Suriname, like many other countries, gives attention to REDD (Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) payments. This is the case since the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) conference in Bali, Indonesia, 2007. Along the process REDD became REDD+ when forest conservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks were also considered. An essential step in any REDD+ strategy is the assessment of forest carbon stocks which will create data for carbon balance calculations. TBI Suriname has supported this important issue from the beginning. Additionally, the present assessment also received funding from the Capacity fund for Forest and Nature (CBN) which is managed by TBI Suriname.
Capacity Improvement for Efficient Forest Carbon Stock Assessment
Suriname has expressed its preparedness to follow the recommendations of the UNFCCC decision calling on countries to prepare for, and implement activities, related to enhancement of forest carbon stocks and avoidance or reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), which account for approximately 15% of annual global emissions.
This requires adequately trained personnel and the necessary equipment of existing relevant institutes, and the implementation of a methodology to assess forest carbon stock along with the monitoring procedures.
At the initial phase, personnel from Institutions and people to be involved in Forest Carbon Assessment and Monitoring under supervision of the ministry of Physical Planning, Land and Forest Management (RGB) needed training in data collection, processing and interpretation. Also there were no uniform protocols on measurements, sampling and analysis. Likewise, there was no consistent nomenclature in vegetation and soil description.
The Ministry of RGB is planning to set up a Forest Carbon Unit. An important step in this process is to become acquainted with carbon stock assessment in forest plots. This project comprised training of RGB personnel, its partner institutions the Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (SBB), the Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS) and the National Herbarium (BBS), and personnel from private, certified timber logging companies (Suma Lumber Ltd. and E-Timber Ltd). Personnel were trained in plot design and establishment, collection of aboveground and soil biomass data, analysis of this data on organic content, and calculation of forest carbon. The training was provided by Aidenvironment who also prepared the field protocols.
This project contributed to:
- capacity building of the Ministry of RGB, the institutes of SBB, CELOS, BBS and two private companies;
- strengthening the institutes with field and laboratory equipment to conduct fieldwork and analyze samples;
- developing of an appropriate methodology for forest carbon stock assessment.
Duration
2010 - 2011
Objective
The objective of this project was increasing the capacity of the Ministry of RGB and its partner institutions to support the government of Suriname in conducting a ‘Forest Carbon Assessment’. The long-term overall objective of the project was the creation of a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system as part of a national REDD+ strategy.