Grant Rosoman, Greenpeace & Co-Chair of HCSA Steering Group 0
Outline ❖ The HCS Approach – how it came about ❖ What is the HCS Approach – an overview of the methodology ❖ Progress so far – achievements and challenges ❖ Summary and Next Steps ❖ APP Case study on HCS Approach 1
NGO campaigns on brands linked with deforestation 2
Origins of the HCS Approach - Global climate and biodiversity crisis – tropical deforestation for commodities – public concern & NGO campaigns on brands - Triggered by Nestle No Deforestation commitment, methodology developed through a collaboration Golden Agri Resources (GAR), TFT and Greenpeace from 2011 - To practically implement ‘No Deforestation’ commitments - Also applied science and research – Remotes sensing, field plots, conservation science for forest patch analysis - Initially just to identify natural forest but quickly evolved to a comprehensive but practical land use planning tool that integrates with other tools 3
Origins of the HCS Approach 4
Key Question: Which areas are natural forest and which are degraded land? 5
What is the HCS Approach? - It is a ‘no deforestation’ land use planning tool – not a carbon assessment – despite the name! - Uses vegetation density, structure and composition combined with above ground carbon estimates to identify forest areas - Engaging certification initiatives (RSPO, FSC), governments, smallholder NGOs, manufacturer and retail companies, and investment sector - The multi-stakeholder HCS Approach Steering Group now established to provide global governance and standardisation 6
HCSA Steering Group Members 7
HCS Approach Toolkit - HCS Approach Toolkit launched in April 2015 - Designed as a practitioners manual on the methodology - Now in Bahasa Indonesia, and French, Spanish and Portugese - Further trials, experience, research and broader consultation for v2 in 2016 - Science Advisory Committee input 8
HCSA: Three phases Phase 3 Phase 1 Phase 2 Vegetation stratification HCS forest patch Achieving forest to identify potential HCS analysis and conservation with forest areas conservation planning stakeholders 9
Phase 1: Remote Sensing to Stratify Vegetation A combined unsupervised and supervised analysis of optical data using visual attributes to provisionally stratify vegetation into 6 classes Or, alternatively LiDAR to determine vegetation height
Phase 1: Field plots to gather species, height and DBH data to determine Above Ground Biomass - Community engagement and FPIC process begins to gain consent - Nested plots measure AGB in trees >5cm DBH - Carbon estimated using global (Chave etal 2014) or locally appropriate allometric - Alternative plot designs possible Vegetation Stratification from remote sensing is calibrated with field plot data to map potential HCS forest areas 11
HCS Forest Stratification POTENTIAL HCS AREAS MAY BE DEVELOPED High-Density Forest Medium Density Forest Low Density Forest Young Regenerating Scrub (S)) Cleared/Open Land (OL) (HDF/HK3) (MDF/HK2) (LDF/HK1) Forest (YRF) Remnant forest or Remnant forest but more Appears to be remnant Mostly young re-growth Recently cleared areas, some woody Very recently cleared land advanced secondary disturbed than HK3 forest but highly disturbed forest, but with regrowth and grass-like ground cover with mostly grass or crops, forest close to primary and recovering occasional patches of few woody plants 12 condition [may contain plantation/ older forest within the mixed garden] stratum
MDF: Medium Density Forest 13
YRF: Young Regenerating Forest 14
S: Scrub 15
Phase 2 - HCS patch analysis and conservation planning • Objective is identify viable forest patches that can maintain or revert to their ecological function as a forest. • Incorporates general conservation principles and science on patch size, shape, core area, configuration, and connectivity including adjacent to a concession. • Takes into account social (i.e. community land use, and rights) • Requires a robust HCV assessment and participatory processes with the community (FPIC and land use planning) 16
Over 30 years of forest patch research…. 17
Forest patch edge effects and ‘core’ 42 Source: Government of Malaysia, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment 2009. Managing biodiversity in the Landscape. Guidelines for planners, decision makers and practitioners. 18
Connectivity, stepping stones and corridors Stepping Fragments stones with no connectivity A corridor also provides A cluster of stepping Stones is optimal for movement of interior species Source: Government of Malaysia, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment 2009. Managing biodiversity in the Landscape. Guidelines for planners, decision makers and practitioners. 19
Decision tree for HCS forest patch analysis Decision Tree for HCS forest patch analysis 20
Phase 1: Vegetation Stratification 21
Phase Two: HCS forest patch analysis Decision Tree – a) patch prioritisation 22
b) Integration, connectivity, ‘give & take’ boundary adjustment and exchange Land Use Plan 23
Phase 3 - Achieving forest conservation • After Conservation Plan proposal that includes HCS/HCV forest areas (Phase 2), the next step is negotiating the forest conservation with local communities and government • A work in progress with a number of significant challenges, not the least being community resistance to conservation • Will need to address community needs and benefits including food security, and has the same FPIC process as planted areas • New tools and mechanisms are needed to achieve this collectively with the support of a range of stakeholders • Achieving legal recognition for HCS forest areas is critical for the long- term protection of HCS forest area, such as through regulations and laws (thus government support). 24
Progress – achievements and challenges • Over 60 assessments to date – 10+million ha, 5 countries in Asia Pacific and Africa - over 500,000 ha prevented from deforestation and in process to conservation • Virtually all palm companies using and large P&P companies in Indonesia - expanding with other sectors and regions – e.g. rubber, bananas, sugar, soya – Africa and Latin America • Not working well yet with smallholders or in high forest cover regions – working on adapted approaches, including landscape scale • Integration with HCV – assessments, quality assurance • So far a voluntary initiative with business and NGOs – need more government engagement 25
Potential Application of the HCS Approach in the World’s Biomes 26
Deere & Struebig et al. (In Prep.). Do High Carbon Stock areas provide habitat for tropical biodiversity? A case study of Bornean mammals in an oil palm forest mosaic
Summary and Going Forward • HCS Approach is a relatively simple land use planning methodology that is now being broadly applied to implement No Deforestation in the humid tropics (mainly Asia Pacific and Africa so far) • A multi-stakeholder initiative – open source methodology with ongoing science and research input – many questions still to answer • Continued development of approach for small farmers, high forest cover regions, integration with HCV, landscape scale assessments, and forest conservation mechanisms. 28
HIGH CARBON STOCK APPROACH CASE STUDY: Asia Pulp & Paper Group By Aida Greenbury, co-Chair of HCSA Steering Group 29
HCS STUDY PROCESS
CARBON VALUE PER STRATA Approximate Carbon Mass Range Total Carbon Stock Region Jambi per HCS Land Cover Strata Land Cover Strata Approximate Carbon Mass (ton per ha) HK > 75 BT 35-75 BM 15-35 LT 0-15
STRATIFICATION MAP BEFORE PATCH ANALYSIS
PATCH ANALYSIS RESULT
MAP BASED ON PATCH ANALYSIS RESULT
Thank you! Any questions? For more information: www.highcarbonstock.org or queries to: info@highcarbonstock.org 36
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