Methods for Biomass Estimation and Forest-Cover Mapping in the Tropics: From Carbon Policy to Technical Training Kigali, Rwanda June 20th 2011

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1 Forest Carbon; A catalyst for green development in Rwanda Dr. Rose MUKANKOMEJE Methods for Biomass Estimation and Forest-Cover Mapping in the Tropics: From Carbon Policy to Technical Training Kigali, Rwanda June 20 th 2011, Kigali

2 What is Green Development? Process of reconfiguring businesses and infrastructure to deliver better returns on natural, human and economic capital investments, Aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, extracting and using less natural resources, creating less waste and reducing social disparities

3 Sustainability Economy Society Environment Green development is the process of achieving sustainability Elements need to be kept in balance

4 Environment in Sustainability Supports economic growth and human welfare Economy and human wellbeing Provisioning Food and fuel Regulatory Climate control Cultural Religious beliefs Environment and Biodiversity

5 Land use planning and decision making Actors needs and wants Decision making systems Rules and Regulations Ecosystems First Level Decisions Agriculture Forests Conservation Other Uses Second Level Decisions Agricultural management Forest management Conservation management

6 Forests, ecosystem services, social and economic values Total Economic Value Direct and indirect use values Direct economic benefits: Indirect economic benefits: Timber-Fuel wood, Construction, Charcoal Non Timber- Honey, wild food, medicinal plants, bushmeat Recreational use- Tourism Grazing Cultivation Soil - fertility and erosion control Water - conservation and regulation Carbon sequestration

7 Forest Threats Indirect High human population density Land fragmentation Limited non agricultural income generating options High Levels of Poverty

8 Forest Threats Direct Deforestation Disturbance

9 Forest Loss in the Virunga The Volcanoes National Park ecosystem has been drastically reduced since its establishment in 1925: 1958 Belgian Authorities permitted 7,000 ha cleared for human settlement ,500 ha converted to agriculture by Rwanda government funded by EEC ,300 ha cleared for human settlement in the western province Total reduction 54% - 150Km 2 remaining today Threats driven by economic needs How do we make sustainable forest management and conservation a competitive an viable land use option? Understand and quantify the benefits from forests

10 Forest Loss in Gishwati The reserve s forests were largely intact in July 19, Acres= 25Km 2 Total forest loss was almost 100%: Km 2 December 11, 2001 The nativee forest was reduced to 1500Acres=0.15Km 2 Densely forested areas are deep green. Source: NASA s Landsat 7 satellite, 1986 and

11 Forest Loss in Gishwati Cnt The Gishwati Forest was deforested by: Agricultura development Resettlement of people (Density of Population). Human encroachment, deforestation, grazing and the introduction of small-scale farming resulted in: 1. extensive soil erosion, 2. flooding, 3. landslides and 4. reduced water quality 5. as well as the isolation of a small population of chimpanzees (15).

12 Mountain Gorilla Tourism Gorillas are the back bone of all tourism in Rwanda (>95% of tourists visit them) Tourism is one of Rwanda's most important sources of foreign revenue Inequitable distribution of the financial benefits local communities see very little of the revenue Revenue sharing scheme High population density around Protected Areas benefits diluted on a per capita basis

13 Soil Conservation Soil Loss Local and National Costs Local Loss in agricultural production National siltation of surface water, impacts on fisheries, potable water

14 Water Conservation High run off and less percolation into local aquifers Poor potable water marginal increase in health costs from water related illness Domestic Water Collection Sebeya River near Electrogaz Gihira Power Plant June 2011 (Dry Season after light rain in Gishwati Hills)

15 Water Management National - Flash Flooding Gishwati/Gisenyi Homelessness, loss of property, livestock &crops Death Increased costs and productivity loss to industry that uses surface water: Potable water Power Brewing

16 Right Outflow from EWSA power plant Gisenyi June 2004 Left Inflow to EWSA catchment for power production Sebeya River June 2004

17 Environmetnal Legislation and the Facts The river cross two provinces and Kigali city The river has hills with high slop on both sides The river has permanent coloured water Causes Empty surounding hills Serious erosion Agricultural activities that go up to close part of River Channel. Measures Afforestation of both valley walls Respect 10m from both sides natural levees. Create Ecotourism activities to reduce pressure on the watershed Nyabirongo River

18 Turbine Wear 50% reduction in lifespan from 10 to 5 years

19 Forest contributions to a green economy Forests contribute optimally to a green economy when, in particular, their full range of private and societal benefits are realized. In this vision of forests, growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments. These investments reduce carbon emissions, enhance resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of forest-base biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services.

20 Rwanda s policy responses and targets Climate Change policy that would with carbon monitoring Low Carbon Development Strategy Target - 30% of land area covered by forest by 2020 Achievement 15-20% of land area already covered. 10 % to go but this is the biggest hurdle. Sustainable land management: Land use master plan available (NLC) Land consolidation and Crop Regionalization Practice of land protection using radical and progressive terracing Focus on incentives for households and small institutions

21 Forest Carbon Financing Offset opportunity costs of other land use options to improve the economic and social viability of forestry Promote reforestation, plantation forestry and agro forestry Improve wood based primary commodities markets Invest in added value activities form wood

22 Forest sector investment portfolio

23 Thank you Let us Think green and have clean acts for a sustainable development