redd+ in drc:status and operational options for the ... · redd+ in drc:status and operational...

REDD+ IN DRC: STATUS AND OPERATIONAL OPTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALLOMETRIC EQUATIONS

May 2017

This report is made possible by the support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service International Programs and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. Government.

1

Contributors to this report:� Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), Democratic Republic of the Congo; Adrien Djomo, Consultant Primary Forest Service Contacts: Richard Paton Central Africa & Middle East Regional Advisor �Forest Service �International Programs Office of the Chief p: +1 202 294 0722 [email protected] Olivia Freeman DRC Country Coordinator and Central Africa Field Program Manager Forest Service �International Programs Office of the Chief c: +243 824 806 633 [email protected]

2

REDD+ IN DRC: STATUS AND OPERATIONAL OPTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALLOMETRIC EQUATIONS

May 2017

3

SUMMARY

In order to meet the requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has set up a national REDD+ strategy that includes forest carbon inventory and a methodology for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV). To support this process one tool needed to convert data from forest inventories into carbon emission and sequestration estimates for the country is the use allometric equations. Allometric equations allow for estimations of carbon storage within forests based upon forest species composition and age. In general, species-specific allometric equations for DRC are limited. Therefore, MEDD with the financial support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and facilitation by the United States Forest Service (USFS) produced this status report on allometric equations in the DRC to inform the current state of knowledge and next steps.

A two-phase study was conducted in Kinshasa and in the field from August to December 2015. This study involved meeting with the main actors involved in the REDD+ process and assessing use of allometric equations to estimate carbon stocks in DRC. A national workshop was held in Kinshasa from the 16th to the 17th of December 2015 to validate operational options identified in the study for allometric equation development in the DRC. Two phases to develop allometric equations were identified and recommended:

− First phase: data from local allometric equations are harmonized with equations from the sub-region to develop new allometric equations.

− Second phase: field data collection in five forests stratas to develop allometric equations which are specific for various types of forests in the DRC.

Five strata were selected for the development of these new equations, consistent with the Forest Reference Emission Levels/Forest Reference Levels (FRELs/FRLs) methodology. A budget for this study was proposed as guidelines to help mobilize funds required to implement recommendations.

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Table of contents ......................................................................................................................... 4

List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ 5

List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. 6

Acronyms ....................................................................................................................................... 7

I Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 9

I.1 Background and Rationale ............................................................................................ 9

I.2 Objectives and expected results ................................................................................. 9

I.3 Study phases .................................................................................................................. 10

II Sub-regional context ........................................................................................................... 10

II.1 PRREDD+ / COMIFAC ............................................................................................. 10

II.2 Status of forests in the Congo Basin ...................................................................... 11

III Procedure of the study and main actors involved in the REDD+ process in the DRC .............................................................................................................................................. 12

III.1 Activities of organizations that were consulted during this study ................. 14

III.2 Key academic institutions conducting forest research in the DRC .............. 17

IV Description of forest ecosystems in the DRC ............................................................ 19

IV.1 Phytogeographic Description ................................................................................. 19

IV.2 DRC Forest Stratification ....................................................................................... 20

IV.3 Pre-National Forestry Inventory (Pre-NFI) and other inventories ............... 23

IV.4 Permanent plots in the DRC .................................................................................. 24

IV.5 Other inventories in the DRC ............................................................................... 25

V Status of Research and Development of allometric equations in the DRC .......... 26

V.1 Case of dense and moist forests ............................................................................. 26

V.2 Case of the Miombo area ......................................................................................... 27

VI GHG – Emission factors – Reference level ................................................................. 28

VI.1 Greenhouse gas and emission factors in the DRC ........................................... 28

VI.2 Reference levels ........................................................................................................ 28

VII National workshop to validate operational options for equations development in the DRC ................................................................................................................................... 29

VII.1 Implementation of activities .................................................................................. 31

VII.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................... 32

VII.3 The DRC roadmap toward developing allometric equations ....................... 33

References ................................................................................................................................... 36

Annexes ........................................................................................................................................ 38

5

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Forests of the Congo Basin .................................................................................... 12

Figure 2: Old and new administrative division of provinces ............................................. 19

Figure 3: Map of forest stratification the DRC (Source: Verhegghen et al, 2012). ..... 21

Figure 4: Types of pre-NFI plots (Source: MECNT, 2012). ............................................. 24

Figure 5: Pre-NFI plots location maps (Source: MECNT, 2012) and LIDAR over flight

done by the SMC (Southern Mapping Company). .............................................................. 24

Figure 6: Left, map showing the various types of allocation, pre-investment and

management inventories of the DRC. Right, details on inventory types (type,

location, land area and year of completion). Period: 1974 – 1991. ................................ 25

Figure 7: Map showing the main countries covered by the Miombo forest stratum. 28

6

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Description and estimation of the extent of forest strata DRC (Source:

Verhegghen et al, 2012). ........................................................................................................... 22

Table 2: Assessment of deforestation in the DRC during 2000 to 2010 period

(Source: UN-REDD / FAO, 2012; from the data from OSFAC, FACET and

Verhegghen et al, 2012). ........................................................................................................... 23

Table 3: Plots planned and done as part of the pre-NFI. .................................................. 23

Table 4: Distribution of permanent plots in various DRC former provinces. ............. 25

Table 5: Various types of equations developed in Central Africa, including pan-

tropical equations ....................................................................................................................... 27

Table 6: Schedule of activities for Phase 1 ........................................................................... 34

Table 7: Schedule of activities for Phase 2. .......................................................................... 35

Table 8: Budget for Phase 1. .................................................................................................... 35

Table 9: Budget for Phase 2. .................................................................................................... 35

7

ACRONYMS

AFODEK Agroforêts pour le développement de Kipushi

ALOS Advanced Land Observation Satellite

BMU Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation,

Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany

CA Central Africa

CAFEC Central Africa Forest Ecosystems Conservation

CARPE Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment

CAVRE Contrat Achat-Vente des Réductions d’Emissions

CFT Compagnie Forestière de Transformation

CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research

CN-REDD National Coordination of REDD

COMIFAC Commission of Central Africa Forests

COP Conference of Parties

DDD Directorate of Sustainable Development

DIAF Directorate of Forest Inventory and Management

ERA Ecosystem Restoration Associates

ERAIFT Regional School for Tropical Forest and Territories

Management

FACET Forêts d’Afrique centrale évaluées par Télédétection

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FCCC Forest and Climate Change in Congo

FIB Fédération des Industriels du Bois

FREL/FRL Forest reference emission levels/Forest reference levels

FRM Forêt Ressources Management

GEF Global Environment Facility

GHG Greenhouse Gas

INERA Institut National pour l'Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

ISEA Institut Supérieur d’Études Agronomiques – Bengamisa

JAFTA Japan Forest Technical Association

JICA Japanese International Cooperation Agency

8

KfW German Development Bank

LECAFOR Laboratoire d’Ecologie et d’Aménagement Forestier

LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging

MEDD Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development

MERIS Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer

MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MRV Monitoring, Reporting and Verification

NFI National Forest Inventory

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

NOVACEL Nouvelle Société d'Agriculture et d'Elevage

OCEAN Organisation Concertée des Ecologistes et Amis de la Nature

ONFI Office National des Forêts International

OSFAC Central African Forests Satellite Observatory

REDD Reduction of Emission from Deforestation and forest

Degradation

SFM Sustainable Forest Management

SMC Southern Mapping Company

SNSF National Forest Surveillance System

SODEFOR Société de Développement forestière

SPIAF Service Permanent d'Inventaire et d'Aménagement Forestiers

UCB Catholic University of Bukavu

UCL Catholic University of Louvain

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNIKIN University of Kinshasa

UNIKIS University of Kisangani

UNILU University of Lubumbashi

UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research

UN-REDD United Nations REDD

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USFS United States Forest Service

WCS Wildlife Conservation Society

WWC Wildlife Works Carbon

WWF World Wildlife Fund for Nature

9

I INTRODUCTION I.1 Background and Rationale To meet the requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries wishing to participate in REDD+ must have a thorough knowledge of the carbon stock in their national territory and the ability to monitor these stocks within time and space. DRC has a clear national REDD+ strategy that include a forest carbon inventory and a monitoring methodology, reporting and verification (MRV) implemented by the Directorate of Forest Inventory and Management (DIAF) within the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD). The Directorate of Sustainable Development (DDD) has the mandate from the MEDD to work with DIAF for compiling data collected during the national forest inventory and other carbon measurement inventories to convert this data into estimates of emission or carbon sequestration in the country. These conversions are done by using allometric equations.

The development of allometric equations is time-consuming and labor intensive. Allometric equations are statistical formulas determining the relationship between biomass, measurable volume and parameters directly or indirectly in the field such as the diameter or the height of the trees. Allometric equations in Central Africa are still insufficient, and even less so in the DRC. In this context, the pan-tropical allometric equations were used to assess carbon stocks in tropical forests in the absence of specific allometric for the site. Depending on the degree of precision that DRC wishes to have in assessing their biomass and forests carbon, specific equations for the DRC could be developed and used possibly in combination with pan-tropical regional or local equations.

The allometric equations specific to the site or the combination of equations that the DRC should use for estimating carbon stock and flows, have not adequately been studied or analyzed. As part of its technical assistance to MECDD, the United States Forest Service (USFS) proposed to offer the services of a technical expert to work with the focal points within DIAF and DDD, in coordination with the CN-REDD, to assess the situation in DRC and to propose options for allometric equations to be used and developed.

I.2 Objectives and expected results The main objective of this work is to provide assistance to DIAF and DDD. Thus, this study will allow to:

− Assess and document the actual availability of pan-tropical regional or local allometric equations relevant for the DRC;

− Analyze the REDD+ strategy for DRC and the forest carbon inventory methodology so as to better understanding the requirements for allometric equations;

10

− Undertake some case studies in similar countries on their approaches for using allometric equations and data;

− Produce an analysis of the differences due to the absence of specific allometric equations for the DRC reference levels;

− Determine scenarios on the use of equations and the development of new equations to achieve the desired levels for the DRC;

− Organize a national workshop to restore and validate scenarios and develop an action plan for the implementation of the resolutions;

− Wherever possible, support DIAF and DDD for the advancement of knowledge and the development of forests reference emission levels / forest reference levels.

I.3 Study phases This study is organized in two phases:

Phase 1: This phase, carried out during a two-week mission in August-September 2015, helped to develop the methodology to be adopted for the study, to identify the main actors to be consulted and to meet with actors in based in Kinshasa to assess activities carried out as part of allometric equations and/or carbon stock estimates.

Phase 2: This phase was originally scheduled to take place between September - November 2015 to also facilitate the DRC REDD+ readiness plan for the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties 21(COP 21), held from November 30 to December 21, 2015. To facilitate readiness for COP 21, the consultant made available to national experts a document to be used as technical support for negotiations. A national validation workshop connecting regional and national-based actors reviewed recommendations and analyzed the feasibility of developing allometric equations in the DRC in the coming years.

II SUB-REGIONAL CONTEXT II.1 PRREDD+ / COMIFAC The REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Institutional Capacity Building Project for the sustainable management of forests (SFM) in the Congo Basin (hereinafter referred to as PRREDD+ Regional Project), received a GEF funding of $13 million US Dollars managed by the World Bank and implemented by the Commission of Central African Forests (COMIFAC). This five-year project will:

− Improve knowledge and coordination on REDD+ issues in the Congo Basin;

− Strengthen technical capacity for the measurement and monitoring of carbon stocks in the Congo Basin forests;

11

− Help mainstream REDD+ concept in SFM projects.

The six countries with the highest forest density in the Congo Basin (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo) have all committed to ensure regional coordination of efforts for conservation and sustainable management of Central African forests. COMIFAC, which was established in 2005 as a regional political and technical authority responsible for guiding, monitoring and coordinating SFM in Central Africa, is the coordinator of this effort. The COMIFAC Executive Secretariat is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the implementation of the Regional REDD+ project with the support of a PRREDD+ technical unit project.

The six countries of the Congo Basin have undertaken efforts to develop national mechanisms for REDD+. As members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries have recognized the need for participating in the design and the implementation of actions aiming at reducing emissions from deforestation, sustainable forest management, improving carbon stock estimates and following up the recommendations of the Bali Action Plan of the UNFCCC COP13 in 2007.

II.2 Status of forests in the Congo Basin The Congo Basin is the central Africa region comprising the following six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The Congo Basin covers an area of 530 million hectares of which 300 million (Figure 1) are covered by forests (Megevand 2013). Industrial logging is practiced on about 44 million hectares of forests allocated under logging concession representing 8.3% of the total area and 14.7% of the forests of the Congo Basin (Megevand 2013; de Wasseige et al. 2012).

Logging is selective to maintain a permanent forest cover. These forests are home to a great diversity of plant and animal species and provide valuable ecosystem services at local, regional and global levels. More specially, these forests provide livelihoods to nearly 60 million people who live there and almost 40 million people living in urban centers near these forests (Nasi et al., 2010). Overall, the forests of the Congo Basin represent about 25% of carbon stored in tropical forests worldwide, and are therefore an important source for mitigation of anthropogenic emissions (de Wasseige et al. 2012).

Since the forests of the Congo Basin have an impact on the quality of life of the local people, and people at the regional and global levels, mapping and monitoring of changes and/or disruption of these forests are of great importance. It is important to gain knowledge of its area, its floristic composition, the growth dynamics and environmental factors that influence these forests and the various types of disturbance for the implementation of environmental and economic policies, particularly in the context of REDD+ (de Wasseige et al. 2012).

12

Figure 1: Forests of the Congo Basin

III PROCEDURE OF THE STUDY AND MAIN ACTORS INVOLVED IN THE REDD+ PROCESS IN THE DRC

In the DRC, various ministerial institutions and private organizations or national and international NGOs are involved in the REDD+ process. According to an expert within CN-REDD in DRC, 17 ministries were involved in the REDD+ process as well as many organizations. The meeting with USFS and DIAF and its technical partners such as JICA/JAFTA, FAO/UN-REDD has helped explain the Terms of Reference, the objectives of the study, to understand the expectations and determine the list and the schedule of organizations to be visited. To maximize consultation, organizations based in Kinshasa and its surroundings as well as Kisangani were selected. This was justified by the fact that most large organizations that operate within the country are based in Kinshasa, the capital city. Kisangani was also chosen for the study as there are ongoing relevant studies on biomass sampling

13

as well as a REDD project coordinated by the University of Kisangani. Below are a list and a description of organizations which were consulted as part of this study:

− Government institutions (DIAF, DDD, CN-REDD)

− Multilateral Development Institutions (FAO/UN-REDD)

− National and international NGOs (WWF, WCS, NOVACEL, JICA/JAFTA, WWC, Nature Plus, OSFAC, OCEAN)

− Universities or university organizations (UNIKIN, ERAIFT, UNIKIS, IFA-Yangambi, ISEA Kisangani)

− Trade and Union associations and logging companies’ forestry (FIB, SODEFOR, CFT)

− Consultant firms (FRM)

During the first phase of the study, 11 of the 19 selected organizations were consulted. They are: DIAF, DDD, CN-REDD, FAO/UN-REDD, WWF, WCS, JICA/JAFTA, Nature Plus, OSFAC, ERAIFT and SODEFOR. Out of 8 organizations that could not be consulted, 5 are located outside Kinshasa (UNIKIS, IFA-Yangambi, OCEAN, ISEA, NOVACEL, ONFI) and it was agreed that those organizations should be consulted during the second phase of the study. It was not possible to confirm the appointment with Wildlife Works Carbon (WWC), the Head of the Forest Department of UNIKIN; FIB was removed from the schedule. Therefore during the second phase of the study, we traveled to Kisangani where we had two working sessions with research teams which are conducting extended studies on biomass and REDD+ extended studies at UNIKIS as well as with the representatives of the following organizations: IFA-Yangambi OCEAN/Kisangani UNIKIS/ISEA. We also gave a lecture open to all interested UNIKIS students and researchers in the region with the theme: “Climate Change: issues, solutions and Opportunities for CA and DRC.” We also had individual meetings with students to better understand their research topics, the links with REDD+ issues and allometric equations.

Meetings with organizations were mostly in the form of group and/or individual meetings. A brief description of activities carried out by these organizations within the framework of REDD + process is presented below.

14

Photo 1: A number of researchers and participants in the REDD + lecture at UNIKIS.

III.1 Activities of organizations that were consulted during this study

DIAF

DIAF (Directorate of Forestry Inventory and Management) is the directorate of the MEDD (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development) responsible for the national inventory and other inventories of forest resources. It is also responsible for monitoring all types of forest inventory conducted by logging companies, international NGOs and multilateral organizations. In collaboration with FAO / UN-REDD, DIAF is conducting a Pre-National Forest Inventory (NFI) that will cover the whole country.

FAO / UN-REDD

The FAO / UN-REDD is supporting DIAF in carrying out the Pre-National Forest Inventory and in determining the methodology. It provides assistance for forest stratification, for the development of methodology for pre-NFI and NFI and It is working with DIAF staff for the implementation of this methodology. About 60% of plots planned for the pre-INFI have already been covered.

15

JICA / JAFTA

JICA /JAFTA is supporting three main REDD+ related activities of the MEDD:

− Remote sensing: forest maps of 1995, 2000, 2010 and 2014 were developed using Landsat images. ALOS and SPOT high-resolution satellite images were produced for Bandundu, Equateur and Orientale Provinces. The aim is to use these maps to assess changes in forest cover and to determine the reference levels.

− Forest Inventory: A forest inventory is been conducted in Bandundu with technicians from DIAF. In this context, one portion of pre-NFI plots was used for collaboration and alignment of data. This forest inventory will help to calibrate the reference levels for the whole country.

− GIS and database: There is no development plan for allometric equations in this project. All data are stored in the database and the aim is to use adopted allometric equations to produce the biomass estimate and to contribute toward determining the reference levels.

JICA/JAFTA compared the existing allometric equations Chave et al. (2005), Chave et al. (2014), Djomo et al. (2010), Fayolle et al. (2013) and SPIAF with the IPCC and FAO expansion factor. They found that Djomo et al. (2010), Fayolle et al. (2013) and Chave et al. (2005) came up with very close results.

DDD

DDD (Directorate for Sustainable Development) is the directorate of MEDD in charge of conducting greenhouse gas inventories the country. This inventory involves five main sectors which are energy, agriculture, industry, land use change, forestry, and waste. This branch is responsible for using stocks reported by all sectors and emission factors to determine past and present emissions of the country based on the emission reference levels and adopted reference levels. At the moment there is no specific emission factors as yet and no methodology for coming up with emission reference levels or reference levels.

CN-REDD

The CN-REDD is the national coordination all REDD+ activities in the country. Currently, it is developing a national REDD + program that will help to mainstream a number of ministries and all major organizations implementing REDD+ activities in the DRC.

WWF

As part of the “REDD for People and Nature’’, WWF has developed a project for estimating carbon stock in a secondary forest in Malebo village in Bandundu Province. They used Chave (2005) and Peasrson and Brown (2005) equations for estimating biomass. Jean-François Bastin used high resolution images with field data over 400 km2 in Malebo to produce a biomass map using the Chave et al. 2005 (Bastin et al. 2014) allometric equation. WWF under the Central Africa Forest

16

Ecosystems Conservation (CAFEC) project under the USAID funded Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) has developed a plantation and agro-forestry project for the sustainable management of firewood. The project would like to have specific allometric equations for biomass estimating. The aim of the Carbon Mapping and Model project is to produce a national scale biomass map.

OSFAC

OSFAC (Central African Forests Satellite Observatory) in partnership with the University of Maryland, carries out the monitoring of the Congo Basin forests and produces satellite images that are used by different actors. They also use data to monitor deforestation and collaborated with WWF in the Carbon Map and Model project. Thus within the framework of the Carbon Mapping and Model project, 246 plots were spread across the country and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) images were taken by SMC (Southern Mapping Company). Some of these plots are juxtaposed with those of the NFI, therefore, data from these plots will be used to calibrate LIDAR results.

Carbon Mapping and Model Project

This 6 million euros project financed by KfW and BMU is run by WWF (Germany and DRC) in partnership with DIAF, DDD and other national and international partners (SMC OSFAC, CNREDD, FAO, WCS, UCL, OSFAC, JICA, etc.). Its aim is:

− to produce a national-scale biomass map for the entire DRC forest;

− to conduct feasibility studies for various forest protection measures as part of a REDD+ project model.

Thus, this national-scale biomass map for the DRC will help assess carbon stocks and emissions from the largest forest of the Congo Basin to support the national REDD strategy, which plays a major role in the sustainable development and poverty reduction. This map will be developed from field data, supplemented with LIDAR for accurate estimation of carbon stocks in all wooded areas.

Nature Plus

Nature Plus has developed the Ntsio and AFODEK projects with the funding received from the European Union. The Ntsio project located at 180 km away of Kinshasa in the “Plateau des Batéké” is an agro-forestry project with the aim of planting 3.93 million trees for carbon credits. The AFODEK project in Kipushi near Lubumbashi, in Katanga has developed another agro-forestry project over 2,000 hectares. As part of this project, Nature Plus worked together with ERAIFT to develop a local allometric equation for estimating the biomass of this project.

WCS

WCS in Ituri province has two sites where permanent plots have been measured for 25 years to assess the dynamics of forests and carbon stocks. In Salonga National Park, there are also permanent plots in place from 8 to 10 years. The plots are 100

17

m x 100 m and WWF LiDAR survey covered some of these plots which will be used to calibrate the results and to contribute to the national carbon mapping. WCS is interested in specific allometric equations, but has not yet had the opportunity to produce or to contribute to its development. A PhD student from UCL who works with WCS reviewed the existing equations and used them for biomass estimates. In Bukavu, there is another project on forest conservation. There is also a REDD project in the OYO mountain near Goma. The aim of this project is to develop agro-forestry for biomass estimation and sustainable development.

SODEFOR

SODEFOR is a logging company in the DRC, which has 16 forest concessions in three provinces representing 1.8 million hectares. The company worked with the FORAFAMA Project with is a REDD + pilot project. The company has agreed in principle to cooperate in case new allometric equations are to be developed, and they are waiting to be informed on recommendations on that study.

III.2 Key academic institutions conducting forest research in the DRC

UNIKIS

Establish in 1963, the university was successively known as: Free University of the Congo (1963), National University of Zaire / Kisangani Campus (1971) and finally University of Kisangani (1981). It stretches over on an area of approximately 132 hectares and has 8 faculties. The Faculty of Science and renewable natural resources has:

− Several Laboratories and forest reserves (Yoko, Masako, Umba, Mbiye Islands, etc.). One of these laboratories (LECAFOR) has the mandate to carry out on behalf of COMIFAC / PRREDD /DRC the destructive data collection to develop allometric equations in a transition rain forest within one CFT concession forest. The start of these works has been delayed in reason of equipment delivery. The works are due to start in the course of the year 2016.

− A Biodiversity Monitoring Center (CSB)

− The CIFOR FCCC project (Forest and Climate Change in Congo).

UNIKIN

Establish in 1954 under the name of Lovanium University. It became University of Kinshasa in 1981. The university covers 400 ha and has over 26,000 students, 12 faculties and 6 schools. Initially forestry research was carried out in the Faculty of Science and since 2008 the Forestry Department was established within the Faculty of Agriculture and is supported by the University of Laval, Canada.

18

ERAIFT

ERAIFT is the Regional University College based in Kinshasa which has MSc and Phd programs. The MSc program takes 18 months and combines 10 months theoretical study with a 2-month field study and a 6 month thesis. Since 2011, the main theme of the program is REDD. A MSc student worked with AFODEK to develop a specific allometric equation in Miombo forest within the vicinity of Lubumbashi.

IFA-Yangambi

College of Agricultural Sciences of Yangambi was established in 1972 with the aim of training technicians and engineers in forestry and agronomy.

ISEA/Bengamisa

The ISEA of Bengamisa was established in 1969 in order to train A1 level executives in the fields of forestry and agriculture. Thus, the mission of this school is to:

− Train senior executives (technicians, engineers), in the area of water and forests for rational exploitation and technicians management of the DRC forest resources; train also agricultural extension technicians for introducing new techniques in the Congolese rural areas.

− Offer training in water and forestry, general agriculture and rural development;

− Supervise students during field work: forest inventory, reforestation techniques, guided tours, extension service, agriculture, livestock.

INERA

Between1935-1945 an arboretum was planted using various silviculture techniques. The institute has:

− tree herbarium in Yangambi with 24,937 samples including 111 families of 2,554 species, 10,576 beds of flowers and fruits and 1,014 xylotheque boards;

− two main centers (Yangambi and Luki) with two respective biosphere reserves and five stations Bambesa, Mulungu, Kipopo, Nioka and M’Vuazi.

Currently, the institute needs rehabilitation to make available data on forest dynamics, the behavior of plant species, etc.

UNILU

The University of Lubumbashi (UNILU) is a public university located in the city of Lubumbashi, in the province of Katanga. Founded in 1955 as the official University of Congo and Rwanda-Urundi, it went through several name changes including Elisabethville State University (1960), official University of Congo (1963), National University of Congo / Lubumbashi Campus (1971), National University of Zaire / Lubumbashi Campus (1972) and from 1981 onward, University of Lubumbashi. In 2015, it had 20,438 students in 15 faculties and graduate schools and 1,198 members of the teaching staff. Forest research takes place in the Faculty of Agriculture. Created during 1995-1996 academic year as Department of Agricultural Sciences

19

within the Faculty of Science, the department became Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in 1998. The Faculty mission is to train competent agricultural engineers to address issues of food production and sustainable land management and the environment.

Université Catholique de BUKAVU (UCB)

UCB is a private university founded by the Catholic Church in 1989 with the status of private higher learning Institution. It officially started admitting students in 1990. To date, it consists of 5 faculties, aronomy, law, medicine, economy and management sciences, and has 4 campuses and an enrolment of about 2,600 students. Forest research takes place within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences within two mayors: crop science and soil science.

IV DESCRIPTION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN THE DRC

IV.1 Phytogeographic Description The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) covers a land area of 2,345,000 km² and lies between latitudes 5 ° 20 'N and 13 ° 17' S and longitude 12 ° 15 'E and 31 ° 15' E of Greenwich. With the recent administrative subdivision, the country changed from 10 to 26 provinces.

Figure 2: Old and new administrative division of provinces

The relief is dominated by various levels of plateau with a large depression in the center known as the central basin, which is the main collection of more than 80% of the water bodies of the Congo River tributaries. The Congo River which is the second largest river in the world after the Amazon has its sources in the southern tip of Katanga province, flows down through the former Kivu Province, passes by Kisangani, Mbandaka and Kinshasa and runs into the Atlantic Ocean. It has a 3.65

20

million square kilometers water catchment, an average flow of 45,000 cubic kilometers of water per second at its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. The central basin has an average altitude of 400 m. In the north there are plains and plateaus with altitudes ranging from 600 m to 1,000 m. Areas with altitudes between 1,000 and 1,600 m are located in the southern part of the country. In the East along the Graben, are the Virunga mountains with an altitude of 4,500 m and the Ruwenzori mountains 5,119 m above the sea level (MEDD - UNITAR 2006). Three climate zones occur in the DRC. They are:

− The equatorial zone located at 2 degrees north and south latitude;

− The tropical zone located north and south of the equatorial zone;

− The relatively temperate zone in the far east.

IV.2 DRC Forest Stratification Over the past decade, several assessment of the forest cover have been developed from satellite images. These include:

− The land use map at with a 300 m resolution (MERIS image) produced in 2006 (GLOBCOVER initiative);

− Map covering Africa with a 1 km resolution, in the framework of the Global Land Cover 2000 (GLC 2000);

− Vegetation map of the DRC with a 1 km resolution using SPOT images taken in 2009 (Vancutsem et al., 2009);

− Binary forest/no forest study from MODIS (between 250 m and 1 km resolution depending on the spectral bands) and Landsat (15 m and 30 m resolution depending on the spectral bands), done in 2008.

− Vegetation map from a combination of MERIS and SPOT data with a 300 m accuracy (Verhegghen et al, 2012.). Recent studies including the pre-Inventory (NFI: National Forest Inventory) are based on this map (Figure 3) which covers all the forests of Central Africa (Figure 1).

21

Figure 3: Map of forest stratification the DRC (Source: Verhegghen et al, 2012).

The study by Verhegghen et al. (2012) was used to estimate the extent of each forest strata DRC (Table 1).

22

Table 1: Description and estimation of the extent of forest strata DRC (Source: Verhegghen et al, 2012).

The recent work by OSFAC (Satellite Observatory of Central African Forests) done as part of the activity of the Central Africa Forest Assessed by Remote Sensing (FACET), made it possible to determine the extent of deforestation and the main strata involved (Table 2).

23

Table 2: Assessment of deforestation in the DRC during 2000 to 2010 period (Source: UN-REDD / FAO, 2012; from the data from OSFAC, FACET and Verhegghen et al, 2012).

IV.3 Pre-National Forestry Inventory (Pre-NFI) and other inventories

DIAF in partnership with FAO has developed a methodology for pre-NFI (MECNT, 2012). To carry out this national forest inventory 65 plots nested square shapes or inverted L using sub circular plots (Figure 4) were selected. Table 3 below provides a break down by province of the numbers of plots planned and done as well as the forms of plots used.

At the time this report was written, DIAF sent teams to the field to complete inventories in the following sites: Kasai Oriental, Maniema and Orientale Province. For security reasons, inventories cannot continue in Katanga, South and North Kivu. However, the pre-NFI should allow for better national coverage and also for planning for further measurement campaigns to get national forest inventories with a better representation of the sampling throughout the country.

Table 3: Plots planned and done as part of the pre-NFI.

24

Figure 4: Types of pre-NFI plots (Source: MECNT, 2012).

The maps below show the location of the pre-NFI plots (Figure 4) and that of the national LIDAR coverage done by the Southern Mapping Company (SMC). From these maps, it can be appreciated that the pre-NFI plots and the LIDAR over flights have been aligned as well as other inventory projects (WCS; JICA/JAFTA) to facilitate calibration and to develop biomass maps from LIDAR data.

Figure 5: Pre-NFI plots location maps (Source: MECNT, 2012) and LIDAR over flight done by the SMC (Southern Mapping Company).

IV.4 Permanent plots in the DRC The permanent plots (Table 4) make it possible to assess the dynamics of the stand growth, disruptions and environmental factors related to this growth. A network of permanent plots followed by various projects has been set up in various ecological zones of the country. It should be noted that permanent plots are nonexistent in some areas characterized by dry forests like Katanga. However, DIAF announced that permanent plots would be set up in those areas as of this year, 2016.

25

Table 4: Distribution of permanent plots in various DRC former provinces.

IV.5 Other inventories in the DRC Apart from the national forest inventory which makes it possible to assess the stock and changes at the national level, other inventories have been carried out (Table 5). They are:

− Allocation inventories

− Pre-investment inventories

− Management inventories

Figure 6: Left, map showing the various types of allocation, pre-investment and management inventories of the DRC. Right, details on inventory types (type, location, land area and year of completion). Period: 1974 – 1991.

26

Armed conflicts in the DRC resulted in the fact that no inventory was conducted in the 1991 – 2000 period. Annex 4 below summarizes the various allocation, pre-investment and management inventories carried out in the DRC before and after the conflicts.

V STATUS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALLOMETRIC EQUATIONS IN THE DRC

The allometric equations are mathematical regressions developed in order to assess parameters which are not easy to measure directly on the ground such as biomass, volume, by establishing a relationship between those parameters and others which are easier to measure on the ground such as the diameter, height, etc. Within the framework of REDD+, biomass is used to assess the level of forest sequestration, or the level of emission if trees are cut and the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.

Distinction is often made between the above – ground biomass and below – ground biomass, since data collection is destructive, and is generally limited to the aerial part due to the challenge of digging up roots to assess their mass. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, the allometric equations are established to assess the above - ground biomass and biomass conversion factors are used to assess the below – ground biomass.

V.1 Case of dense and moist forests The DRC which has more than half of the forests of the Congo Basin, although it is involved in the REDD+ process, does not have for almost the entire territory any specific allometric equations to measure trees biomass from forest inventories and also to help establish the reference from which emissions or carbon sequestrations could be assessed from the future. Consultation meetings with various actors involved in the REDD+ process made it possible to identify allometric equations existing and/or used in the DRC or in the Congo Basin sub-region (Table 6).

27

Table 5: Various types of equations developed in Central Africa, including pan-tropical equations

V.2 Case of the Miombo area As shown in the figure below, the Miombo area covers the DRC and stretches out to other countries in the sub region, namely Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, etc. (Figure 6). A few studies of destructive biomass have been conducted in some of these countries. The following can be mentioned:

− Akweni (2015) in DRC,

− Kuyah et al. a,b (2012) in Kenya,

− Mugasha et al. (2013) in Tanzania,

− Chidumayo (2013) in Zambia

− Ryan et al. (2011) in Mozambique

28

Figure 7: Map showing the main countries covered by the Miombo forest stratum.

VI GHG – EMISSION FACTORS – REFERENCE LEVEL

VI.1 Greenhouse gas and emission factors in the DRC The emission factors used at the moment are default ones, since nothing is developed so far for the DRC. The greenhouse gas inventories are conducted by a team of multidisciplinary experts by integrating the following evaluation sectors: energy; industry; agriculture, including changes in the landscape and forestry; and waste. Transportation is included in the energy sector. National data from various sectors are made available to the ministry for the purpose of inventories. It would be good if actors can provide data on time with the required levels of detail.

At the moment, one of the challenges that the DDD, which is in charge of carrying out compilations, is faced with, is that data are often monopolized by individuals and not by institutions, and this often creates obstacles. It would be good if this can change in the future to make the work easier, especially by setting up a data platform.

VI.2 Reference levels Within the framework the country preparedness for COP 21, a matrix defining activities to be carried out, expected deliverables and the budget has already been developed. WCS was appointed as the coordinating organization for setting up the reference levels. The Terms of Reference were validated and several meetings under

29

the coordination of the FAO and the WCS and have made it possible to develop a technical methodological note for the construction of reference levels determining components such as the scale, the scope and the required reference period for the construction of the FREL/FRL. The periods chosen are as follows: 1990 – 2000; 2000 – 2010, 2010 – 2013/2014.

The scale is of the jurisdictional type, since the official data required for the construction of a national FREL/FRL are generally collected/compiled at the level of administrative entities. The second consideration is related to Forest Provinces (former Provinces of Bandundu, Equateur and Province Orientale) as well as their respective administrative subdivisions which are offering a favorable comparative advantage to be eligible for the construction of the national FREL/FRL compared to the other provinces of the country. They have been selected for the intermediate phase in view of COP 22. The other parts will follow based on tools development and on the improvement of knowledge on this process. Eight criteria have been identified on the basis of quantitative parameters (past emissions, the area of the forest massif, drivers of deforestation and of forest degradation), qualitative parameters (capacity and capabilities for implementing a REDD+ project) and other parameters related to the REDD+ national strategy (REDD area of interest and lessons learnt at the national level) as well as the national strategy for the development of the country (development plans). On the basis of an assessment involving several criteria, each potential area can thus be assessed from selected criteria. The score achieved by each area will make it possible to choose the ideal scale for the area.

VII NATIONAL WORKSHOP TO VALIDATE OPERATIONAL OPTIONS FOR EQUATIONS DEVELOPMENT IN THE DRC

Under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), with the technical and financial support of USAID/US Forest Service, a national workshop to validate operational options for developing allometric equations in the DRC was held from 16-17 December 2015 at Centre Interdiocésain de Kinshasa.

Nearly sixty people including representatives of the various organizations consulted during this study as well as those intervening in one way or another in the carbon stocks estimates attended the workshop (see the list of the participants in the appendix). They are:

− Government agencies;

− NGOs;

− Projects and programs;

− Universities and research institutions.

30

This national workshop aimed at validating the key recommendations of the study on the status of allometric equations in the DRC and at coming up with an action plan as well as an operational mechanism for their implementation.

Photo 2: Group photo and pictures of some participants in the workshop.

More specifically, the workshop helped participants to:

− Take notes of the results of the status of analysis of the allometric equations in the DRC and in the sub-region;

− Take notes of initiatives and experiences on carbon stock estimates and REDD+;

− Discuss and validate the recommendations of the study;

− Establish a realistic and operational action plan for the implementation of recommendations related to the allometric equations and the reference levels.

31

VII.1 Implementation of activities This workshop had seven sessions as per the provisional agenda.

SESSION 1: Opening

There were three interventions in this session:

− Opening remarks from the USAID/DRC representative

− Opening of the workshop by the representative of the General Secretary to MEDD

− Introduction to the workshop by Jean-Solo Ratsisompatrarivo from the US Forest Service

SESSION 2: Activities related to carbon stock assessment in the DRC

− Presentation on the current state of allometric equations development and research (Adrien Djomo)

− Presentation of some REDD projects and the carbon assessment in the DRC :

• WWF Mapping of airborne LIDAR biomass: Carbon Mapping and Model Project (Mina Lee)

• Development of an allometric equation for the DRC ‘Miombo’ forests of Katanga province (Akweni Arindo, ERAIFT)

• Development of the allometric equations in the Yangambi Reserve (Alide Kidimbu, UNIKIS)

• ERA Mai Ndombe Project (Jean-Robert Bwangoy, WWC)

SESSION 3: activities on the reference levels (FREL/FRL)

− Presentation of the technical note on FREL/FRL (Wilfred Kombe, FAO/UN REDD)

− Presentation of data platform within the framework of the National Forest Monitoring System (SNSF); (André Kondjo Shoko, DIAF)

SESSION 4: Summary of day 1 and overview of day 2 (Christophe Musampa, workshop moderator)

SESSION 5: Recommendations on allometric equations

− Presentation of the scenario (Adrien Djomo)

SESSION 6: Roadmap (Akweni Arindo, ERAIFT; Ruffin Nsielolo K., DDD)

SESSION 7: Summary of the works (Jean Pierre Pitchou M., the workshop spokesperson)

32

VII.2 Recommendations This workshop helped to develop the following key recommendations:

a) Adopt a scenario in two phases:

(i) Phase 1 is about associating existing data from the local and the sub-region allometric equations in order to develop new allometric equations in compliance with the methodological approach of the technical note on the FREL/FRL reference level;

(ii) Phase 2 is essentially devoted to data field collection in all types of forests in view of developing specific allometric equations for the various types of DRC forests. In line with the FREL/FRL methodological note, 5 strata were selected to develop these new equations:

• Dense rainforests on “terra firma”

• Dense rainforests on hydromorphic soil

• Secondary forests

• Dry or open forest (Miombo)

• Mountain forests

b) Set up new permanent plots in forestry concessions, in areas hosting long-term projects; e.g. AFODEK in Katanga, and in the areas where they do not exist yet (see Table 4).

c) Set up a database accessible through a portal in order to centralize information. Therefore, DIAF and DDD should continue their effort to set up an adequate framework which will facilitate the access to and the exchange of data among the various actors who possess or who are using data.

d) Create a synergy among institutions to avoid duplication of activities.

After the validation of recommendations, participants were split into two groups: one group was dealing with technical issues linked to the development of allometric equations and the other worked institutional issues in view of developing the roadmap of the next steps.

33

VII.3 The DRC roadmap toward developing allometric equations

During the development of the DRC allometric equations, the following roadmap from the group work was validated:

At the institutional level

Several stakeholders will be involved in the short, mid and long term:

• The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) represented by the General Secretary,

• The Directorate of Inventories and Forest Management (DIAF) and the Directorate of Sustainable Development (DDD) under MEDD,

• National and international NGOs involved in the DRC forestry sector,

• Universities and agricultural and/or forestry research centers (UNIKIN, UNILU, UNIKIS, IFA-YANGAMBI, UNIKI, ISEA-BENGAMISA, ISEA-MONDONGO, ISEA-TSHELA, UNIGOM, UEA-BUKAVU etc.),

• Logging companies and consultant firms.

These various actors should work in synergy, each one performing the assignment they will be tasked with, in order to develop in the mid and long terms, relevant allometric equations applicable at the national scale, tailored for the DRC.

Participants insisted on the need for putting in place a formal framework for accessing and exchanging data and information to ensure the achievement of the objectives.

At the technical level

Phase1

Methodology

− Identify the local and sub-regional allometric equations

− Contact involved authors and acquiring data

− Process data and statistics analysis

− Publish results and findings of the study in scientific journals

34

Table 6: Schedule of activities for Phase 1

Phase 2

Methodology

− Chose the study area: the work will be done by stratum; 5 strata selected, the definition and the criteria of selection of the sites

− Chose the sampling method: the use of IVI Index to select dominant species and to guide data collection.

− Sampling: site approach for the biomass study;

• 5 sites of dense terra firma forests,

• 3 sites for dense forests on hydromorphic soil,

• 3 sites for open forests,

• 3 sites for secondary forests taking into account the age of the tree.

− It was agreed to have a minimum of 150 trees for each site (stratum) to ensure the best representation.

− Logistics: setting up a technical team to define the logistical needs and for the edition of the technical note

− Data collection, processing, analysis and publication of the results

35

Table 7: Schedule of activities for Phase 2.

The budget

For guidance, a summary budget was prepared to serve as guidance for every phase of the study. Tables 9 and 10 provide a summary of the budgets.

Table 8: Budget for Phase 1.

Table 9: Budget for Phase 2.

36

REFERENCES Akweni, L.A. 2015. Elaboration d’une équation allométrique pour les forêts de type

‘miombo’ de la province du Katanga, en République Démocratique du Congo. Mémoire DESS. ERAIFT, Kinshasa, RDC.

Bastin, J.F., Barbier, N., couteron, P., Adams, B., shapiro, A., Bogaert, J., de Cannière, C. 2014. Aboveground biomass mapping of African forest mosaics using canopy texture analysis: toward a regional approach. Ecological Applications 24(8), 1984-2001.

Chave, J., Goodman, R.C., Henry, M., Martínez-Yrízar, A., Mugasha, W.A., Muller-Landau, H.C., Mencuccini, M., Nelson, B.W., Ngomanda, A., Nogueira, E.M., Ortiz-Malavassi, E., Réjou-Méchain, M., Pélissier, R., Ploton, P., Ryan, C.M., Saldarriaga, J.G., Vieilledent, G., Búrquez, A., Chidumayo, E., Colgan, M.S., Delitti, W.B.C., Duque, A., Eid, T. & Fearnside, P.M. (2014) Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees. Global Change Biology 20, 3177–3190.

Chave, J., Kira, T., Lescure, J.-P., Nelson, B.W., Ogawa, H., Puig, H., Riéra, B., Yamakura, T., Andalo, C., Brown, S., Cairns, M.A., Chambers, J.Q., Eamus, D., Fölster, H., Fromard, F. & Higuchi, N. (2005) Tree Allometry and Improved Estimation of Carbon Stocks and Balance in Tropical Forests. Oecologia 145, 87–99.

Chidumayo, E. 2013. Forest degradation and recovery in a miombo woodland landscape in Zambia: 22 years of observations on permanent sample plots. Forest Ecology and Management 291, 154–161.

de Wasseige C., P. de Marcken, N. Bayol, F. Hiol Hiol, P. Mayaux, B. Desclée, R. Nasi, A. Billand, P. Defourny, and R. Eba’a Atyi. 2012. The Forests of the Congo Basin—State of the Forest 2010. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Djomo, A.N., Ibrahima, A., Saborowski, J. & Gravenhorst, G. (2010) Allometric equations for biomass estimations in Cameroon and pan moist tropical equations including biomass data from Africa. Forest Ecology and Management 260, 1873–1885.

Fayolle, A., Doucet, J.L., Gillet, J.F., Bourland, N. & Lejeune, P. (2013) Tree allometry in Central Africa: Testing the validity of pantropical multi-species allometric equations for estimating biomass and carbon stocks. Forest Ecology and Management 305, 29–37.

Kuyah, S., Dietz, J., Muthuri, C., Jamnadass, R., Mwangi, P., Coe, R., Neufeldt, H. 2012a. Allometric equations for estimating biomass in agricultural landscapes: Above ground biomass. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 158, 216-224.

37

Kuyah, S., Dietz, J., Muthuri, C., Jamnadass, R., Mwangi, P., Coe, R., Neufeldt, H. 2012b. Allometric equations for estimating biomass in agricultural landscapes: Belowground biomass. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 158, 225-234.

MECN-EF – UNITAR. 2006. Profil National des Produits Chimiques de la République Démocratique du Congo. P. 108.

MECNT. 2012. Méthodologie pour le Pré-Inventaire dans le cadre d'un Inventaire Forestier National République Démocratique du Congo. UN-REDD/FAO. P.36.

Megevand, C. 2013. Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin: Reconciling Economic Growth and Forest Protection. Washington, DC, World Bank.

Mugasha, W.A., Eid, T., Bollandsås, M., Malimbwi, R.E., Chamshama, S.A.O., Zahabu, E., Katani, J.Z. 2013. Allometric models for prediction of above- and belowground biomass of trees in the miombo woodlands of Tanzania. Forest Ecology and Management 310, 87-101.

Nasi, R., Mayaux, P., Devers, D., Bayol, N., Eba‟a Atyi, R., Mugnier, A., Cassagne, B., Billand, A. and Sonwa, D.J., 2010. Un aperçu des stocks de carbone et leurs variations dans les forêts du Bassin du Congo. Office des publications de l’Union européenne, Luxembourg, pp.199–216.

Ryan, C., Williams, M., Grace, J. 2011. Above- and Belowground Carbon Stocks in a Miombo Woodland Landscape of Mozambique. BIOTROPICA 43(4), 423–432.

Vancutsem, C., Pekel, J.-F., Evrard, C., Malaisse, F., Defourny, P. 2009. Mapping and haracterizing the vegetation types of the Democratic Republic of Congo using SPOT VEGETATION time series. Int. J. Appl. Earth Obs., 11, 62–76.

Verhegghen, A., Mayaux, P., deWasseige, C., Defourny, P. 2012. Mapping Congo Basin vegetation types from 300m and 1km multi-sensor time series for carbon stocks and forest areas estimation. Biogeosciences 9, 5061–5079.

38

ANNEXES Annex 1:

Terms of Reference of the national workshop to validate operational options for equations development in the DRC

Cercle Interdiocésain Kinshasa, 16-17 Décembre 2015

1. Informations générales

1.1 Contexte

Pour répondre aux exigences de la Convention-Cadre des Nations-Unies sur les Changements Climatiques (CCNUCC), les pays souhaitant participer à la REDD+ doivent posséder une connaissance approfondie du stock de carbone dans leur territoire national et la possibilité de surveiller l’évolution de ce dernier dans le temps et dans l'espace. La RDC a une stratégie claire REDD+ qui comprend un inventaire de carbone des forêts et une méthodologie pour la surveillance, le rapportage et la vérification (MRV) mises en oeuvre par la Direction des Inventaires et Aménagement Forestier (DIAF) au sein du Ministère de l'Environnement et du Développement Durable (MEDD). La Direction du Développement Durable (DDD) au sein du MEDD a pour mandat de travailler avec la DIAF pour compiler les données recueillies de l'inventaire du carbone forestier national et convertir ces données en estimation de biomasse et de carbone pour le pays. Ces conversions sont effectuées à l'aide des équations allométriques.

Le développement d'équations allométriques nécessite beaucoup de temps et une main-d'oeuvre importante. Les équations allométriques sont des formules statistiques qui déterminent la relation entre la biomasse, le volume et les paramètres mesurables directement ou indirectement sur le terrain tels que le diamètre ou la hauteur des arbres. Il y a encore une insuffisance des équations allométriques en Afrique Centrale, et encore moins en RDC. Dans ce contexte, les équations allométriques pan-tropicales ont été utilisé pour estimer les stocks de carbone pour les forêts tropicales en l'absence d'équations allométriques spécifiques au site. Selon le degré de précision que la RDC souhaite pour l'estimation de leur biomasse et le carbone des forêts, des équations spécifiques pour la RDC pourraient être développées et utilisées éventuellement en combinaison avec des équations pan-tropicales, régionales ou locales.

Les équations allométriques spécifiques au site ou la combinaison des équations que la RDC doit utiliser pour les estimations de stock et de flux de carbone n’ont pas encore été étudiées ou analysées de manière adéquate. Dans le cadre de son intervention au sein du Programme Régional pour l’Environnement en Afrique Centrale (CARPE) financé par USAID et son assistance technique au MEDD, le Service Forestier des Etats-Unis (USFS) a proposé d'offrir les services d'un expert technique pour travailler avec les points focaux au sein de la DIAF et DDD, en coordination avec la CN-REDD, pour évaluer la situation en RDC et de proposer

39

une ou plusieurs options pour les équations allométriques à utiliser et/ou à développer. Cette intervention fait partie intégrante du plan d’action de développement des scenarii de niveaux d’émission de référence et/ou des niveaux de référence (NERF/NRF) établi en février 2015.

1.2 Bref aperçu de l’étude

L’état des lieux sur les équations allométriques s’est déroulé en deux étapes. La première étape qui s’est déroulée pendant deux semaines en Août-Septembre 2015, a permis à l’expert et les points focaux de la DIAF, la DDD et la CN-REDD de développer la méthodologie à adopter pour l’étude, d’identifier et de consulter les principaux acteurs basés à Kinshasa pour évaluer les activités menées en rapport avec les équations allométriques et/ou les estimations de stocks de carbone. La deuxième étape a permis en particulier de rencontrer les acteurs basés à Kisangani, de finaliser la consultation des acteurs basés à Kinshasa et d’organiser cet atelier national pour valider les recommandations issues des consultations et analyser la faisabilité du développement des équations allométriques en RDC au cours des prochaines années.

Une vingtaine d’organisations nationales et internationales ont été consultées dans le cadre de cette étude. Les organisations ont été sélectionnées sur la base de leurs activités, les connaissances et expériences en rapport avec le processus REDD+, l’estimation des stocks de carbone, le développement ou l’utilisation des équations allométriques.

Cette étude a permis d’identifier 12 équations pan-tropicales ou locales qui ont un potentiel d’utilisation ou ont été utilisé dans le passé en RDC. De ces équations, deux seulement ont été développées en RDC dont l’une dans une zone agro-forestière de Lubumbashi et l’autre avec seulement 12 arbres dans la région de Kisangani avec par conséquent une faible portée quant à son utilisation. Les autres équations étaient pan-tropicales ou alors issues du Cameroun et du Gabon.

De cette étude, il est ressorti la volonté de la plupart des acteurs de développer de nouvelles équations spécifiques à la RDC et couvrant les écosystèmes majeurs du pays. Cette étude a aussi permis de relever les attentes suivantes:

− Harmonisation de la période de référence, les différents inventaires forestiers et utiliser les équations approuvées pour déterminer la biomasse et les niveaux d’émissions de référence et/ou les niveaux de référence.

− Mise en place des parcelles permanentes dans les différents types de forêts en RDC pour le suivi des changements écologiques.

− Mise en place une base de données sous la forme de site web pour centraliser les informations, documents et publications qui peuvent faciliter le travail des différents acteurs oeuvrant dans le cadre du processus REDD+.

Parallèlement à cette étude, le groupe de travail sur les niveaux de référence (NERF/NRF) a tenu une série de sessions de travail pour traiter les aspects

40

fondamentaux de la construction du NERF/NRF de la RDC et de ses différentes composantes que sont l’échelle, la portée (i.e., les activités, réservoirs et gaz), la méthodologie de construction et d’ajustement. La RDC a décidé de soumettre son NERF à la Convention Cadre des Nations Unies sur le Changement Climatique lors de la 22ème Conférence des Parties.

2. Objectifs et résultats attendus de l’atelier

2.1 Objectifs

L’objectif de l’atelier national qui se tiendra les 16 et 17 décembre 2015 au Centre Interdiocésain de Kinshasa, 59 Avenue des Monts Virunga, est de valider les principales recommandations de l’étude sur l’état des lieux des équations allométriques en RDC, et d’établir un plan d’action et un mécanisme opérationnel pour la mise en oeuvre de celles-ci.

Plus spécifiquement, l’atelier national permettra aux participants de:

− Prendre connaissance des résultats de l’état des lieux des équations allométriques en RDC et dans la sous-région ;

− Prendre connaissance des initiatives et expériences sur les estimations de stock de carbone et la REDD+ ;

− Discuter et valider les recommandations de l’étude ;

− Etablir un plan d’action réaliste et opérationnel pour la mise en oeuvre des recommandations sur les équations allométriques et les niveaux de référence.

2.2 Résultats attendus

À l’issue de l’atelier, il est attendu que:

− Une meilleure connaissance sur les activités menées par les principaux acteurs pour les estimations de stock de carbone dans les forêts et les niveaux de référence est acquise par les participants.

− Les principales recommandations de l’étude sont formulées et les options sur l’utilisation d’équations allométriques existantes et/ou le développement de nouvelles équations seront levées.

− Un plan d’action réaliste pour la mise en oeuvre des recommandations validées en ce qui concerne l’utilisation d’équations allométriques existantes et/ou le développement de nouvelles équations est établi.

41

3. Agenda prévisionnel de l’atelier

Journée 16 décembre 2015

Session 1 : Ouverture

Modérateur : M. Jean-Solo Ratsisompatrarivo, Coordonnateur National, USFS RDC

8h00-8h30 : Arrivée et installation des participants

8h30-8h45 : Mot de circonstance de Mme la Directrice de USAID

8h45-9h00 : Mot d’ouverture de M. le Secrétaire Général à l’ECNDD

9h00-9h30 : Introduction de l’atelier (M. Victor Kabengele, CN-REDD)

Session 2 : Les activités d’estimation des stocks de carbone en RDC

Modérateur : M. André Kondjo, Chef de Division Inventaires Forestiers, DIAF

9h30-10h30 : Présentation de l’état des lieux (Dr. Adrien Djomo, Consultant)

10h30-10h45 : Pause-café

10h45-12h00 : Présentation de quelques projets REDD et d’estimation du carbone

12h00-12h45 : Echange sur l’état des lieux

12h45-14h00 : Déjeuner

Session 3 : Les activités sur les niveaux de référence (NERF/NRF)

Modérateur : M. Benjamin Toirambe, Directeur DDD

14h00-14h30 : Présentation de la note technique sur les NERF/NRF (Jean-Paul Kibambe, WCS)

14h30-15h00 : Présentation sur la plateforme des données (DIAF/DDD)

15H00-15H45 : Echange sur la construction des NERF/NRF et les données


Session 4 : Récapitulation de la journée

16h00-16h15 : Récapitulation de la 1ère journée

16h15-16h30 : Aperçu de la 2ème journée

16h30 : Fin des travaux

Journée 17 Décembre 2015

Session 5 : Recommandations sur les équations allométriques

Modérateur : M. Sébastien Malele, Directeur DIAF

8h30-9h30 : Présentation des scénarii (Dr Adrien Djomo, Consultant)

9h30-10h30 : Echange sur les scénarii


42

Session 6 : Feuille de route

Modérateur : M. Aimé Mbuyi, Chef de Division Changement Climatique, DDD

10h45-11H00 : Présentation des perspectives PREREDD (Dr Faustin Boyemba, UNIKIS)

11h00-11h30 : Validation des recommandations retenues

11H30-12H30 : Etablissement de la feuille de route (travaux de groupes)

12h30-14h00 : Déjeuner

14h00-15h15 : Etablissement de la feuille de route (travaux de groupe et restitution)

Session 7 : Récapitulation des travaux de l’atelier

Modérateur : M. Victor Kabengele, Coordonnateur National CN-REDD

15h15-15h30 : Rédaction du communiqué final

15h30-16h00 : Présentation du communiqué final

16h00-16h15 : Clôture

16h15-16h30 : Pot de clôture

4. Participants

L’atelier regroupera une soixantaine de personnes qui sont les représentants des différentes organisations consultées pendant cette étude et celles qui interviennent de près ou de loin dans le domaine des estimations des stocks de carbone.

43

Annex 2:

Closing remarks of the Secretary General for the Environment, Conservation of Nature and Sustainable Development

Monsieur le Directeur de l’USAID/CARPE, Mesdames et Messieurs les Représentants des partenaires Techniques et Financiers ici représentés, Mesdames et Messieurs, Distingués Invités, en vos titres et qualités respectives :

Je voudrais tout d’abord vous saluer et vous remercier d’avoir bien voulu répondre à l’invitation qui vous a été lancée, pour participer à cette séance de partage. Cette séance, disais-je, devait nous permettre de faire l’état de lieux des pré-requis à l’établissement de Niveau de Référence de nos émissions de Gaz à effet de serré et de baliser le chemin pour des actions concrètes à mener dans ce cadre.

Je ne vous apprendrai rien car vous le savez certainement, le secteur des forêts est responsable de 17-20% des émissions de GES dans le monde. Et la RD Congo qui dispose de plus de 60% de la superficie forestière du massif forestier du Bassin du Congo, deuxième massif tropical d’un seul tenant au monde, a une responsabilité planétaire évidente qui l’oblige à gérer durablement ses forêts. C’est aussi dans ce cadre qu’il faut situer l’adhésion de la RD Congo à l’initiative REDD+ dès sa mise en place.

A ce jour, la RD Congo est à juste titre considéré comme un pays pionnier dans ce domaine. Ainsi, après une phase de préparation intensive qui a mobilisé des énergies considérables des uns et des autres pour aboutir à la production d’une Stratégie nationale REDD+, la RD Congo est aujourd’hui en sa phase d’investissement, reflétée par la mise en place d’un Fonds National REDD+, véritable bras financier de la Stratégie. Ce Fonds qui sera constitué des financements provenant des diverses sources (bilatéraux, multilatéraux, partenariat, domestique) et des divers types (aide au développement public, fonds verts, financements innovants), est destiné aux activités qui concourent à la réalisation des actions qui visent à combattre la déforestation et la dégradation des forêts.

Nos ambitions, consacrées dans notre Contribution Prévue Déterminée au Niveau National est de parvenir à une réduction de 17% des émissions dans la période comprise entre 2020 et 2030. Ceci appellera à des efforts importants qui s’adresseront, en premier, au domaine de changement dans l’utilisation des terres et concerneront plus particulièrement les secteurs des forêts, de l’agriculture et de l’énergie. Nous devons être attentifs à toutes les actions qui peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur les forêts et proposer des stratégies de gestion efficaces qui permettent de garantir leur durabilité.

A ce jour, des initiatives de terrain, se rapportant à la REDD, se mettent de plus en plus en place. Certaines de celles-ci sont soutenues par des partenaires au développement tandis que d’autres, relèvent des efforts des congolais eux-mêmes, mais toutes convergent vers un objectif commun de paiement à échéances

44

périodiques, des efforts consentis pour contenir la déforestation et la dégradation des forêts.

C’est aussi dans ce cadre qu’il faut situer le programme juridictionnel de développement socio-économique de grande envergure, actuellement en cours de développement dans la province de Mai-Ndombe, dont 60 M USD de mise en œuvre proviendront de la vente de 10 MT à la Banque Mondiale, à travers un Contrat Achat-Vente des Réductions d’Emissions (CAVRE).

Mesdames et Messieurs, Distingués Invités, Chers participants:

Les forêts congolaises représentent 140 Gigatonnes d’émissions de gaz à effet de serre, soit environ trois fois le total des émissions mondiales actuelles. Elles représentent un véritable secteur de développement économique et social, pour une population dont plus de 60% vit dans le milieu rural.

La question de la déforestation reste préoccupante pour la RD Congo qui connaît un taux de déforestation de l’ordre de 0,31%. Ce taux, en termes absolus, place notre pays parmi les dix pays qui déboisent le plus dans le monde. En effet, pour la période 2000 à 2010, la RD Congo a perdu en moyennes 350 000 hectares par an, soit une perte de 3. 500. 000 hectares sur la période considérée.

Le Ministère de l’Environnement, Conservation de la Nature et Développement Durable travaille activement avec les différentes parties prenantes, notamment les administrations sectorielles, les organisations de la société civile, les partenaires au développement, le secteur privé et les communautés locales en vue de s’attaquer à ces causes et renverser la courbe de la déforestation.

Et pour y arriver, nous devons estimer le stock initial de carbone contenu dans la biomasse forestière. Ceci nous permettra de faire des suivis périodiques réguliers de son évolution dans le temps pour prétendre, en fin de compte, de bénéficier ou non des retombées financières attendues. Et c’est ici tout l’intérêt pour notre pays de disposer des équations allométriques qui soient adaptées aux différentes formations forestières que nous disposons.

L’étude commanditée, sur notre demande, par le service Forestier des Etats Unis, est apparue très pertinente dans notre cheminement vers cet objectif. Elle nous révèle en effet qu’à ce jour, près de 16 équations pantropicales et locales ont un potentiel pour être utilisées en RD Congo. Elle a en outre permis d’identifier les principaux acteurs intéressées dans le développement et l’expérimentation, à l’échelle de terrain, des équations allométriques. Ceci est une bonne chose car nous pouvons désormais mutualiser nos efforts plutôt que d’évoluer en ordre dispersée.

A l’issue de cette rencontre, je note que les participants, qui sont pour la plupart des experts et acteurs actifs dans le domaine de la REDD, ont pu avoir une meilleure connaissance des activités menées par les uns et les autres en vue d’estimer le stock de carbone contenu dans nos forêts et d’établir des niveaux de référence des émissions qui soient crédibles.

45

Je comprends aussi qu’une feuille de route pour la mise en œuvre des recommandations concernant le développement des équations allométriques, adaptées à la RD Congo, est proposée. Nous veillerons à ce que sa mise en œuvre soit effective pour nous permettre d’établir des niveaux de Référence des Emissions crédibles et rassurants pour notre population de bénéficier de paiements attendus.

Je voudrais ainsi demander à l’USAID, partenaire financier du Service Forestier des Etats Unis, ainsi qu’à d’autres partenaires techniques intéressés, de continuer à nous accompagner dans la mise en œuvre de cette feuille de route pour que nous parvenions à l’objectif poursuivi à savoir, disposer des Niveaux des Emissions de Référence de nos Forêts.

Pour terminer, je voudrais, au nom de SE M. le Ministre de l’ECN-DD, vous remercier tous pour l’excellent travail réalisé, qui a permis d’atteindre les résultats assignés à ces assises. Je souhaite bon retour aux experts venus de l’intérieur en leur priant de transmettre toutes nos salutations à leurs familles respectives. Félicitations aussi aux organisateurs qui se sont fortement dépensés pour que ces assises se tiennent dans de bonnes conditions.

A vous tous ici présents, je présente, anticipativement, mes meilleurs vœux de bonheur et de prospérité pour la nouvelle année qui va bientôt commencer.

Je vous remercie.

46

Annex 3:

List of participants to the workshop:

ORGANISATIONS PARTICIPANT

MEDD SG Vincent Kasulu

AGEDUFOR François Kapa

AGEDUFOR Guy Roulette

COMIFAC/RDC Godefroy Ndaukila

DDD Aimé Mbuyi Kalombo

DDD Germain Zasy Ngisako

DIAF André Kondjo Shoko

DIAF François Kayembe

DIAF Louison Iyane

ERAIFT Jean-Pierre Mate

FAO/UN REDD Wilfred Kombe

OSFAC André Mazinga

UNIKIS Michel Mbassi

UNIKIS Jérôme Ebuy

UNIKIS Alide Kidimba

UNILU François Munyemba Kankumbi

UNILU Jonathan Ilunga Muledi

USAID Christophe Tocco

USAID Julie Fischer

USFS Adrien Djomo

USFS Augustin Lamulamu

USFS Jean-Solo Ratsisompatrarivo

WCS Corneil Awango

WCS Jean-Rémi Makana

WWC Jean-Robert Bwangoy

WWF Mina Lee

Consultant modérateur Christophe Musampa

Consultant rapporteur Jean Pierre Pitchou Meniko

47

Annex 4:

Summary of all forest inventories in the DRC (old and recent):

N° Type d'inventaire Province District Territoire Années Projet

1 plan d'aménagement des forêts claires

Shaba

1991

2 inventaire d'allocation forestière

SAFBOIS

3 rapport d'inventaire d'allocation forestière

Katanga

1991 EFAGRI

4 résultats d'inventaire forestier de la sous region du Bas-fleuve

Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve

5

garantie d'approvisionnement 34/05 - Baulu convertible plan de gestion couvrant la période de préparation du plan d’aménagement (4ans) période de 2011-2014

2011-2014


Equateur

Ingende 2003 Groupe la Semence

7 rapport d'inventaire d'allocation

Equateur

Bumba 1989 DECORIZ


Equateur

Bumba 1993 Agrimo


Equateur

Bokungu 2002 Interbus congo

10 inventaire d'allocation forestière scièrie des Ets senge-senge

Equateur Equateur Bikoro et lukolela

2001 Ets Senge-senge

11

résultats d'inventaire d'allocation permis de prospection 08/DECNT/CEE/85

1986 Sokinex

12 rapport d'inventaire d'allocation 1ère partie

Equateur Equateur Bumba 1989 MGE

13 rapport d'inventaire Kasaï-Occ

Mweka 1992 Ets Manebo

14 inventaire réalisé dans le cadre du projet regional

Maniema

Lubutu 1985 RAF/82/046

48

15

résultats d'inventaire d'allocation permis de prospection 021/DECNT/CEE/85

Bandundu

1986 Soexforco


Equateur Equateur Bongandanga 1988 Sicomo

17 résultat d'inventaire d'allocation

Equateur Equateur Befale 1987 Somiferaz


Equateur

Lisala 1989 PCU


Bas-Congo

Muanda 1992 PSL(1)&(2)

20 résultats d'inventaire d'allocation

Equateur

Djolu 1987 IZB


Equateur

Ingende 1990 Cogeva


Bas-Congo Bas-zaïre

1985 Equatorial carbons


1986 JVL


Equateur

Bikoro 1989 Forescom


Equateur

Bikoro 1989 Socobik


Equateur

Boende et Ingende

1991 Socobof


Equateur

Lukolela 1987 Siza

28 résultats d'inventaire forestier d'allocation

Equateur

Bumba

PEM


Equateur

ingende 1994 Soexforco

30 inventaire d'allocation forestière

Equateur

Lukolela 1992 Seforlu


SAFBOIS


Equateur

Lisala 1988 Saicam

33 inventaire d'allocation Ets Bandundu

Mushie 1986 Ets Nina

49

Nina lettre d'intention

34 inventaire forestier du mayumbe norme de sondage

1979

35 inventaire d'allocation

Soexforco

36 inventaire d'allocation zaïre exploration

Bandundu

1986 zaïre-exploration

37 relevés de superficie

1986 Soexforco


Equateur

inongo 1991 Somi-zaïre


Sokamo

40 inventaire d'allocation Bandundu Bandundu

Soexforco

41 rapport préliminaire d'inventaire d'allocation

Bandundu

Oshwe 1989 Mecca

42 rapport d'inventaire forestier

Bandundu

Oshwe 2002 Mojob


Bandundu

Mushie 1987 Cham-zaïre

44 rapport d'inventaire forestier d'allocation

Kasaï-Oriental

Demba 2002 Maison NBK

45 rapport d'inventaire forestier d'allocation

Bandundu

Mushie 1988 Soexforco/PME


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Seke-Banza 1988 Safeco

47 réussir REEDD


Bandundu

Lomata 1986 Siza


Soexforco


Bandundu

Mushie

Soexforco


Bas-Congo Bas-zaïre Seke-Banza 1992 PSL


Bandundu

Oshwe 1986 Mandungu-Bula


Bandundu

Mushie 1988 inco

50

54 inventaire d'allocation

Soexforco

55 inventaire réalisé par le SPIAF dans la sous-region de Maï-ndombe

Bandundu

Maï-ndombe 1985

56 demande de conversion de lettre d'intention de Milletia

2005

57 plan d'aménagement superficie sous aménagement ubundu

58 annexe A description de présentation

59 inventaire Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Tshela

Soforma

60 rapport d'inventaire Orientale

ubundu 1991 Soproba


Orientale

ubundu 1992 Solkouse


Orientale

Bafwasende

Auxeltra-beton


Orientale

Bafwasende 1993 la foresterie(3)

64 inventaire préliminaire forestier

Maniema

Lubutu 1985


Orientale

ubundu

Soexforco


Orientale

Banalia et Ubundu

1988 Socifor

67 résultats planimétrie Equateur

Basoko 1985 Siforzal

68 planimétrie Equateur

Basoko 1985 Siforzal


Equateur

Basoko 1990 N'joli balanga


Orientale Kisangani Tshopo 1990 CFE


Orientale

ubundu 1991 Sotexki


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Tshela 1991 Cie forestière

73 rapport inventaire d'allocation

Equateur

Lukolela 2007 Soforma

51


Equateur/Bas-Congo

Lukolela et Tshela

1991 Soforma

75 plan d'aménagement superficie sous aménagement ubundu

Orientale

ubundu 2008 CFT

76 FERABOLA

77 rapport d'inventaire d'allocation Ets mbanda

Equateur/Bas-Congo

Lukolela&Muanda

1988 Ets Mbanda


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Seke-Banza 1988 Safeco

79 rapport d'inventaire Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Muanda 1991 Saico(1)& (2)

80 rapport d'inventaire Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Boma 1991 Soproico


Equateur

Lukolela 1992 PSL


Bas-Congo

1985 Equatorial carbons

83 rapport d'inventaire Ets Mbanda

Equateur/Bas-Congo

Lukolela&Seke-mbanza

1988 Ets Mbanda


Bas-Congo

Seke-Banza 1992 PLS


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Lukula & Muanda

Ets Mbanda


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Lukula&Tshela 1991 Soforma


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve

1991 GAP

88 résultats d'inventaire forestier

Orientale Kisangani

1985 Kisangani


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Lukula 1991 APZ


Forabola

91 résultats d'inventaire d'allocation discussion 009, 010, 011, 012

Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Mbenza thudi 1985


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Lukula&Seke-banza

1991 Ets Mbanda

52


Agrifor


Bas-Congo Bas-fleuve Muanda(2) 1992 Maliba

95 premier atélier national de formation en éducation environnementale

96

aide mémoire sur l'intervention de la coopération canadienne au SPIAF

2003

97 norme d'échantillonnage "3 p"

98 cahier des charges provisoire n°001/2010

2010-2013

Sodefor

99 inventaire forestier du mayumbe norme de sondage

Bandundu

100 protocole d'inventaire d'aménagement

Kinshasa

2010 Siforco

101 rapport trimestriel d'activité

Kinshasa

2011 WRI

102 code forestier(texte règlementaire)(1)

Kinshasa

2008

103 inventaire forestier zaïre canada rapport périodique au 31/12/1974

1975 volume 1, février 1975


Bandundu

1985 zaïre-exploration

105 programme d'inventaire de prospection 1984-85

1984-85 Forescom

106 les forêts dégradées des environs de kinshasa

107

problèmatique de l'aménagement des lambeaux forêts pour fin de carbonisation

Kinshasa

1979


Equateur

ingende 1994 SOEXFORCO

redd+ in drc:status and operational options for the ... · redd+ in drc:status and operational...

Documents