Methodologies оf the forest climatic projects realisation: a review

Abstract

According to various estimates, there are anywhere from several hundred to a thousand initiatives for the protection, planting and reproduction of forests in Russia with a declared environmental effect. Russia has enormous potential for generating carbon units through forest climate projects. However, this opportunity is practically unused. One of the reasons for such low development is the lack of a methodological basis for forest climatic projects. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to analyse the main methodologies used for the calculation, verification and certification of forest management projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration. This article examined forest management projects that have achieved certification under Verra's Verified Carbon Standard, the world's leading voluntary carbon markets program. The methodologies classification was carried out according to the types of activities involved in the projects: 1) reforestation and afforestation; 2) forest management improvements; 3) reducing the emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. This paper contributes to a detailed analysis of the methodologies used for calculating the forest climatic projects in the world and identifying the relevant methodologies that can be used to calculate the carbon units for forest climatic projects in Russia. Also presented are the universal recommendations for reporting forest climate projects.