Carbon Inventory in Project Development, Implementation and Monitoring Phases

A carbon inventory is required for projects involving carbon mitigation, traditional forestry and roundwood production as well as for other land-based development (noncarbon) projects. This chapter focuses on the carbon inventory process at different phases of a project cycle. A typical project cycle comprises conceptualization, consultation, proposal preparation, appraisal, approval, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Project proposals are written to seek support for investment capital or grant, technology transfer, capacity development or for conducting research. Most land-based projects involve appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of environmental, financial, social, institutional and legal aspects at multiple stages of the project cycle. The focus of this handbook is on environmental aspects, particularly assessment of carbon emissions, removals or carbon stock changes due to project activities that require a carbon inventory. Even projects not directly related to carbon mitigation require assessment of production of roundwood or grass, rates of growth of organic matter in soil and stock changes. Such agencies as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UN organizations, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board, bilateral funding agencies and national institutions have their own guidelines for developing project proposals, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation. However, the basic components of any project cycle involving carbon mitigation, roundwood production or land reclamation would involve multiple stages as illustrated in Fig. 5.1.