REDD+ readiness implications for Sri Lanka in terms of reducing deforestation

Abstract

Any system to compensate countries for reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) requires a historical reference level against which future performance can be measured. Here we examine the possibilities Sri Lanka, a small forest country with limited data on forest carbon stocks, has to get ready for REDD+. We construct a historical reference level using available forest inventory data combined with updated 2008 and 2009 in situ carbon density data for Sri Lankan forests. Furthermore, we use a combination of qualitative and quantitative data to attribute the clearing of Sri Lankan forests in the latest years for which national forest inventory data are available, 1992-1996, to various proximate drivers and to estimate the opportunity cost of forest conservation. We estimate that baseline deforestation emissions in Sri Lanka amounted to 17 MtCO 2 year -1 in the 1992-1996 period, but conclude that it is challenging for Sri Lanka to produce a robust and accurate reference level due to the lack of nationally based inventories. We find that the majority of forest clearing (87%) is due to small-scale, rainfed farming, with the two other major drivers being rice and tea cultivation. Further, Sri Lankan revenues from REDD+ participation could be substantial, but they are sensitive to REDD+ policy transaction cost, highly uncertain timber revenues, and particularly the carbon price paid for emission reductions. The latter needs to be higher than $5-10/tCO 2 if there are to be substantial incentives for Sri Lanka to participate in REDD+. There is, however, a large gap in the knowledge of deforestation drivers that needs to be filled if Sri Lanka is to formulate an effective policy response to forest degradation in REDD+. For successful REDD+ implementation in Sri Lanka to happen, technological assistance, readiness assistance, and continued political momentum are crucial.

Expansion of traditional land-use and deforestation: a case study of an adat forest in the Kandilo Subwatershed, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…However, there are still knowledge gaps, especially in the relationships between and among the biophysical, economic development, sociocultural aspects, and effective policy responses (Carr 2008;Chomitz et al 2007;Damnyag et al 2013;Mattsson et al 2012;Pasgaard 2013;Pouliot et al 2012). Moreover, most studies of deforestation drivers have been based on macrolevel regional or national data, thus presenting difficulties in addressing the complexity of local situations (Bottazzi and Dao 2013).…”

Homegardens as a Multi-functional Land-Use Strategy in Sri Lanka with Focus on Carbon Sequestration

“…From the field measurements and homegarden area information from 1992 to 2005, the total AGB carbon stock [petagrams of carbon (Pg C)] was estimated for homegardens on a national level for the periods 1992-1996-2005-2010. For more information on the natural forest inventories and methodology for AGB carbon stock estimations, see Mattsson et al (2012).…”

“…According to Mattsson et al (2012), the open forests presently hold 14 Pg C in above and below ground biomass carbon. Hypothetical calculations on establishing homegardens on these degraded forest lands (assuming enrichment planting within existing degraded forest) would yield an additional carbon stock (excluding below ground biomass) of almost 5 Pg C using the low range conservative estimate of 10 Mg C ha -1 as found in dry zone homegardens.…”

The biogeography and ecology of Sri Lankan mammals point to conservation priorities

“…Floristic and habitat variations occur on a finer scale within the dry zone (e.g., Dittus, 1977aDittus, , 1985aPerera, 2012), lowland wet zone (Gunatilleke et al, 2006;Kathriarachchi, 2012) and montane wet zone (Wijesundara, 2012). Variations in habitat properties have also been assessed, under GAP analyses, with a view towards watershed management and ecosystem conservation (Jayasuriya et al, 2006) and the reduction of forest cover loss (Mattsson et al, 2012). Such data would be invaluable for future ecological studies and conservation applications (Pethiyagoda, 2012b;Miththapala, 2015).…”