IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-1

Research article
erd

Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation in PhnomTbeng Forests
CHAN SOMANTA*The University of Hyogo, Kobe, Japan
Email: chan.somanta@gmail.com

NOPHEA SASAKIThe University of Hyogo, Kobe, JapanSHUICHI KOBAYASHIJapan Forest Technology Association, Japan
Received 17 December 2012

Accepted 30 January 2013(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract Carbon emissions are the source of global climate change. Tropical deforestation
was responsible for up to 25% of the global carbon emissions. Foreseeing the danger oflosing tropical forests and impacts on local people and global climate change, world
leaders have adopted the Copenhagen and Cancun Accords to fully recognize the REDD+(Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, Conservation of Carbon
Stocks, Sustainable Management of Forests and the Enhancement of Forest Carbon
Stocks) scheme of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. TheREDD+ scheme provides financial incentives for any verified activities that result in
reducing carbon emissions or increasing carbon stocks. Compensation can be madepossible only when the amount of reduced emissions or increased carbon stocks isestimated. This study focuses on estimating the reduced emissions from deforestation andforest degradation and discusses the benefit sharing for local people. Phnom Tbeng forest
in the Preah Vihear province was selected as a study site. There are four types of forests,
namely evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest, deciduous and others forests covering
41,530 ha. Our results suggest that a carbon project in this site is likely to result in reduced
carbon emissions of about 3.7 million tCO2 over 30-year project. Depending on carbon
price, carbon revenues would be US$ 19 million or US$ 0.6 million annually for a 30-year
REDD+ project cycle. In addition to carbon revenues, there are other ecosystem benefits
that well-protected forests will provide to local people. Designing appropriate policies andmeasures to reduce the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation along with law
enforcement mechanism is essential for success of the forestry carbon project.
Keywords REDD+, carbon emissions, climate change, carbon stocks, tropicaldeforestation

INTRODUCTION
Since the adoption of the Bali Action Plan in 2007 at the 13th Conference of Parties (COP13) of theUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), renewed interests have
rapidly increased in achieving carbon and sustainable development benefits by implementing
activities that result in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservationof carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks(REDD+). The REDD+ scheme had become the common terms referring to a scheme that provides
financial compensation to developing countries for reducing carbon emissions. Accounting for up
to 25% of the global emissions (Houghton, 2003), carbon emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation in developing countries contribute significantly to global warming. Such emissions
could be reduced at a relatively low cost compared to the reduction costs in energy sector (Stern2006; Kinderman et al., 2007). Obviously, huge carbon emission reductions could be achieved withⒸ ISERD

19

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-1

the appropriate compensation mechanisms. However, financial compensation could only bepossible if the amount of reduced emissions and/or removals through enrichment planting isquantifiable. Until recently, there is no agreed global carbon accounting system that is applicablefor estimating carbon stock changes and related emissions or removals (Angelsen, 2008).
Particularly, no study of carbon accounting system for forest management at local level wasconducted in Cambodia, except a handful of few general studies on carbon emissions in the wholeCambodia (Sasaki, 2006) and the opportunity costs for tropical forest management in Cambodia(Sasaki and Yoshimoto, 2010). As REDD+ projects are commonly implemented at the local level(project level), there is an urgent need to develop carbon accounting system, based upon whichcarbon emission reductions and related financial compensation could be estimated.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study are to provide assessments of carbon emissions and emission
reductions from protecting forests under the REDD+ scheme at Phnom Tbeng forests in Cambodia
and to discusses the benefit sharing for local people
METHODOLOGY
Study Site and Forest Resources: In 2011, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan
initiated grants for feasibility study (FS) on potential new mechanisms including REDD+ scheme
in developing countries. This study is continuous part of this FS on developing REDD+ project inPhnom Tbeng forests in the Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia. The study site administratively
includes four districts and one municipality of Preah Vihear province. Field surveys revealed that
there were more than 30 villages in 11 communes around this site (Fig. 1). Approximately 75% of
rural population depends on forest and non-timber forest products such as for energy use and foodparticularly during drought or war time (FA, 2010).

Fig. 1 Location map of the Phnom Tbeng study site
Local communities living in and around Phnom Tbeng forests depend on forests for daily
subsistence, energy, and rice cultivation. Due to increasing population and fast economic growth,these forests are increasingly threatened by the clearing of forests for land speculation, the clearingof forests for industrial crop cultivation, land encroachment, and illegal logging. During thefieldwork in 2011 and with collaboration   with   FA’s   local   authority   of Cambodia, Japan Forest
Technology Association (JAFTA) classified forests in this study site to four types, namelyⒸ ISERD20IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-1

evergreen,  mixed,  deciduous,  and  other  forests.  According  to  JAFTA’s  forest  land  cover  analysis,  total forest area was 41,530 ha in 2004 and decreased to 41,038 ha in 2009 with an overall annual
decrease  rate  of  0.24%  (JAFTA’s  unpublished  data).  More  specifically,  evergreen  forest  decreased  2.71%, semi-evergreen forest 2.09%, other forests 1.53% while deciduous forest increased 5.58%
annually between 2004 and 2009 (Table 1).
Table 1 Forest cover changes by type in Phnom Tbeng forest
Forest typeArea (ha)Evergreen
14,784Semi-evergreen
12,075
Deciduous
10,954
Other forest
3,717
Total forest
41,530None forest
1,511
Total Area
43,041
Source:  JAFTA’s  unpublished  data

2004

2009
Percent %
34.3%
28.1%
25.5%
8.6%
96.5%
3.5%
100.0%

Area (ha)12,778
10,816
14,013
3,431
41,0382,003
43,041

Decreasing rate/year
2004-2009-2.71%-2.09%
5.58%-1.53%-0.24%
6.51%-Percent %
29.7%
25.1%
32.6%
8.0%
95.3%
4.7%
100.0%

Based on data from 45 sample plots, mean of carbon stocks for each forest type are 102 MgCha-1, 117 MgC ha-1, and 61 MgC ha-1, respectively for evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous
forests. We assumed that carbon stocks in deciduous and other forest are equivalent. Upperconfidence interval with 90% reliability (CI90%) is 111 MgC ha-1, 128 MgC ha-1, 69 MgC ha-1, and69 MgC ha-1and lower CI90% is 93 MgC ha-1, 105 MgC ha-1, 54 MgC ha-1, and 54 MgC ha-1
corresponding to 9%, 10%, 12% and 12% of the means, respectively for evergreen, semi-evergreen,
deciduous and other forest (Table 2).
Table 2 Carbon stock of each forest (MgC ha-1)
Variables
Evergreen
Mean102
Upper Confidence Interval with 90%
111
Reliability
Lower Confidence Interval with 90%
93
Reliability
Source: Result of 45 sample plots in Phnom Tbeng forest

Semi-evergreen
117

Deciduous
61

Other forest
61

128

69

69

105

54

54

Equations of Estimating Forest Cover Change and Carbon Emission Reductions
Change in area of forest cover by type in the study site can be estimated byFor change rate smaller than zero (a<0)FA(t) FA(0)u ea ut(1)

For change rate greater than zero (a>0)FA(t) FA(0)u t a(2)

If no change in forest cover (a=0)FA(t) FA(0)whereFA(t): area (ha) of each forest type at time t
FAi(0): area (ha) of each forest type at time t=0 (i.e. area in 2012)
a: Change rate of forest cover for each forest type
t: is time step (year)
Baseline deforestation (BD) and project deforestation (PD) can be derived byBD(t) FA(t2)- F(t1)
PD(t) RPI(t)u BD(t)(3)(4)(5)

whereⒸ ISERD

21

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-1

RPI(t): Relatives impact of all project activities on drivers of deforestation at time t. RPI(t) is takenfrom Ty et al. (2011)
CS: Carbon stocks of forest type (MgC ha-1)
Baseline and project emissions (CE) can be derived by

CE baseline(t) BD(t)u CS u 3.67
CE project (t) PD(t)u CS u 3.67

(6)CC(t) [CE baseline(t)  CE project (t)]u (1  Leakage)  Carbon Sinks

(8)

(7)

where3.67 is the conversion factor from carbon to carbon dioxide (CO2)
CC(t): carbon credits
Unit for CE and CC is MgCO2
Leakage: carbon emissions outside project boundary. It is assumed here at 20% (or 0.2)
Carbon Sinks: are the increases of carbon stocks (MgCO2 ha-1)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Modeling timeframe for this study is a 30-year period between 2012 and 2042. During the 30-year
period, baseline deforestation was estimated at 224 ha, 160 ha and 41 ha year -1 corresponding tocarbon emissions of 83,811 MgCO2, 68,582 MgCO2 and 9,171 MgCO2 year-1, respectively forevergreen, semi-evergreen and other forests. Over the same period, area of deciduous forest
increased about 39 ha year-1 corresponding to the increase of forest carbon stocks of 8,792 MgCO2year-1(Fig. 2).
350

300

Evergreen baseline

Semi-evergreen baseline

Decidious baseline

Other forest baseline

Evergreen projectSemi-evergreen project

Other forest project
250

Area (ha)

200

150

100

500

2012-50

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

2026

2028

2030

2032

2034

2036

2038

2040

2042

Year-100

Fig. 2 Forest area loses under baseline and project line
Totally for evergreen, semi-evergreen, and other forests, baseline emissions were estimated at
5,008,487 MgCO2 for the modeling period or 166,950 MgCO2 year-1. If REDD+ project isimplemented (project scenario), project emissions were estimated at 1,442,867 MgCO2 or 48,096
MgCO2 year-1. Our results suggest that a 30-year REDD+ project in Phnom Tbeng forests could
lead to emission reductions of 3,565,6621 MgCO2 or 118,854 MgCO2 year-1 . Increasing in area ofdeciduous forest could lead to carbon sinks up to 272,541 MgCO2 or 9,085 MgCO2 year-1 (Fig. 3).
Ⓒ ISERD

22IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-1

210,000
180,000

Baseline

ProjectCarbon Sink

150,000

MgCO2

120,000
90,00060,00030,0000-30,0002012 2014 20162018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036 2038 2040 2042

Year

Fig. 3 Carbon emissions under baseline and project scenarios
Therefore, protecting Phnom Tbeng forests under the REDD+ scheme would result in carbon
emission reductions of about 3.7 million MgCO2 or US$19 million if carbon is traded at US$6(mean carbon price at the voluntary carbon market was $7.88 per MgCO 2 reported by Hamilton etal., (2011)). Revenues from carbon sales will protect and improve the ecosystem functions offorests, benefit to local communities and government as resource manager and owner. A transparent
benefit sharing system is required so as to make sure that carbon benefits will directly reach localcommunities.
Estimation of carbon emissions and emission reductions is affected by the change rate offorest cover, initial carbon stocks, and the assumptions of the effectiveness of the future project
implementation. In addition, actual emissions may also be affected by other factors such as forest
fires, rise of opportunity costs and the political stability.
CONCLUSION
This study has attempted to estimate carbon emissions and emission reductions from protecting
forests in Phnom Tbeng in the Preah Vihear province. The methods developed in our study could
be useful tool for better informed-decision making and the developed methods may be applicable toother locations in Cambodia. Our findings suggest that there are huge emissions from reducing
deforestation and forest degradation. Achievement of such emissions will provide more benefits tolocal people and the Cambodian government through financial support from the international
agreements, carbon trading, and other ecosystem related benefits (i.e. improve agricultural landproductivity). Protecting forests will also results in biodiversity conservation and protection of
traditional rights and culture of forest-dependent communities. Government should be committed
to protecting forests for multiple benefits under the REDD+ scheme or similar international
agreements that aim to provide financial support for managing forests.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Part of this research was supported by the grant from Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry under the theme of the 2011 Climate Change Policy Research (promotion of research onnon-energy greenhouse gas emissions) granted to Japan Forest Technology Association, Mitsui &Co.  Ltd.,  and  the  University  of  Hyogo  for  a  project  entitled  “Feasibility  Study  on  New  Mechanism
for REDD+ Project in Phnom Tbeng Protected Forest in Kingdom of Cambodia" and theMEXT/JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 24252002.
Ⓒ ISERD

23

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2013) 4-1

REFERENCESAngelsen, A. (Ed.). 2008. Moving ahead with REDD: Issues, options and implications. CIFOR, Bogor.
FA. 2010. National forest program, Phnom Penh.
Hamilton, K., Chokkalingam, U., Bendana, M. 2011. State of the forest carbon markets 2009: taking root andbranching out. (http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_2384.pdf, Accessed 10 December2012).
Hougthon, R.A. 2003. Revised estimates of annual net flux of carbon to the atmosphere from changes in land
use and land use agreement 1850-2000. Tellus 55B, 378-390.
Kindermann, G., Obersteiner, M., Sohngen, B., Sathaye, J., Andrakso, K., Rametsteiner, E., Schlamadinger,B., Wunder, S. and Beach, R. 2008. Global cost estimates of reducing carbon emissions through avoideddeforestation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A., 105, 10302-10307.
Sasaki, N. 2006. Carbon emissions due to land-use and logging in Cambodia: a modeling approach. Journalof Forest Research, 11, 397-403.
Sasaki, N. and Yoshimoto, A. 2010. Benefit of tropical forest management under the new climate change
agreement: a case study in Cambodia. Environmental Science & Policy, 13, 384-392.
Stern, N. 2006. The stern review: The economics of climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Ty, S., Sasaki, N., Ahmad, A.H. and Ahmad, Z.A. 2011. REDD development in Cambodia - Potential carbon
emission reductions in a REDD project. Formath, 10, 1-23.

Ⓒ ISERD24