Projects

Forest Carbon Risk of Reversal

  • Project Management
  • Ecological Analysis
  • Forest Estate Modeling
Project Number
152.001
Project Leader
Glenn Sutherland
Client Code
152
Client
Pacific Carbon Trust
Interests
Government, Industry, Other
Duration
2012–2013
Type
Natural Resources Planning
Region
International, British Columbia, Coastal BC
Outcomes
  • implemented model of natural risk of reversal calculations
  • demonstrated efficiency of model relative to static RoR estimates
Project Management
5
Carbon Management
0
Ecological Analysis
20
Forest Estate Modeling
10

Project Description

Forestry-based carbon sequestration projects in some areas have potential for investment by the carbon market and risks to that investment through loss by natural disturbances are a key uncertainty in managing carbon credit allocations. Cortex developed a prototype risk-of-reversal calculator that dynamically estimated loss of carbon stocks through a sequestration project's investment time window, based on ecological factors present at the project site, and probabilistic models of natural disturbance effects. For a case study area in coastal BC, we demonstrated that such an approach could significantly improve the efficiency and lower the costs of carbon credit allotments to both carbon banks and to proponents.

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