Forest conservation and the clean development mechanism: Lessons from the Costa Rican protected areas project

Deforestation is currently the source of about 20% of anthropogenic CO sub(2) emissions. Avoided deforestation has, nonetheless, been ruled out as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) category in the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period, because several methodological issues were considered...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change 2004-07, Vol.9 (3), p.217-240
Main Author: Vohringer, Frank
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clean Development Mechanism
Deforestation
Environmental Economics and Natural Resources
Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group
Forest conservation
Leerstoelgroep Milieu-economie en natuurlijke hulpbronnen
Milieu-Economie en Natuurlijke Hulpbronnen
Protected areas
Sustainable development
WIMEK
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Summary:Deforestation is currently the source of about 20% of anthropogenic CO sub(2) emissions. Avoided deforestation has, nonetheless, been ruled out as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) category in the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period, because several methodological issues were considered too difficult to resolve. This paper explores whether CDM issues such as (1) carbon quantification, (2) additionality and baseline setting, (3) leakage risks, (4) non-permanence risks, and (5) sustainable development can be adequately dealt with in large, diversified forest conservation projects. To this aim, it studies the case of the Costa Rican Protected Areas Project (PAP), an Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ) project which was meant to consolidate the national park system to avoid deforestation, promote the growth of secondary forests and regenerate pastures on an area that, in total, covers 10% of the national territory. The case study examines how the issues mentioned above have been addressed in the project design and in the certification process. It is found that baseline uncertainties are the major problem in this case. Nonetheless, the case suggests the possibility to address CDM issues by specific requirements for project design and very conservative and temporary crediting. Provided that other case studies support this conclusion, eligibility of well-designed forest conservation projects under the CDM in the second commitment period may be worth considering, given the secondary benefits of avoided deforestation.
ISSN:1381-2386
1573-1596
DOI:10.1023/B:MITI.0000029918.24860.3e