Implication of REDD+ for carbon, biodiversity and noncarbon ecosystem services Learning from community forestry, Nepal

Transcription

1 Implication of REDD+ for carbon, biodiversity and noncarbon ecosystem services Learning from community forestry, Nepal Eak Rana, Rik Thwaites, and Gary Luck Charles Sturt University Albury-Wodonga, NSW Australia IUFRO 3.08 Small scale and community forestry 15 October 2015 Sunshine Coast University, Queensland

2 Presentation outline Context- Community forestry and REDD+ Objective Methods (Data collection and analysis) Results and findings Take home message

3 Community forestry common features Prominent approach of forest management (29% of total forests in Nepal) (DoF, 2015) Well-defined forests and forest users (forest user group, 18,960) (DoF, 2015) Access, use, management, exclusion rights Critical source livelihoods for rural people (conservation and use)

4 REDD+ as an forest carbon initiative Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and enhancement of carbon stock- REDD+: a policy approach of forest based climate change mitigation UNFCCC, Decision 2/CP New form of forest finance (Payment for ecosystem service- carbon) Piloted in several tropical- developing countries including in CF of Nepal

5 REDD+ through community forestry (CF) complementary and conflicts REDD+ - an additional income source and livelihood supports (Agrawal & Angelsen, 2009, Maraseni et al. 2014) Institutional base of CF can support effective REDD+ (Fisher, 2014) REDD+ and CF - both prioritise conservation, therefore generate multiple benefits (Newton et al. 2015, Skutsch & McCall, 2012)

6 REDD+ through community forestry Forests Biodiversity Management practices REDD + Carbon storage Pre-existing goal of CF Timber, fuelwood, fodder/grass Use practices

7 An emerging issue Conflict between carbon and pre-existing CF objectives and biodiversity Short-term changes in carbon stocks, forest products removal (livelihoods), and forest biodiversity - Forest products - timber, fuelwood, and fodder - Forest biodiversity (plant species diversity and stem density)

8 Methodology - research site Community forestry system institutionalized early 1990 (Nepal- Swiss government) Diverse vegetation types range from sub-tropical to temperate Diversity in forest users (ethnic and economic) Community involvement in pilot REDD+ initiative since 2009 Charnawati watershed, Dolakha, Nepal

9 Methodology - data collection 19 community forests Number of Forest categories community forests High altitude >2000m 11 Elevation Low altitude <2000m 8 Large >1ha Per 7 household Forest size Small 1 ha per 12 household Age of handover Mature in and before 2000AD Less mature after 2000AD 13 6

10 Methodology - data collection Raw data from ICIMOD collected through forest inventory in Feb-April of 2010 and 2013 (112 plots) and vegetation data in 2013 (July-Sept) (52 plots) N Plot of 8.92 m radius (or radius depends on tree density) plot to measure AGTB, =>5 cm dbh Plot of 5.64 m radius to measure AGSB (1-5 cm dbh) Plot of 1m radius for regeneration count (<1 cm dbh) Plot of 0.56 m radius for LHG and SoC

11 Data analysis Analysis of carbon stocks, plant diversity Ecosystem services Unit of measurement Carbon stocks tc ha -1 Plant diversity index Stem density Shannon- Wiener diversity index Number of plants per ha Group records (July Oct) Local community interview Forest products Timber Cubic ft ha -1 Fuelwood Kg per ha -1 Fodder Kg ha -1 Wilcoxon signed ranks test - changes in carbon stocks, plant diversity and forest products removal

12 Results Changes in carbon, plant diversity, and forest products removal from 2010 to 2013 (Parentheses are Asymp. Sig value at two-tailed) Variables Statistical Average annual Change Statistical significant value change Carbon stocks b (.001) Increased Yes 3.56 tc ha -1 Species density b (.27) Decreased No -114 number ha -1 Plant diversity b (.001) Decreased Yes Timber -.52 b (.60) Increased No Cft ha -1 Fuel wood c.(.01) Decreased Yes kg ha -1 Fodder c (.19) Decreased No 8.73 kg ha -1 a. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, b. Based on negative ranks for carbon and timber, and based on positive ranks for richness, density, diversity, c. based on positive ranks

13 Results Summary of change in carbon stocks, forest biodiversity and forest products across CFs Pattern of changes Carbon, plant diversity High Less and forest products Low altitude Mature Small Large altitude mature Carbon stocks Plant species diversity Stem density Timber Fuelwood Fodder Note: ++significant, +increase but not significant, -- significant, -decrease but not significant and 0 no change

14 Community forestry and ecosystem services Carbon stocks across different categories of community forests Categories of community forests Mean Std. Deviation Low altitude (8) High altitude (11) Mature (13) Less mature (6) Small (12) Large (7) Average (19) Annual increment (tcha -1 )

15 Summary of findings Carbon stocks increased, while plant diversity and forest products (except timber) removal decreased Carbon stock increment was greater compared to carbon stocks CFs without REDD+ in similar ecological zones, indicating that change may be attributed to pilot REDD+ Positive changes in carbon stocks and negative changes in plant diversity, and forest products removal varied across CFs with respect to size, age, and location due to variation in forest management activities, vegetation types and resource needs

16 Community experiences...we introduced alternative energies such as improved cooking stove, biogas and ironstove supported by pilot REDD+ that has decreased fuelwood removal...ex-chairperson of Thansadeurali CFUG....our CFUG restricts fuelwood removal from standing trees just allows removing branches, twigs and dry stumps... a woman user of Sitakunda CFUG....our CFUG reduced/changed fuelwood removal duration (from throughout the year to Kartik-Baisakh: October-April) a woman of Chyasebhagawati CFUG....we regulate grazing and construct fire lines to protect forests. REDD+ provides money if we increase carbon...ex-chairperson of Sitakunda CFUG.

17 Take home message Carbon, biodiversity and livelihoods benefits are possible through REDD+, but requires incentive mechanism that maintains plant diversity and resource access together with carbon stocks. (REDD+ is for forest sustainability rather than only compensation local people for carbon enhancement)

18 Thank you for your time

19 Forest ecosystem services and p-value of Wilcoxon rank sum test at (α= 0.05) (within forests) Forest ecosystem services and plots Carbon Plant diversity Stem density Minimum Maximum Mean Control Leakage Control Leakage Control Leakage Std. Z-value P-value Deviation DIVISION OR SCHOOL

20 Forest ecosystem services and p-value of Wilcoxon rank sum test at 0.05 confidence interval (Leakage confirmation) Forest ecosystem services and plots Carbon Plant diversity Species richness Stem density Minimu m Maximum Mean Median Std. Deviatio n Control Leakage Control Leakage Control Leakage Control Leakage Z- value P- value DIVISION OR SCHOOL

21 Community forestry and ecosystem services Securing forest ecosystem services Community forestry Conserving forest resources and improving local livelihoods Climate change mitigation and adaptation

22 Methodology - research site Kathmandu Dolakha Community forestry system institutionalized early 1990 (Nepal- Swiss government) Diverse vegetation types range from subtropical to temperate Diverse forest users (ethnic and economic) Community involvement in forest carbon Project (REDD+) since operated by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Charnawati watershed, Dolakha, Nepal

23 Methodology and data collection 19 community forests elevation, per household forest size, group maturity Vegetation data and carbon stock Harvesting of forest products (timber, firewood, fodder/grass) Socio-economic, institutional forest activities (quantitative) ICIMOD database (2010 and 2013) and vegetation survey Office records - forest group Office records-forest group and group interview

24 Field data collection Tree biomass AGTB = *ρD 2 H Eq. (1) Where, AGTB = above ground total biomass (kg) ρ= Wood specific gravity (g cm -3, we use Nepal specific gravity suggested by Master Plan for Forestry Sector, Government of Nepal, 1988) D= diameter at breast height (cm) H = total tree height (m measured by using Vertex) Sapling biomass Log (AGSB) = a + b log (D) Eq. (2) Where, Log = natural log (dimensionless) a = intercept of allometric relationship for saplings [dimensionless]; b = slope allometric relationship for saplings [dimensionless]; and D = over bark diameter at breast height (measured at 1.3m above ground) [cm].

25 Field data collection Leaf litter biomass LHG = W field W subsample, dry *10 A W subsample, wet Where, LHG= Biomass of leaf litter, herbs and grasses (t ha -1 ) W field = weight of fresh field sample of leaf litters, herbs and grasses within an area of size A (m 2 ) W subsample, dry = Weight of oven dry subsample of leaf litters, herbs and grasses (g) W subsample, wet = Weight of fresh field sample of leaf litters, herbs and grasses (g)

26 Field data collection Soil carbon SOC = ρ*d*% Where; SoC = Soil organic carbon stock per unit area [tha -1 ]; ρ = Soil bulk density [gcm -3 ]; d = total depth at which the sample was taken [cm]; and %C = carbon concentration [%] Total carbon tc = C(AGTB)+C(AGSB)+C(HG)+C(BB)+ C(L)+ SoC Eq. (5) Where, tc= tone carbon(tcha -1 ) AGTB = carbon in above ground total biomass (tcha -1 ) AGSB = carbon in above ground sapling biomass (tcha -1 ) BB= carbon in below ground biomass (tcha -1 ) L= carbon in carbon in leaf litter (tcha -1 ) SoC= Soil carbon ((tcha -1 )

27 Species diversity index (Shannon-Wiener index) s H = - (P i * In (P i ) i=1 Where, H is tree diversity index S= number of species P i = Proportion of individuals found in the i th species (P i =n i /N) n i = is the number of individuals of species i in the sample (species abundance) N= total number of individuals sampled Shannon and Weaver, 1963

28 Community forestry and ecosystem services Changes in ESs and plant diversity in CFs from 2010 to 2013 (parentheses are Asymp. Sig value at two-tailed) Ecosystem services and plant diversity Statistical value Description of differences in the medians Sum of ranks Carbon stock b (.001) Statistically difference (+Ve) Positive > negative Species richness b (.11) No statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Species density b (.27) No statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Plant diversity b (.001) Statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Timber -.52 b (.60) No statistically difference (±Ve) Positive = negative Fuel wood c.(.01) Statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Fodder c (.19) No statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative a. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, b. Based on negative ranks for carbon and timber, and based on positive ranks for richness, density, diversity, c. based on positive ranks

29 Community forestry and ecosystem services Changes in ESs and plant diversity in CFs from 2010 to 2013 (parentheses are Asymp. Sig value at two-tailed) Ecosystem services and plant diversity Statistical value Description of differences in the medians Sum of ranks Carbon stock b (.001) Statistically difference (+Ve) Positive > negative Species richness b (.11) No statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Species density b (.27) No statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Plant diversity b (.001) Statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Timber -.52 b (.60) No statistically difference (±Ve) Positive = negative Fuel wood c.(.01) Statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative Fodder c (.19) No statistically difference (-Ve) Positive < negative a. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, b. Based on negative ranks for carbon and timber, and based on positive ranks for richness, density, diversity, c. based on positive ranks

30 Correlation among ecosystem services and plant diversity Where; Ρ (rho) is the Spearman s rank order correlation coefficient d is difference between two variables n is degree of freedom DIVISION OR SCHOOL

31 Carbon stocks across different categories of community forests Categories of community forests and measurement year Minimum Maximum Mean Median Std. Deviation Annual increment Low altitude (8) High altitude (11) Mature (13) Less mature (6) Small (12) Large (7) Average (19) DIVISION OR SCHOOL

32 Change in carbon stocks in different community forest types between 2010 and 2013 (changes were positive for all community forests) Categories of community forests Z b -value and probability (p) a in parenthesis Carbon change and mean rank c Magnitude of change Low altitude (8) b (p =0.01) Positive for 8 (4.5) ++ High altitude (11) b (p = 0.003) Positive for 11 (6.0) ++ Mature (13) b (p = 0.001) Positive for 13 (7.0) ++ Less mature (6) b (p = 0.028) Positive for 6 (3.5) ++ Small (12) b (p= 0.002) Positive 12 (6.5) ++ Large (7) b (p= 0.018) Positive 7 (4.0) ++ DIVISION OR SCHOOL

33 Change in plant diversity, species richness, and stem density between 2010 and 2013 Forest biodiversity attributes Z b -value and probability (p) a in parenthesis Carbon change and mean rank c Magnitude of change Plant diversity b (p=0.001) Positive for 3 (4.67), Negative for 16 (11) equal for 0 -- Species richness b (p=0.11) Positive for 7 (7), Negative for 11 (11.09), equal for 1 - Stem density b (p=0.27) Positive for 8 (8.50), Negative for 11 (11.09), equal for 0 - DIVISION OR SCHOOL

34 Changes in plant diversity in community forests between 2010 and 2013 CF categories Z b -value and probability (p) a in parenthesis Plant species diversity change and mean rank c Low altitude (8) -1.4 b (p = 0.16) Positive for 2 (4.0), Negative for 6 (4.67), equal for 0 - Magnitu de of change High altitude (11) b (p = 0.004) Positive for 1 (1.0), Negative for 10 (6.5), equal for 0 -- Mature (13) b (p = 0.009) Positive for 2 (4), Negative for 11 (7.55), equal for 0 -- Less mature (6) b (p = 0.04) Positive for 1 (1), Negative for 5 (4), equal for 0 -- Small (12) b (p = 0.01) Positive for 2 (3.5), Negative for 10 (7.1), equal for 0 -- Large (7) b (p = 0.04) Positive for 1 (2.0), Negative for 6 (4.33), equal for 0 -- DIVISION OR SCHOOL

35 Changes in stem density in community forests between 2010 and 2013 Categories of community forests Z b -value and probability (p) a in parenthesis Stem density change and mean rank c Magnitude of change Low altitude (8) b (p= 0.62) Positive for 4 (3.63), Negative for 4 (5.38), equal for 0 - High altitude (11) b (p = 0.30) Positive for 4 (5.38), Negative for 7 (6.36), equal for 0 - Mature (13) b (p = 0.50) Positive for 6 (6), Negative for 7 (7.86), equal for 0 - Less mature (6) b (p = 0.34) Positive for 2 (3.0), Negative for 4 (3.75), equal for 0 - Small (12) b (p = 0.48) Positive for 6 (5), Negative for 6 (8), equal for 0 - Large (7) b (p = 0.31) Positive for 2 (4.0), Negative for 5 (4), equal for 0 - DIVISION OR SCHOOL