FORESTRY AGENCY „MOLDSILVA” PROTOTYPE CARBON FUND THE WORLD BANK THE WORLD BANK MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT Liliana Spitoc, Forest Research and.

FORESTRY AGENCY FORESTRY AGENCY „MOLDSILVA” „MOLDSILVA” PROTOTYPE PROTOTYPE CARBONCARBON FUNDFUND

THE WORLD BANK THE WORLD BANK

MOLDOVA SOIL MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECTCONSERVATION PROJECT

Liliana Spitoc, Liliana Spitoc, Forest Research and Management Institute, Forest Research and Management Institute,

Republic of MoldovaRepublic of Moldova

BIO CARBON BIO CARBON FUNDFUND

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

1. The main project activity is carbon sequestration through afforestation of 20,3 thousand ha of degraded, eroded land unfit for agricultural use.

2. The project is supporting the policy of the Republic of Moldova concerning the afforestation and extension of lands with forest vegetation. This policy is an important strategically for sustainable development and management of forestry sector in Moldova.

Project implementation willProject implementation will:: Extend areas covered with forest Extend areas covered with forest

vegetation vegetation ((by 15 % from by 15 % from 2003-2020);2003-2020); Decrease negative impact of economic Decrease negative impact of economic

development through carbon development through carbon sequestration and reduction of GHG sequestration and reduction of GHG (total (total volume of sequestered volume of sequestered COCO22 during during first first 20 20 years = years = 44..3 3 million million tontonss););

Decrease degradation processes and Decrease degradation processes and improve environmental factors with improve environmental factors with direct impact on population health and direct impact on population health and ecological securityecological security;;

Promote sustainable development of Promote sustainable development of forests from the Republic of Moldovaforests from the Republic of Moldova;;

Enhance biodiversityEnhance biodiversity;; Provide local population with wood and Provide local population with wood and

non-wood forest products non-wood forest products ((hunting, hunting, medicinal plants, beekeeping medicinal plants, beekeeping etc.);etc.);

Create additionalCreate additional employment employment (temporary and (temporary and permanent).permanent).

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECTMOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECTMOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

National forest definitionNational forest definition:: A A forestforest presents an presents an

element of the geographical element of the geographical landscape, a functional unit of landscape, a functional unit of the biosphere, composed of the biosphere, composed of the forest vegetation the forest vegetation community (with dominance community (with dominance of trees and bushes), living of trees and bushes), living litter, animals and litter, animals and microorganisms, which are microorganisms, which are interdependent in their interdependent in their biological development and biological development and influence their forest habitatinfluence their forest habitat;;

Minimum area: 0.25 haMinimum area: 0.25 ha;; Minimum tree cover: 30%Minimum tree cover: 30%;; Minimum tree height: 5 mMinimum tree height: 5 m;;

Confirmation of the correspondence of plots included in the project Confirmation of the correspondence of plots included in the project to the requirements of Marrakesh Accordsto the requirements of Marrakesh Accords

Confirmation of lConfirmation of land use categories of and use categories of plots included in the project as of plots included in the project as of 31.12.1989 31.12.1989 and and of data of plantation of data of plantation by cadastral offices;by cadastral offices;

Copies from cadastral maps/schemes of Copies from cadastral maps/schemes of plotsplots;;

Digital photo at the initial phase of Digital photo at the initial phase of implementation;implementation;

Documentation of forest management Documentation of forest management planning;planning;

Validation and initial verification by Validation and initial verification by third parties.third parties.

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECTMOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

Distribution of planting sites and their areas in the project

S.No.

Area of planting site

(ha)

Number of sites

Area (ha) Percent area (%)

1 0.25-4.99 1144 2728,41 13,4

2 5.00-9.99 602 4171,17 20,6

3 10.00-14.99 310 3658,97 18,0

4 15.00-19.99 151 2581,99 12,7

5 20.00-29.99 120 2818,47 13,9

6 30.00-49.99 67 2397,6 11,8

7 ≥ 50.00 27 1933,3 9,5

Total general 2421 20289.91 100.0

Source: Project Implementation Unit, Moldova Soil Conservation Project, Moldsilva, Chisinau.

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

Species and varieties selected for the project activityCriteria used in the selection of species for planting under the project:

Adaptability of species to soils and climate. Fast growing locally adapted species (e.g.Robinia pseudoacacia, Gleditschia

triachantos, Poplar sp) to variety of soils, slope and elevation. Slow growing native species (Quercus, Fraxinus) are given priority on less

degraded sites. Species preferences of the local communities to meet their demands for fuelwood,

timber, and non-wood forest products. Low fodder collection costs to the local communities after the growth and

establishment of the plantations. Major species groups: Quercus- group: Quercus rubra, Q. robur, Q. petraea, Fraxinus, Carpinus, Tilia,

Acer, Cornus, Prunus, Pyrus, Corylus, Viburnum, Sambucus Robinia-group: Robinia pseudoacacia, Gleditsia triacanthos, Sophora, Ulmus,

Acer, Cornus, Corylus Populus-group: Populus alba, P. nigra, Salix, Ulmus, Acer, Sambucus, Corylus,

Sorbus, Viburnum Pinus-group: Pinus nigra, P. sylvestris, Acer, Cotinus, Eleaegnus, Tamarix, Rosa,

Crataegus, Prunus, Rubus

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECTMOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

Approved (Approved (at the meeting of CDM Executive at the meeting of CDM Executive Board of UNFCCC from May 10-12, 2006.Board of UNFCCC from May 10-12, 2006. ) ) afforestation and reforestation baseline and afforestation and reforestation baseline and monitoring methodology AR-AM 0002: monitoring methodology AR-AM 0002: Restoration of Degraded Lands through Restoration of Degraded Lands through Afforestation / Reforestation is applied to Afforestation / Reforestation is applied to the proposed AR CDM project.the proposed AR CDM project.

MethodologyMethodology

Ex anteEx ante actual net GHG removals by sinks under the actual net GHG removals by sinks under the projectproject

Year Estimated annual change in carbon stocks of the project

Annual Change in the carbon stocks of the project with 5% risk adjustment

2002 0 0

2003 9,913 9,418

2004 30,930 29,383

2005 62,675 59,541

2010 208,345 197,928

2015 298,552 283,625

2016 298,755 283,818

2017 230,393 218,873

2018 225,370 214,102

2019 222,336 211,219

2020 230,383 218,864

2021 278,187 264,278

2022 236,757 224,919

Estimated project carbon stock change (t CO2 e) 3,970,839 3,772,297

Total number of crediting years 20 20

Annual average project carbon change over the crediting period (t CO2 e) 198,542 188,615

The monitoring methodology includes the following elements:

Monitoring of the overall performance of the proposed A/R CDM project activity, including the integrity of the project boundary and the success of forest establishment and forest management activities;

Monitoring of the actual net GHG removals by sinks, increases in GHG emissions within the project boundary due to nitrogen fertilization, use of machinery, and removal of non-tree vegetation and burning of biomass in site preparation activities;

Monitoring of leakage from the use of vehicles in the transportation of staff, seedlings, timber and non forest products, as a result of the implementation of the A/R CDM project activity;

A Quality Assurance/Quality Control plan that covers field measurements, data collection, verification, data entry and archival, as an integral part of the monitoring plan to improve the monitoring efficiency and to ensure the integrity of data collected in the A/R CDM project activity.

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

The following basic indicators will be the subject of the monitoring:

Carbon sequestration (soil and biomass); Soil conservation; Biodiversity conservation; Socio-economic situation within the project boundary. At the same time will be monitored the following

permanent technical indicators: planting volume and quality, composition of forestry crops, management activities (forestry works/cuttings etc.).

Chronology of events under of Moldova Soil Conservation ProjectChronology of events under of Moldova Soil Conservation Project

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

Nr. Activities Period1. Development of Project Concept Note April 20022. Start of planting works under the project November 20023. Baseline Study (by GFA „Terra Systems”) March-April 20034. Initial validation (by SGS) September 20035. Development of Monitoring Plan (by Winrock Internat.) November 20036. Beginning of PDD development process June 20047. Initial verification (by TUV Sud-Deutschland) July 20048. Approval of methodology May 20069. Finalization of plantings under the project December 200610. Pre-registration verification (by SGS) March 200711. Registration of the project at UNFCCC Secretariat I quarter 2008

Revenues from carbon sale

Prototype Carbon Fund provides the procurement of emission reductions of CO2 in the atmosphere in the volume of 1,3 mln. tons at the price of US$3,5 /t. Economic effect generated by the sale of ERs of CO2 is estimated at US$4,55 mln. For the period of 14 years.

BioCarbon Fund Agreement provides the procurement of the emission reductions of CO2 in the volume of 600,000 tons at the price of US$4,13/ton. Economic effect generated by the sale of this volume is estimated as US$2.478.000.

MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECTMOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT

To facilitate the process, it was necessary to involve of all forestry actors in implementation of large-scale projects (“Moldsilva”, ICAS, forestry enterprises, mayoralties).

The process enhanced capacity in Moldova through the necessity to learn new methods and technologies including:• Use of simulations and forecasting for forest plantations (unusual

activities in forestry);• Use of models for estimation of GHG removals by forest vegetation

(CO2 fix v.2.0 module);• Use of GPS and GIS;• Creation and operation of complex data base for forestry resources.

Additional financial resources can result from the implementation of traditional activities.

It was necessary to develop communication plans between stakeholders for the implementation of national forestry strategies and programs.

The process was simplified by hiring experts to solve issues such as socio-economic problems of rural communities, promotion of agro-forestry and silvo-pastoral practices.

LESSONSLESSONS