REPORTS - SPECIAL REPORTS

Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry


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3.3.2. Carbon Accounting of ARD Activities


Once it has been determined that an ARD activity has taken place, it should be known where the activity took place and when it began. Chapter 2 elaborates two carbon accounting options: activity-based accounting, whereby only the stock changes resulting from the activity are counted; and land-based accounting, whereby all carbon stock changes on a piece of ARD land are accounted. Another question for ARD activities initiated after 1 January 2008 is whether carbon stock changes should be assessed beginning on 1 January 2008 or beginning with the onset of the activity.

Three combinations of options are possible:

  • Activity-based approach. Carbon accounting begins with the start of the activity or on 1 January 2008, whichever is later. Any stock changes prior to the activity remain unaccounted because they do not result from the ARD activity. Any stock change that occurs after the start of the activity but does not result from the activity is not accounted. An example is the decaying slash from a harvest that is followed by reforestation (FAO scenario).
  • Land-based approach I. All carbon stock changes on ARD land are counted, beginning on 1 January 2008.
  • Land-based approach II. All carbon stock changes on ARD land are counted, beginning with the start of the activity or with 1 January 2008, whichever is later. For example, the decaying slash would be counted as a negative carbon stock change.

These three options will be discussed further in the stand, landscape, and global level examples (Sections 3.5.1, 3.5.2, and 3.5.4).


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