Application of IPCC Guidance to REDD+
Advice from GFOIIPCC Expert Meeting – Application of 2006
Guidelines to Other AreasSofia
1‐3 July 2014
Jim Penman
Environment Institute
University College London

Subject• How the GFOI Methods andGuidance Document…
• …facilitates the application ofIPCC methodologies to REDD+• MGD was published by GEO in
Jan 2014 and is available at
http://www.gfoi.org/methods‐
guidance‐documentation

REDD+ Activities listed by UNFCCC
From paragraph 70 of the Cancun Agreements:(a) Reducing emissions from deforestation;(b) Reducing emissions from forest degradation;(c) Conservation of forest carbon stocks;(d) Sustainable management of forests;(e) Enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Rationale for MGD• MGD = Methods and Guidance Document of theGlobal Forest Observations Initiative• COP decisions request (amongst other things):– use of IPCC guidance and guidelines in estimating
emissions and removals associated with REDD+activities– that remote sensing and ground‐based observations
be used in combination

MGD addresses how to do this, taking into accountthat IPCC guidance and guidelines do notsystematically identify REDD+ activities listed byCOP

Selected issues addressed by MGD
Issue

MGD provides

Estimate emissions
and removals
associated withREDD+ activities

First systematic description of REDD+ activities and how
to use RS and ground‐based data to estimate them inthe context of IPCC guidance as required by UNFCCC.
Focus on gain‐loss method using change detection
between forest strata with different disturbance levels,and non‐forest strata

Combination of
Remotely sensed
and ground based
dataDifferent tracks according to existence of NFI and needfor spatially explicit data

Quantification ofuncertainties

Sampling and statistical inference to correct possible
bias and quantify uncertainties overall

Making best use of
remotely sensed
dataCore data sets and products identified

Estimation of emissions and removals associatedwith REDD+ activities• Deforestation – sum of transitions away from forest (definedby IPCC in KP context)• Degradation – There is wide agreement that forest
degradation represents long‐term loss of forest values, andthat temporary loss due to harvest or natural disturbance insustainably managed forest is not degradation. MGD treats C
as the forest value in question, noting that if other values are
considered to outweigh C, C loss would be counted undersustainable management of forests• Plus activities – gains and losses within and between forest
strata• Equations provided for degradation and plus activities• Conversions from natural forest separately identified

Selected issues addressed by MGD
Issue

MGD provides

Estimate emissions
and removals
associated withREDD+ activities

First systematic description of REDD+ activities and howto use RS and ground‐based data to estimate them inthe context of IPCC guidance as required by UNFCCC.
Focus on gain‐loss method using change detection
between forest strata with different disturbance levels,and non‐forest strata

Combination of
Remotely sensed
and ground based
data

Different tracks according to existence of NFI and needfor spatially explicit data

Quantification ofuncertainties

Sampling and statistical inference to correct possible
bias and quantify uncertainties overall

Making best use of
remotely sensed
dataCore data sets and products identified

Selected issues addressed by MGDIssue

MGD provides

Estimate emissions
and removals
associated withREDD+ activities

First systematic description of REDD+ activities and how
to use RS and ground‐based data to estimate them inthe context of IPCC guidance as required by UNFCCC.
Focus on gain‐loss method using change detection
between forest strata with different disturbance levels,and non‐forest strata

Combination ofRemotely sensed
and ground based
data

Different tracks according to existence of NFI and needfor spatially explicit data

Quantification ofuncertainties

Sampling and statistical inference to correct possible
bias and quantify uncertainties overall

Making best use of
remotely sensed
dataCore data sets and products identified

Quantification of uncertainties• Stratify according to ecosystem and management
criteria; detect change• Obtain carbon densities and associated uncertainties
from NFI (if available) or by sampling the strata• Use statistical inference to assess activity data
uncertainty and correct for possible bias due to map
classification errors• Overall quantification of uncertainties – combine theabove using error propagation (IPCC approach)Selected issues addressed by MGD
Issue

MGD provides

Estimate emissions
and removals
associated withREDD+ activities

First systematic description of REDD+ activities and how
to use RS and ground‐based data to estimate them inthe context of IPCC guidance as required by UNFCCC.
Focus on gain‐loss method using change detection
between forest strata with different disturbance levels,and non‐forest strata

Combination of
Remotely sensed
and ground based
data

Different tracks according to existence of NFI and needfor spatially explicit data

Quantification ofuncertainties

Sampling and statistical inference to correct possible
bias and quantify uncertainties overall

Making best use of
remotely sensed
dataCore data sets and products identified

CEOS/SDCG Core Missions
Optical:AgencyMissionLaunchResolution

Swath

Revisit

Planned Duration

USGS/NASA

Landsat‐7

1999

15m, 30m

185 km16 days

5 years

USGS/NASA

Landsat‐8

2013

15m, 30m

185 km16 days

5 years

INPE/ CRESDA

CBERS‐42015

5m 10m, 20m, 40m,64m

60‐866 km

26 days

3 years

ESA

Sentinel 2A

2014

10m, 20m, 60m

290 km10 days

7 years

ESA

Sentinel 2B

2015

10m, 20m, 60m

290 km10 days

7 years

AgencyMissionLaunchESA

Sentinel‐1A and 1B

2014
2015

CSA

RADARSAT
Constellation
Mission (3 satellites)

2018

CONAE/ ASI

SAOCOM‐1A and 1B

2015
2016

SAR:

Band (wavelength)
andandPolarization

Resolution

Revisit

DurationC(5.6 cm)

Single‐,Dual‐
polarisation

9 m, 20 m, 50 m

12 days

7 yearsC(5.6 cm)

Single‐, Dual‐, Full‐polarisation

1 m, 3 m, 5 m, 16m, 50 m, 100 m

12 days

7 yearsL(23.5 cm)

Single‐, Dual‐, Full‐polarisation

10 m, 30 m, 50 m,100 m

16 days

5 years

Map products consistent with MGD methods
Map Name

Description/CommentPurpose
Visual appreciation of trends forpolicy purposes; basis for other Maps of forest cover through time
productsa

Forest/Non‐Forest

Minimum
Mapping Unit

Temporal Production
Frequency< 0.5 haAnnualForest/Non‐Forest Change

Activity data for deforestation andincrease in forest area expressed on Maps of change in the area of forest landb
an hectare or percentage basis< 0.5 haAnnualForest Stratification

As Forest/Non‐forest map, but with forest
Visual appreciation of forest stratified according to PF, MNF, PlantF (or< 0.5 haresources; basis for other productsa equivalent national stratification), and any
sub‐stratifications

AnnualAll Land Use Categories

Default is UN‐FAO Land Cover Classification(LCCS) or an equivalent national classification,
Visual appreciation of national land and allowing aggregation into the six IPCC
< 0.5 haLand
Categories. Forest included usinguse; basis for other productsa
forest/non‐forest maps, stratified as in theForest Stratification map

AnnualActivity data for deforestation andMaps of conversions between the six IPCC
for enhancement of forest carbon
Land‐Use Change between Forests andLand Categories, with forest stratified as
stocksbyafforestationor< 0.5 hadescribed in the Forest Stratification map andother Land Uses
reforestation; activity data if needed
the All Land Use Categories map
for non‐forest LULUCF activities
Activity data for degradation,
sustainable management of forests, Maps of conversions between forest strata inenhancement of forest carbon the Forest Stratification map, and of ongoing < 0.5 ha
Change within Forest Land
stocks within forest remaining activities such as harvesting within categories
forest, and conservation

Near‐RealIndicatorsTime

Forest

Not needed for measurement of emissions,but useful for early warning and detection ofChange Early warning of deforestation andforest clearing and degradation, and so may > 0.5 hadegradation
be needed as part of the implementation ofREDD+.

AnnualAnnualBi‐monthly or better

MGD Process relationships
UNFCCC Overarching agreement

IPCC: GHG inventory guidance agreed
by UNFCCCGFOI MGD Estimation of REDD+ activities
using RS and GB data consistent with
IPCC guidance

CEOS/SDGC RS data
corresponding to MGD
adviceGFOI Research Priorities
consistent with MGDGOFC‐GOLD Review ofstate of scienceMGD Contents
Executive Summary

Outline, intended audience, relationship to negotiations

1 – Design Decisions

Introductory concepts, NFMS, use of existing data, Tier choices,cost effectiveness2 – Estimating Emissions
and removals

Stock change and gain‐loss methods, focus on latter, REDD+activities described with linked estimation methods

3 – Data Provision for
Activity data requirements; types RS data, pre‐processing, map
Estimating Emissions and products, mapping, guiding principles, statistical inference ,Removals
changes in pools
4 Overall uncertainties

Combined AD and EF uncertainties using IPCC method

5 Reporting

What can be said from UNFCCC

Technical Annexes

IPCC Guidance; RS data from CEOS/SDCG; Tier 3 methods;
Sampling; Emission and removals factors; Direct biomass
estimation by RS; Allometrics; Finance.

Case Study: Practical Application of MGD ‐Ghana•

Working with the Forestry Commission of Ghana•

Ghana commenced designing and documenting its MRV system inDecember 2013
– Funded by the World Bank FCPF
– MGD input from Carly Green; Environmental Accounting Services Limited– Complete by Nov 2015•Builds on extensive existing REDD‐Readiness work supported by the WorldBank FCPF•

MGD being used to guide the combination of a large body of completed
research work and achieve and an operational national system

Ghana’s MRV System Elements
COP 19, Warsaw, 2013
UN requirements to be included in the MRVGood Practice Guidance, 2003
2006 AFOLU Guidelines
Methodological guidance on Tiers andApproaches
Methods and Guidance Document, 2014
Guidance on applying IPCC methodologicalguidance to REDD+ activities

ISO 9000 and 14000 series
Standard documentation and reporting framework
to document Ghana’s National MethodologicalapproachPractical Application of MGD ‐ Ghana• MGD Chapter 1 – Design Decisions– Identification and documentation of existing data sources• Confirmed that an historical permanent sample plot program may provide
useful data, but is no longer supported => a need to rely on other data sources
and institute a cost effective ongoing monitoring program with targetedsampling– Cost effectiveness considerations and long term sustainability• Identified as a major concern to the Program and is at the forefront of designdecision making in defining activity data sources through to ground based datacollection programs. Availability of low‐cost RS data important– Forest Definition and Stratification• Cocoa is a major driver. Cocoa landscapes identified as an Emission Reduction
activity making stratification of these areas a priority– Documenting and testing approach to define the Reference Emission
Level• Hstoric approach applied covering deforestation and degradation activities

Practical Application of MGD ‐ Ghana• Chapter 1 ‐ Design Decisions

Practical Application of MGD ‐ Ghana• MGD Chapter 2 – Estimating Emissions and Removals– Documenting and testing calculation approaches for deforestation,degradation. Identification of data sources for future reporting of
REDD+ activities (i.e. removal activities)• MGD Chapter 3 – Activity Data
– Documenting and testing all activity data processes and procedures– Establishing cost effective long term access to satellite data that meetsthe design decisions– Data sources being considered – Landsat; potential to use Sentinel toaddress cloud cover issues• MGD Chapter 3/4 – Uncertainty– Documenting and testing approaches to estimating and reporting
uncertainty• MGD Chapter 5 – Reporting– Completion of the reporting documentation and data archiving
arrangements

Summary of feed‐back– A useful, systematic approach– Provides guidance on the use of existing and disaggregatedforest related information including national statistics,
research and satellite data to ultimately develop an
operational MRV system– Has assisted in identifying gaps in the activity data andemissions factors and to prioritise actions to fill those gaps
– Inclusion of more decision tree material would assist users
understanding– Modules being developed to address issues identified as
experience accumulates, to be communicated via GFOI
website and incorporated in version 2 planned for end of2015

Acknowledgements to:
Advisory Group
Lead Authors
Authors and Contributors
Reviewer
http://www.gfoi.org/methods‐guidance‐documentation