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LEAF technical series: Module EF-D: Emission factors for deforestation

5pm, December 16th, 2015

This module describes the steps necessary to create emission factors for deforestation using existing carbon stock data. The output of this module is one component of a national or subnational forest monitoring system for REDD+.

An emission factors is an estimate of the change in carbon stocks in all carbon pools impacted by the land use change. Emissions resulting from deforestation are usually expressed on the emissions per unit area of change, e.g., tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare (t CO2e ha-1). The module is applicable for estimating gross and net emissions per unit of activity resulting directly from the conversion of forests to non-forest land classes.

This module provides the methods and procedures to estimate emission factors for deforestation by cause (or driver) and by stratum using the generic IPCC methods for land converted to a new land-use category, and the IPCC methods for specific types of land-use conversions from forests. All carbon pools will be included and the emission factors are calculated based on the IPCC stock-difference approach.

Users of this module will be able to produce all relevant emission factors for forests converted to non- forest land uses. These emission factors are then combined with activity data (as described in Module AD-D) to develop an estimate of the emissions from deforestation (Module EM-H). Use of activity data from an historical period will result in emissions that can be used to develop a reference level and use of activity data and emission factors from long-term monitoring will feed into the MRV system.

Download the module here: Module EF-D: Emission factors for deforestation

Institutions Involved

  • USAID Lowering Emissions in Asia's Forest (LEAF)
  • Winrock International
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