Oddar Meanchey Project Design Document for CCBA, April 2009
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Project Design Document Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia: A Community Forestry Initiative for Carbon and Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction Submitted to the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard Project Developed by Forestry Administration of the Royal Government of Cambodia; Community Forestry International; PACT Cambodia, Technical Working Group on Forests and the Environment, Cambodia; Terra Global Capital, San Francisco, CA, USA; Children’s Development Association, Cambodia; Clinton Climate Initiative, The Buddhist Monk’s Association, Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia; and the Communities of Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia October, 2009 Oddar Meanchey REDD Project PDD for the CCB Standard, October 2009 Oddar Meanchey REDD Project PDD for the CCB Standard, October 2009 Executive Summary The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Forestry Administration, along with Community Forestry International and Terra Global Capital have developed the first Cambodian “avoided deforestation” project. The project involves 13 Community Forestry Groups, comprised of 58 villages, which protect 67,853 hectares of forest land in the Northwestern province of Oddar Meanchey. The project will be one of the first to use a new methodology for submission under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) combined with the Climate Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standards. The 1 project is expected to sequester 7.1 million metric tons of CO2 over 30 years , demonstrating how developing countries can generate income from carbon markets and positively impact climate change. Why was Oddar Meanchey selected? The Oddar Meanchey Province provides an ideal site for developing a REDD project. The province’s forests have been under intense pressure from commercial and illegal logging, forest fire, economic land concessions and encroachment. Oddar Meanchey has lost 3% of its forests each year from 2002 – 2006, based on remote sensing analyses described further in this PDD. A growing number of communities in the province have been protecting the remaining natural forests as community forestry areas, some of the largest CF areas in the country. Project sites include large tracts of healthy closed-canopy forests, as well as degraded forests suitable for restoration. What are the expected benefits? This project supports sustainable forest management and livelihood development in Oddar Meanchey Province by providing financing through carbon credits generated from forest protection and regeneration. The project not only assists rural people in gaining legal tenure rights over local forests, it creates a 30-year income stream that will directly enhance household livelihoods and natural resource management capacity. The project seeks to maintain and increase carbon stocks in these areas, enhancing the hydrology in the upland watersheds of the Tonle Sap Basin, as well as conserving biodiversity and endangered species. Carbon financing will be used to support rural communities to develop a range of livelihood activities including non- 1 This is subject to change upon development and approval of the project under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS). Oddar Meanchey REDD Project PDD for the CCB Standard, October 2009 timber forest product (NTMP) enterprises, community-based ecotourism infrastructure, and water resource development. The project would also work with the Forest Administration and the Commune, District and Provincial Governments to formulate long term plans for sustainable natural resource management to foster economic growth. What is the commitment of the government of Cambodia? The Royal Government of Cambodia has supported activities that fight climate change since the creation of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. In May 2008, the project was officially endorsed by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia through Government Decision nr. 699 (“Sar Chhor Nor 699”). The guiding principles ensure that the net carbon income are used to (1) improve forest quality, (2) provide maximum benefits to local communities which participate in project activities and, (3) assess the potential for additional REDD projects in Cambodia. The Sar Chhor Nor 699 confirms the high-level commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to make the project a success and use its net carbon income effectively. The success of the Oddar Meanchey project will open the door for long term financing for Cambodia’s National Community Forestry Program, which, according to the Government’s stated goals, could eventually encompass and protect over 2 million hectares of forest. What do avoided deforestation projects consist of? The initiative is based on a new framework called REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) which received international support at the thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Decision CP.13) COP 13 in Bali, Indonesia in December, 2007. Under REDD, developed countries are willing to provide payments to compensate developing nations for forests that are sustainably managed. REDD is a new approach to climate mitigation which gives greater recognition to the importance of protecting and sustainably managing tropical forest resources in developing countries. It is estimated that around 20% of global CO2 emissions originate from the loss of forests associated with land use and land cover changes (IPCC, 20072). 2 Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Oddar Meanchey REDD Project PDD for the CCB Standard, October 2009 Currently, these payments are only available through voluntary emissions reduction markets. After 2012, a post-Kyoto agreement may see the inclusion of a REDD mechanism in the official CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) market as well. What is the project strategy that is followed? From the start of the project, mobilizing of communities to protect forests has demonstrated effectiveness in halting deforestation and degradation in community forestry areas. Key activities supported under the project include: • Social fencing, Community Forestry Group strengthening, formulation and adoption of management resolution; • Networking with FA triage and with neighboring villages; • Strengthening tenurial authority by mapping and boundary demarcation; • Fuel-wood savings through the introduction of improved cook stoves; • Fire control- fire line construction, fuel load reduction, fire brigade creation; • Illegal logging control- creation of volunteer patrols, forest watchers; • Stronger coordination with Commune, District and Provincial Representatives; • Creation of financial incentives to ensure successful protection; • Development of annual carbon stock monitoring systems; • Agricultural intensification. How will degraded forests be restored? The REDD project provides regeneration contracts to all participating CF Management Committees (CMFCs), the committees that are representing the individual members of the Community Forestry Groups, to restore their degraded forests through silvicultural treatments including multiple shoot cutting, clearing around seedlings, enrichment planting, water harvesting, and other methods. Restoration contracts would be based on CFMC management plans, providing employment opportunities, materials, and funding CFMC operations. Increases in carbon stocks in regenerating forests would provide additional income from the sale of carbon credits into commune and community funds that can be used for livelihood and infrastructure development activities. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 996 pp. Oddar Meanchey REDD Project PDD for the CCB Standard, October 2009 Project Location Country: Cambodia Province: Oddar Meanchey Implementing Organization Forestry Administration of the Royal Government of Cambodia Name of Contact Person: Mr. Long Ratanakoma Title: Deputy Chief, Community Forestry Office Address: Forestry Administration # 40, Preah Norodom Blvd., Phsa Kandal 2, Daun Penh, Phnom Penh Cambodia Telephone: +855-12-854-314 Fax: +855-12-212-201 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.forestry.gov.kh/ Implementing Partners PACT Name of Contact Person: Ms. Amanda Bradley Title: Program Director of the Community Forestry Partnership Address: Pact Cambodia Phnom Penh Center, Building A, 3rd floor, Rm. 311 Phnom Penh Cambodia Telephone: +855-23-217-855 x160 Fax: +855-23-217-856 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.pactcambodia.org Children’s Development Association, Cambodia Name of Contact Person: Mr. Chee Boreth Title: CDA Director Address: Children’s Development Associate Samraong Oddar Meanchey Cambodia Telephone: +855-17-233-050 (Khmer only) Email: [email protected] Oddar Meanchey REDD Project PDD for the CCB Standard, October 2009 The Buddhist Monk’s Association, Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia Name of Contact Person: Venerable Bun Saluth Titel: Director Address: The Buddhist Monk’s Association Samraong Oddar Meanchey Cambodia Email: N/A The Communities of Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia Name of Contact Person: Mr. Sa Thlay Title: Chief of CF Federation Telephone: +855-11-425-598 (Khmer only) Email: N/A Project Identification and Design Community Forestry International, USA Name of Contact Person: Dr. Mark Poffenberger Title: