Carbon Measurement and Monitoring is one of the four modules of the Regional Climate Change Curriculum for universities and training institutions in the Asia and Pacific region.

Regional Climate Change Development is part of capacity building component of the USAID LEAF program funded by the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA). US Forest Service has provided technical support to the curriculum development process.

Forests play an important role in regulating the climate of the Earth. Deforestation accounts for a substantial minority of global carbon emissions. Increasing forest area and avoiding deforestation and forest degradation are key components of climate change mitigation.

The UNFCCC has called for transparent, reliable and accurate inventories of carbon emissions and stocks at regional and national scales from all signatory countries as a first step towards climate mitigation. National carbon inventories rely on the integration of field measurements, remote sensing data and models.

International efforts such as REDD+ and various carbon markets are being developed. That allows developing countries to benefit financially from avoided emissions from deforestation or forest degradation as long as these can be quantified.

Carbon Measurement and Monitoring course consists of five sections,  each including multiple relevant topics:

• Section I. Overview: Climate Change and Forest Carbon
• Section II. Forest Carbon Stocks and Change
• Section III. Carbon Measurement and Monitoring Design
• Section IV. Carbon Stock Measurement Methods
• Section V. National Scale Monitoring System

To teach the Carbon Measurement and Monitoring, lecturers will use the following key resources:

• Lectures are developed under PowerPoint Presentations format, covering: lecture outline, specific learning objectives, suggested interactive learning activities, take home messages, list of references.
• For the field training, lecturers can use the Manual of Standard Operation Procedures for Terrestrial Carbon Measurement (SOP). The SOP presents a generic approach appropriate for most land cover types, ecosystems and locations. However, adaptation is required for the specific ecosystem, land cover and vegetation in the location where sampling will take place.

The module materials are elaborated in English and will be translated into the national language of the USAID LEAF participating countries. The module can be tailored to both degree and non-degree programs.

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Governmental managers, planners, policy makers at different levels
• NGO practitioners and natural resources professionals

Consent of the teachers/trainers/professors/academic department

At the end of the module, learners will be able to:

• Identify the roles of forests in climate change and that of international efforts to mitigate climate change
• Explain forest carbon stocks, the geographic and climatic constraints on forest carbon, and the drivers of change in forest carbon
• Apply the theoretical issues of and practical methods for measuring and monitoring forest carbon, including statistical approaches, sampling design, and operational protocols.
• Integrate map and field-based measures to generate forest carbon stocks and emissions at plot to national scales using an IPCC framework

In class lectures, class exercises, computer lab, field work in forests

Respective university will award a certificate/degree to those students who successfully complete the module.

1. Overview: Tropical forests and Climate Change

 At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Distinguish climate from weather
• Describe the components of the climate system
• Analyze how the components have changed
• Attribute climate change to key drivers

2. Tropical Forests, the Global Carbon Cycle and Climate Change

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Describe the four major ways forests affect climate
• Distinguish between human and natural factors that control the distribution of forest cover regionally and globally
• Describe patterns in forest cover change from 8000 years ago to present

3.  Role of Forest Carbon and Forests in Climate Change Mitigation

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Determine the essential steps for including forests in the international climate negotiations
• Analyze how  afforestation/reforestation (A/R) evolved into RED and then REDD+
• Investigate the current issues in REDD+ negotiations
• Evaluate the environmental, social, and political factors influencing the adoption of REDD+

4. Theoretical and Practical Challenges for Forest-based Climate Mitigation

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Distinguish the types of activities that make up REDD+
• Explain the major philosophical and practical challenges to achieving REDD+
• Define the major stakeholders who have a role to play in decisions about forest resource management

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Define the major forest carbon pools
• Analyze drivers of variation in forest carbon stocks

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Link LULUCF to carbon emission/sequestration
• Characterize role of anthropogenic perturbations to the global carbon cycle
• Compare regional and country specific patterns in forest cover and land use cover change
• Identify drivers of deforestation and forest degradation

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Characterize the three major forest carbon measurement methods: field methods, remote sensing and modelling, their strengths and weaknesses

2.4. IPCC Approach for Carbon Measurement and Monitoring

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Explain the importance of IPCC and UNFCCC to forest carbon accounting
• Describe the characteristics of good practices for carbon measurement and monitoring
• Identify the IPCC approaches and tier system of carbon accounting

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Explain how reference levels are formulated
• Determine what they are used for
• Explain why they are important for international standards

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Identify deciding components of reference level for country-specifics
• Establish a workable process for reference level development based on the local context
• Develop reference level at the national and sub-national levels taking into account national circumstances

3.1. Considerations in developing a monitoring system

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Explain the importance of MRV
• Identify the key factors to consider in developing a monitoring plan
• Determine which carbon pools and drivers are key to a monitoring  plan and which IPCCC tiers are appropriate goals for each

4.1. Forest Carbon Measurement and Monitoring

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Describe fundamental concepts and technical options for the measurement and monitoring of forest carbon
• Explain the components of carbon stock inventories
• Apply remote sensing principles for forest carbon monitoring

4.2. Design of Field Sampling Framework for Carbon Stock Inventory

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Explain why sampling is necessary
• Distinguish among random, stratified, and systematic sampling and identify where each is appropriate
• Determine the advantages and drawbacks of different sampling schemes

4.3. Plot Design for Carbon Stock Inventory

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Determine minimum plots to be established in each forest type and pool
• Design plot shape and size for each forest type and pool
• Identify appropriate methods to locate sample plots

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Apply carbon measurement methods by Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in field work
• Present a report on terrestrial field carbon measurement

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Apply carbon measurement methods by Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in field work
• Present a report on terrestrial field carbon measurement

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Explain how local land cover classification helps in the calculation of emission factors
• Calculate emissions factors for land cover transitions
• Calculate carbon emissions for land cover transitions using emissions factors and activity data

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Explain how the selective logging activities affect forest carbon and carbon emissions.
• Estimate amount of carbon emissions from selective logging through field measurement and remote sensing techniques

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Name the major non-CO₂ GHGs, and describe whey they are concerns
• Recognize  the major drivers of Non-CO₂ GHGs emissions
• Explain how to measure/monitor Non-CO₂ GHGs.

At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Link the methods and principles discussed in earlier lectures to the needs of a National-scale MRV program
• Explain the importance of and the actions involved in Measurement, Verification and Reporting as related to the REDD+ program
• Describe the three pillars of a National Forest Monitoring System

Knowledge

Necessary knowledge on climate change

Final exam (summative-objective)

Skills (should be paid more attention)

Application of tools, instruments, technology

Attitude

• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Group Participation
• Quality of assistance to others
• Communication skills
• Contribution to the overall training effort
• Perceived effort
• Preparation for class

Percentage

Marks

Awarded