Carbon potential of climate projects in forests: methodical approach and investment decisions

Abstract

This article is devoted to the description of the main methodical aspects of calculating the carbon potential of the implementation of climate projects in forests, including the initial data and formulas for such calculations. The study analyzes the basic methodical principles for calculating carbon stocks in forests (including the assessment of changes in carbon stocks in forests, assessment of carbon pools (above-ground and below-ground biomass, litter, soil, dead wood), the possibility of using conversion coefficients to assess carbon stocks for the main forest-forming species, potential approaches to assessment carbon absorption by forest lands not covered by forest vegetation), attention is focused on the basic requirements for the assessment of scenarios of climate projects in forests (baseline, project scenario), as well as on the institutional framework for assessing carbon stocks in forests (including state regulation of the implementation of climate projects in forests). On the basis of the analysis, preliminary estimates of the carbon potential of the implementation of climate projects in forests are given, their prospects are determined, the rationale for the need to assess the carbon potential based on the classification of climate projects in forests is given.