MONITORING REPORT: CCB Version 2, VCS Version 3 THE MAI NDOMBE REDD+ PROJECT SECOND MONITORING & IMPLEMENTATION REPORT (M2) Document Prepared by Wildlife Works Carbon Project Title The Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project Project ID 934 Version 4.3 Report ID 1 Date of Issue 22-October-2017 Project Location Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mai Ndombe Province Wildlife Works Carbon Project Proponent(s) Jeremy T. Freund [email protected]; 415-331-8081 Jeremy T. Freund, Simon Bird and Mike Korchinsky Prepared By Wildlife Works Carbon CCB v2.0, VCS v3.4 1 MONITORING REPORT: CCB Version 2, VCS Version 3 EPIC Sustainability Services K. Suryanarayana Murthy Validation/Verification Body [email protected] +91 9845759000 GHG Accounting/Crediting 14 March 2011 – 13 March 2041 Period 30-year crediting period Monitoring Period of this 01 November 2012 – 31 December 2016 Report Validation: 06 December 2011 History of CCB Status Verification (m1): 06 December 2011 Climate and Biodiversity Gold Level Criteria The Project will conserve flora and fauna within the Project Area. Protecting these 2 former logging concessions will maintain critical forested area and the ecosystem services that it provides, as well as rehabilitate habitat for endangered charismatic animals such as the Bonobo and Forest Elephant. By protecting the native forest, the Project will also increase the resilience of the ecosystem to the effects of climate change. Section GL1.4 of the CCB PDD exemplifies many additional Project Activities that will help both local communities and biodiversity to minimize and adapt to expected climate change impacts. Improved seed distribution and training on improved Gold Level Criteria agricultural methods will lead to increased yields and adaptation to changes in rainfall, the timing of growing seasons, and changing temperatures. Educational activities to increase literacy and diversify livelihoods will enable communities to adapt to expected increases in the number of and severity of natural disasters caused by climate change, and the resulting potential for increases in food insecurity and disease. Through forest protection by providing alternatives to destructive forest pathways, the Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project will also provide habitat for the bonobo (Hominidae Pan paniscus), an IUCN red-list endangered species as well as enable the return of the forest elephant. CCB v2.0, VCS v3.4 2 MONITORING REPORT: CCB Version 2, VCS Version 3 Acknowledgements We extend our heartfelt thanks to the following people and organizations, without whom conservation in the Lac Mai Ndombe region would not be possible: WWC team Mill Valley Jeremy Freund, Mike Korchinsky, Simon Bird ERA-WWC team Kinshasa Jean-Robert Bwangoy Bankanza Bolambée John Schellenberg Dodo Ndonda Gedeon Wongondombi ERA-WWC team in Inongo Bruno Ilonga, Jacques Ipoma, Anatole Bokolo, Mathieu Bolaa, Donat Mboyo Koko, Marilyn Elembe, Djems Mbalaka, Panest Ngubidi, Eddy Mbabila, Gauthier Kimpese, Guylain Nshoko, Gratien Matungulu University of Kinshasa Raymond Lumbuenamo WCS Jean-Paul Kibambe CN-REDD Victor Kabengele wa Kadilu, Frédéric Jacquemont Lastly, we extend our thanks to the communities of the Lac Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project Zone, for it is them that this project serves, and it is due their trust, acceptance and support that the project ultimately owes its success. CCB v2.0, VCS v3.4 3 MONITORING REPORT: CCB Version 2, VCS Version 3 Acronyms ACoGS Avoided Conversion of Grasslands and Shrublands AFOLU Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use APD Avoided Planned Deforestation APC Avoided Planned Conversion AUC Avoided Unplanned Conversion AUDD Avoided Unplanned Deforestation and/or Degradation BEM Biomass Emission Model CCB Climate, Community and Biodiversity CEPF Critical Ecosystem Protection Fund DNA Designated National Authority ER Emissions Reductions FAO Food and Agricultural Organization FCPF Forest Carbon Partnership Facility FPIC Free, Prior and Informed Consent GHG Greenhouse Gas GIS Geographic Information System HCV High Conservation Value IBA Important Bird Area KBA Key Biodiversity Area MNRP The Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project MRR Monitoring Report Requirements for the VM0009 V2.0 VCS methodology MRV Measuring, Reporting and Verification NGO Non-Governmental Organization NPA Natural Protected Area NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products PAA Project Accounting Area PD Verified Carbon Standard and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Project Description document REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus Conservation, Sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks CCB v2.0, VCS v3.4 4 MONITORING REPORT: CCB Version 2, VCS Version 3 R-PP Readiness Preparation Proposal UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change VCS Verified Carbon Standard WWC Wildlife Works Carbon CCB v2.0, VCS v3.4 5 MONITORING REPORT: CCB Version 2, VCS Version 3 Table of Contents 1 Summary of Project Benefits ............................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Unique Project Benefits ............................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Standardized Benefit Metrics ....................................................................................................... 9 2 General ............................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Project Description ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Project Implementation Status ................................................................................................... 25 2.3 Stakeholder Engagement .......................................................................................................... 32 2.4 Management Capacity and Best Practices ................................................................................ 34 2.5 Legal Status and Property Rights .............................................................................................. 37 3 Climate ............................................................................................................................................... 41 3.1 Monitoring GHG Emission Reductions and Removals .............................................................. 41 3.2 Quantification of GHG Emission Reductions and Removals ..................................................... 94 3.3 Optional Criterion: Climate Change Adaptation Benefits ........................................................ 103 4 Community ....................................................................................................................................... 104 4.1 Net Positive Community Impacts ............................................................................................. 104 4.2 Offsite Stakeholder Impacts..................................................................................................... 104 4.3 Community Impact Monitoring ................................................................................................. 105 4.4 Optional Criterion: Exceptional Community Benefits ............................................................... 143 5 Biodiversity ...................................................................................................................................... 143 5.1 Net Positive Biodiversity Impacts ............................................................................................ 143 5.2 Offsite Biodiversity Impacts ..................................................................................................... 146 5.3 Biodiversity Impact Monitoring ................................................................................................. 147 6 Additional Project Implementation Information ........................................................................... 159 7 Additional Project Impact Information .......................................................................................... 160 7.1 Allometric Equations ................................................................................................................ 160 Appendix A: PROJECT AREA ................................................................................................................ 162 Appendix B: TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS ...................................................................................................... 163 Appendix C: INFRASTRUCTURE ROADS – WATER BODIES ............................................................ 164 Appendix D: LAND USE / FOREST COVER .......................................................................................... 165 CCB v2.0, VCS v3.4 6 MONITORING REPORT: CCB Version 2, VCS Version 3 1 SUMMARY OF PROJECT BENEFITS 1.1 Unique Project Benefits The Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project, located in western Democratic Republic of the Congo, is an ecologically rich and diverse area previously zoned for commercial timber extraction. It provides habitat to bonobos and forest elephants, and includes some of the most important and endangered wetlands in the world. It is also home to some 50,000 people, most of whom live on the shores of Lake Mai Ndombe, and along the main roadway leading from the lakeshore city of Selenge towards the northwest project area boundary.