.2
0.1
211.7

130.7
13.0

150.6
13.2

-2.0
0.0

301722.3
1798.049682.6
842.2
125.3
47.3
451.8
8572.440.8
7996.2291596.6
1755.447455.3
625.1
113.8
44.1
340.9
7149.932.6
7993.51012.6
4.3
222.7
21.7
1.1
0.3
11.1
142.3
0.8
0.3

95.5
3820.111671.1
7.4
1597.5259.4
45.0
2717.64477.82136.692.5
3402.911671.1
4.5
1285.9122.2
42.8
2440.83712.21801.8

0.3
41.7
0.3
31.2
13.7
0.2
27.7
76.6
33.5

41501.0
42.840358.0
49.4

114.3
-0.7

7.7
12.7
9490.2191.821073.8

4.5
10.3
9405.3155.0
19601.8

0.3
0.2
8.5
3.7
147.2

1044.54.2

0.3
4317.70.2
4317.70.0

1086.73434.72978.145.7

15403.012487.3291.6470426.8451267.9

1915.9140754.7129056.7

1169.8188544.9

168508.6

2003.6

1217.9843.2
12679.3

1176.1473.012298.8

4.2

37.0
38.1

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

79.6
0.0
12.6

Workbook

5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYTABLE 5-4 (CONT.)FOREST AREA (1000 HA) AND RATES OF CONVERSION (RC, 1000 HA/YR) FOR TROPICAL COUNTRIESCentral and South America and Caribbean
Countries

Antigua and Barbuda
BahamasBolivia
BrazilBelizeColombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
EcuadorEl Salvador
French Guyana
GrenadaGuadeloupe
Guatemala
GuyanaHaiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Martinique
MexicoNicaragua
PanamaParaguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent
SurinamTrinidad and Tobago
Venezuela
TOTAL

Dry

Montane Moist

Montane Dry

1980

1990

RC

1980

1990

RC

58.7
8261.631989.047.37345.528862.5

1.1
91.6
312.6

21.9

18.0

0.4

2.5

2.3

0.0

7.8
7253.149963.7
9.8
2971.81081.1321.5

6.3
6339.643565.2
2.4
2486.3
802.5
292.0

0.2
91.3
639.9
0.7
48.6
27.9
2.9

52.2

43.5

0.9

553.8
3716.698.5

417.8
3099.978.5

463.3
1667.714.6
3442.45.7
0.0
9909.62356.11556.354.1
15742.9
104.6

91.7
1667.79.0
2770.92.7
0.0
8903.91953.31248.627.3
14692.3
120.5

11400.2
112695.2

10371.898950.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.2

0.1

0.0

1886.81590.329.6

8305.222.8

6794.1
18.8

151.1
0.4

326.6
50927.5221.944944.3

10.5
598.3

1980

1990

RC

51.7

45.5

0.6

4.8

3.7

0.1

65.9

59.9

0.6

13.6
61.7
2.0

60.1

45.3

1.5

37.2

24.0

0.6
67.1
0.3

1.6
138.2
1.5

1.0
111.2
0.7

0.1
2.7
0.1

100.6
40.3
30.8
2.7
105.1
-1.6

25070.022356.8

271.3

102.0

84.9

1.7

102.8
1374.525.925545.7

17.8
22726.8

0.8
281.9

2.4

Source: Data are from FAO (1993) and M. Lorenzini (pers. comm., 1996). Forest areas and rates of conversion are divided into the same land
categories as in Box 2 and Table 5-1 in the Reference Manual.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5.13

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYTABLE 5-5
DRY MATTER IN ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS IN TROPICAL FORESTS(TONNES DM/HA)
Tropical Forests
Wet

Moist
with ShortDry Season

R > 2000

Moist
with LongDry Season

2000>R>1000

Dry

MontaneMoist

MontaneDry

R<1000R>1000

R<1000Africa

300

140

60-90

20-55

105

40

Asia:
Continental

225

185

100

75

190

no dataInsular275

175

no datalittle tonone exist

255

none exist

America295

no data

90

105

150

50

R= annual rainfall in mm/yr.
Sources: See, Reference Manual (Table 5-4), additional biomass estimates for different forest types and disturbanceclasses, by climatic zones within countries are given in Table 5-5 in the Reference Manual

TABLE 5-6
DRY MATTER IN ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS IN TEMPERATE AND BOREAL FORESTS(TONNES DM/HA)
Temperate Forests

Boreal Forests

Coniferous

220-295

Broadleaf

175-250

Mixed broadleaf/coniferous

40-87

Coniferous

22-113

Forest-tundra

8-20

Sources: See Reference Manual

5.14

4

Subtract the figures in column C from the figures in column B to
produce the figure for Net Change in Biomass Density in tonnes ofdry matter per hectare and enter the result in column D.

5Multiply the Area Converted Annually (in kilohectares) by the Net
Change in Biomass Density (in tonnes per hectare) to calculate theAnnual Loss of Biomass for each forest/grassland type in kilotonnes ofdry matter (kt dm). Enter the results in column E.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRYSTEP 2 ESTIMATING CARBON RELEASED BY
BURNING ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS ON-SITE
1

Enter figures for the Fraction of Biomass Burned On Site byforest/grassland type in column F (see side-box).

2

Multiply the Annual Loss of Biomass (in kilotonnes) by the Fraction of
Biomass Burned on Site to calculate the Quantity of Biomass Burned On
Site (in kilotonnes of dry matter) for each forest/grassland type. Enterthe result in column G.

3Enter the Fraction of Biomass Oxidised on Site in column H (default
fraction 0.9).

4Multiply Quantity of Biomass Burned on Site (in kilotonnes of dry
matter) by the Fraction of Biomass Oxidised on Site to calculate theQuantity of Biomass Oxidised on Site (in kilotonnes of dry matter).
Enter the figures in column I.

5Enter the Carbon Fraction of the Aboveground Biomass (burned onsite) in column J (default value 0.5).

6Multiply the Quantity of Biomass Oxidised on Site (in kilotonnes ofdry matter) by the Carbon Fraction of the Aboveground Biomass tocalculate the Quantity of Carbon Released (in kilotonnes carbon).
Enter the results in column K.

7Total the figures in column K and enter the figure in the Subtotal box
at the bottom of column on the Worksheet.

FRACTIONS
Various fractions are used in
calculating the emissions fromforest/grassland conversion.
•

Fraction biomass burned on-siteand off-site.

•

Fraction left to decay. This is the
portion of the biomass which issimply left to decay and so
releases gases at a slower rate.

•

Fraction which oxidises during
burning. This is the fraction ofburned biomass which actually
oxidises instead of turning tocharcoal.

This Subtotal will be used later to estimate emissions ofother gases from burning on-site. (Worksheet 5-3)

STEP 3 ESTIMATING CARBON RELEASED BY
BURNING ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS OFF-SITE
1

Enter the Fraction of Biomass Burned off Site in column L.

2

Multiply the Annual Loss of Biomass (in kilotonnes of dry matter)from column E by the Fraction of Biomass Burned off Site to calculate
the Quantity of Biomass Burned off Site (in kilotonnes of dry matter)for each forest/grassland type. Enter the result in column M.

3

Total the figures in column M and enter the figure in the Subtotal box
at the bottom of the column on the Worksheet.

4Enter the Fraction of Biomass Oxidised off Site for each
forest/grassland type in column N (default value 0.9).

5Multiply Quantity of Biomass Burned off Site (in kilotonnes of dry
matter) by the Fraction Oxidised to calculate the Quantity of Biomass
Oxidised off Site (in kilotonnes of dry matter). Enter the figures incolumn O.

6Enter the Carbon Fraction of the Aboveground Biomass (burned offsite) in column P (default value 0.5).

7Multiply the Quantity of Biomass Oxidised off Site (in kilotonnes ofdry matter) by the Carbon Fraction of the Aboveground Biomass to

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5.15

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

calculate the Quantity of Carbon Released (in kilotonnes). Enter the
results in column Q.
8Total the figures in column Q and enter the figure in the Subtotal box
at the bottom of the column on the Worksheet.

STEP 4 ESTIMATING TOTAL CARBONRELEASED BY BURNING ABOVEGROUNDBIOMASS ON- AND OFF-SITE
1

Add the subtotal for the Quantity of Carbon released from Biomass
Burned On-Site in column K to the subtotal for the Quantity of
Carbon released (from Biomass Burned Off-Site) in column Q. The
result is the Total Carbon Released (from on and off site burning).
Enter the result in the Subtotal box at the bottom of column R.

STEP 5 ESTIMATING CO2 RELEASED BY
DECAY OF ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS
1Enter figures for Average Area Converted (average over ten years)
for each forest/grassland type in column A.
For default values, you can use Table 5-4 as the conversion rates are
the average over the 10-year period 1980-1990.

5.16

2

Enter the average Biomass Before Conversion in tonnes of dry
matter per hectare (t dm/ha) in column B. Default values areprovided in Tables 5-5 and 5-6.

3Enter the average Biomass After Conversion in tonnes of dry matterper hectare (t dm/ha) in column C. This figure includes any biomass
not fully cleared (default value is 0) and biomass in agricultural use.
(The default value is 10 tonnes dry matter per hectare.)4

Subtract the value in column C from the value in column B to
produce Net Change in Biomass Density in tonnes of dry matter per
hectare. Enter the results in column D.

5Multiply the Average Area Converted (10-Year Average) inkilohectares (column A) by the Net Change in Biomass Density intonnes dry matter per hectare (column D) to calculate the Average
Annual Loss of Biomass (aboveground) for each forest/grassland typein kilotonnes of dry matter (kt dm). Enter the results in column E.

6Enter Fraction Left to Decay (10-Year average) in column F (see sidebox).

7

Multiply the Average Annual Loss of Biomass for each forest/grassland
type by the Fraction Left to Decay to calculate the Quantity ofBiomass Left to Decay. Enter the result in column G.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

8Enter the Carbon Fraction in Aboveground Biomass in column H(default fraction 0.5).

ESTIMATING FRACTION LEFT TO
DECAY

9

Multiply the Quantity of Biomass Left to Decay (column G) by the
Carbon Fraction (column H) to calculate Carbon Released from
Decay of Aboveground Biomass. Enter the figures in column I.

10

Add the figures in column I and enter the total in the Subtotal box at
the bottom of the column.

In the Amazon, Fraction Left to Decay
is typically about 0.5 but this varies
greatly by region. Country experts
must provide this value.

STEP 6 ESTIMATING TOTAL CO2 EMISSIONSFROM FOREST AND GRASSLANDCONVERSION

5.4

1Enter the total for Immediate Release from Burning (contained in thesubtotal box of column R in Worksheet 5-2, sheet 3) in column A.

2Enter the total for Delayed Emissions from Decay (contained in thesubtotal box of column I in Worksheet 5-2, sheet 4) in column B.

3

Add the figures in columns A and B to calculate the Total Annual
Carbon Release (in the Inventory Year from clearing over a 10 year
period). Enter the result in column C.

4

Multiply the Total Annual Carbon Release by 44/12 to convert it into
the Total Annual CO2 Release (in Gg). Enter the result in column D.

There is a relationship between thefraction left to decay here and thefraction burned on and off site. For agiven year the fraction burned, thefraction left to decay (and possibly afraction harvested as commercial
timber or other non-fuel use) should
sum to 1.0, accounting for all biomass
cleared. Because the burning anddecay portions are averaged overdifferent time periods in themethodology, the relationship neednot be precise. However, assumptions
made for these different fractions
should be consistent.
Furthermore, in countries where
fuelwood is critically short no wood
may be left on site to burn or decay.

On-site Burning of Forests:
Emissions of Non-CO2 Trace Gases
5.4.1 Introduction
All burning of biomass (e.g., fuelwood, dung) for energy and of savannas andagricultural wastes is a significant source of CH4, N2O, CO and NOx. Net
CO2 emissions from forest/grassland conversion were calculated in
Section 5.3 above. Emissions of non-CO2 trace gases from on-site burningof forests are calculated here.

5.4.2 Methodology
The method relies on estimation of the gross carbon flux based on work
done in Section 5.3 of this Workbook.
CH4 and CO are estimated as ratios to carbon fluxes emitted during
burning. Total nitrogen content is estimated based on the nitrogen-carbon
ratio. N2O and NOx are estimated as ratios to total nitrogen.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5.17

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

Completing the Worksheet
USING THE WORKSHEET•

Copy the Worksheet at theend of this section to complete
the inventory.

•

Keep the original of theWorksheet blank so you canmakefurthercopiesif
necessary.

Use WORKSHEET 5-3 ON-SITE BURNING OF FORESTS to enter data for thissubmodule.

STEP 1
1

ESTIMATING NITROGEN RELEASEDEnter the estimate of Quantity of Carbon Released from on-siteburning of forests (in kilotonnes carbon) in column A.
Use the figure in column K of Worksheet 5-2, sheet 2, Forest andGrassland Conversion.

2Enter the Nitrogen-Carbon Ratio of Biomass Burned in column B.
The general default value is 0.01.

3Multiply Quantity of Carbon Released by the Nitrogen-Carbon Ratio togive the Total Nitrogen Released. Enter the total in kilotonnes ofnitrogen in column C.

STEP 2 ESTIMATING NON-CO2 TRACE GASEMISSIONS
1Enter Trace Gas Emissions Ratios in column D.
Refer to Table 5-7 for non-CO2 trace gas emissions ratios.

TABLE 5-7
EMISSION RATIOS FOR OPEN BURNING OF FORESTS
Compound

Ratio

CH4

0.012 (0.009-0.015)

CO

0.06 (0.04-0.08)

N2 O

0.007 (0.005-0.009)

NOx

0.121 (0.094-0.148)

Note: Ratios for carbon compounds are mass of carbon released as CH4 or CO (in units ofC) relative to mass of total carbon released from burning (in units of C). Those for nitrogencompounds are expressed as the ratios of nitrogen released as N 2O and NOx relative to thenitrogen content of the fuel (in units of N).
See Reference Manual for sources.

5.18

2

Multiply Quantity of Carbon Released (column A) by the emissions
ratio for CH4 to give the Amount of CH4 released. Enter the amountin kilotonnes of C in column E.

3Multiply Quantity of Carbon Released (column A) by the emissions
ratio for CO to give the Amount of CO released. Enter the amount inkilotonnes of C in column E.

4Multiply the Total Nitrogen Released (column C) by the emissions ratio
for N2O to give the Amount of N2O Released. Enter the amount inkilotonnes of N in column E.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

5.5

5

Multiply the Total Nitrogen Released (column C) by the emissions ratio
for NOx to give the Amount of NOx Released. Enter the amount inkilotonnes of N in column E.

6Multiply the figures in column E by the conversion ratios1 in column F
to give total for the release of CH4, CO, N2O and NOx. Enter the
results in Gg, which is the same as kilotonnes, in column G.

Abandonment of Managed Lands
5.5.1 Introduction
This submodule deals with net-CO2 removals in biomass accumulation
resulting from the abandonment of managed lands. Managed lands include:•

Cultivated lands (arable land used for the cultivation of crops)•

Pasture (land used for grazing animals)

Carbon accumulation on abandoned lands is sensitive to the type of natural
ecosystem (forest type or grasslands) which is regrowing. Therefore
abandoned lands regrowing should be entered by type. For grasslands thedefault assumption is that net accumulation aboveground is zero.
Because regrowth rates become slower after a time, the periods considered
are:•Land abandoned during the 20 years prior to the Inventory Year (i.e.,
1990)

•

Land abandoned between 20 and 100 years ago (i.e., before 1970 andafter 1870)

When managed lands are abandoned, carbon may or may not reaccumulate
on the land. Abandoned areas are therefore split into those which
reaccumulate carbon and those which do not regrowth or which continue
to degrade.
Only natural lands which are regrowing towards a natural state should be
included. Lands which do not regrow or degrade should be ignored in thiscalculation.
As with forest and grassland conversion, effect of forest regrowth on soil
carbon is dealt with in Section 5.6 of the Workbook.

1 The molecular weight ratios given above for the emitted gases are withrespect to the weight of nitrogen and carbon in the molecule. Thus for
N2O the ratio is 44/28 and for NOx it is 46/14. NO2 has been used as thereference molecule for NOx.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook

5.19

LAND USE CHANGE & FORESTRY

5.5.2 Methodology
Two sets of calculations are used to estimate CO2 removals from biomass
regrowth and soils recovery. They relate to the quantity of land abandoned
and the length of time for which it has been abandoned:•

Annual carbon uptake in aboveground biomass (land abandoned in thelast twenty years)•

Annual carbon uptake in aboveground biomass (land abandoned for
between twenty and a hundred years, if applicable).

These are then totalled and the carbon uptake is converted into CO2
removals.

Completing the Worksheet
Use WORKSHEET 5-4 ABANDONMENT OF MANAGED LANDS at the end of thismodule to record inventory data.

STEP 1 CALCULATE ANNUAL CARBONUPTAKE IN ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS (LAND
ABANDONED IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS)
1Enter the Total Area Abandoned and Regrowing for the last twenty
years (in kilohectares) in column A.
There are no default data for these figures.

5.20

2

Enter the Annual Rate of Aboveground Biomass Growth (in tonnes dry
matter per hectare) in column B. See Table 5-8 for default values.

3

Multiply the Total Area Abandoned and Regrowing (column A) by the
Annual Rate of Aboveground Biomass Growth (column B) to give theAnnual Aboveground Biomass Growth (in kt dm). Enter the result incolumn C.

4Enter the Carbon Fraction of Aboveground Biomass in column D(default fraction 0.5).

5Multiply the Annual Aboveground Biomass Growth (column C) by the
Carbon Fraction of Aboveground Biomass (column D) to give theAnnual Carbon Uptake in Aboveground Biomass. Enter the result incolumn E.

6

Add the figures in column E and enter the total in the Subtotal box at
the bottom of the column.

Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:

Workbook