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Africa, Congo Basin Forest Fund - Assessment of REDD Project Proposals, 2008-2009, Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.
The Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) is a multi-donor fund established to protect the forest in the Congo Basin region. Covering 200 million hectares and including approximately one fifth of the world remaining closed canopy tropical forest, the Congo Basin forests are also a very significant carbon store with a vital role in regulating the regional climate; and harbour diversity of global importance. LTS was contracted to assist the Natural Resource Management and Environment Division in the African Development Bank and the CBFF Interim Coordinator in the preview of project proposals submitted for funding. LTS provided specialist expertise in the assessment of project proposals concerning REDD initiatives (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation).
Africa, The Potential to Help Increase Sub-Saharan Access to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), 2009, DFID. LTS undertook a study to identify the scope for DFID Africa Division to provide support that increases access to pre and potential post 2012 CDM funding by Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has not proportionately benefited from the CDM compared with other regions; the region’s share in the current CDM project pipeline is only about 1.4%. SSA has not benefited in proportion to the potential for CDM in the region. LTS reviewed the CDM experience to date in SSA and presented a detailed report that identified current and future ways for donors to help SSA to increase access to CDM and ways that donors can provide support to increase SSA CDM access. It also provided recommendation as to how DFID can help SSA to increase access to current and potential future CDM. Africa, Climate Change Vulnerability in Transboundary Basins and Aquifers: Assessment, 2009, UNEP LTS was commissioned by UNEP, to inform a high level report identifying the transboundary basins and aquifers in Africa that are most at risk as a result of climate change. The report identified the key vulnerabilities and priorities for action in these basins and aquifers providing UNEP with the necessary information to engage with AMCOW on adaptation within transboundary systems. This assessment drew on state-of-the-art climate science and modelled scenarios and considered these against demographic and economic development data and trends; water resource, biodiversity and infrastructure risks, and indicators of institutional cooperation and capability. Africa, Briefing paper on policy issues concerning REDD in Africa, 2008, DFID. Region: Africa In August 2008, a round of United Nations climate change negotiations took place in Accra, Ghana, from 21-27 August. The Accra Climate Change Talks took forward work on a strengthened and effective international climate change deal under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as work on emission reduction rules and tools under the Kyoto Protocol. LTS International was commissioned for a short assignment to compile a technical paper for DFID representatives present at this UNFCCC Africa group meeting. The briefing note included a review of the current policy issues concerning REDD, followed by an analysis of the future issues and opportunities for Africa under varying REDD approaches. Kenya, Implementing a Risk-based Approach Towards Environmental Management (REMAK), 2007, Environment Agency. Region: Africa The mandate of this initiative was twofold: to support the Kenyan National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to develop a risk based environmental policy and regulatory framework for delivering the new Environment Management Coordination Act; and to engage partners in government, industry and civil society in delivering environmental improvements. LTS conducted an independent review of the programme to evaluate its impacts and sustainability. Our staff carried out a stakeholder analysis based on detailed personal testimonies of programme and NEMA staff, participant observation, field visits and questionnaire surveys. The actions we recommended included: the development of environmental planning and influencing tools, enhanced regulatory capacity through the adoption of a risk based approach and a business planning model for national incident management. Peru, Understanding water use in Ica: the implications of water governance and climate change for social equity and sustainable economic development, 2009, Progressio. This piece of work was driven by demand within Peru for a better understanding of water use and governance issues within Ica province, in order to support social equity and sustainable economic development in the face of a changing climate. LTS provided the Team Leader / international consultant on this project, who developed the research methodology, coordinated the research in close liaison with Progressio’s Policy and Advocacy Officer, Peru’s country representative and other relevant partners, collected and analyzed relevant data in-country and produced a detailed final report. The report discussed the social, environmental and economic implications of water use in Ica; factors that determine the water use and what are the root causes of the water use outcomes observed; the likely implications of climate change for water resources and water users in Ica; and identified priorities for future water resource governance which is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and which supports economic development. Southern Africa, Regional Climate Change Programme, 2007-2008, UK Department for International Development. Region: Africa Climate change is arguably one of the major and far reaching of the devastating issues that southern Africans increasingly experience - its effect on natural resources and poor communities that depend on them is already evident. DFID is supporting adaptation efforts in the Southern African region focusing on the achievement and sustainability of three of the Millennium Development Goals - food security, water and health. Together with our regional partner OneWorld, LTS is conducting a 5-country feasibility study to clarify the role DFID should play to help southern Africa respond to the challenge of climate change. LTS is identifying key risks and vulnerabilities in the region as well as thoroughly reviewing the anticipated impacts climate change and determining at what resolution biophysical information is needed to inform a) a robust regional programme and b) allow for effective monitoring of climate change progress and effectiveness of responses. The analysis of the existing policy and regulatory framework and the scientific, institutional and lobbying capacity is also being undertaken. Uganda, Plan Vivo System, 2003-2005, UK Department for International Development. Region: Africa LTS and ECCM initiated a successful Plan Vivo system in Uganda in 2003, already resulting in significant ancillary benefits beyond offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon sequestration offers a significant boost in income to farmers engaged in natural forest management, which will be administered in five instalments over 10 years. Revenue generated through initial sales of carbon has offset start up costs for small scale forestry activities in Uganda, thus enabling rural communities to invest in sustainable resource management using income from environmental services. Participants have also gained access to local and national markets for timber, pole wood and fuel wood, fruit and fodder. Nursery establishment and production of seedlings provides additional income to rural communities. In addition, the project will build local and regional capacity and develop generic carbon management systems that may be replicated in other communities throughout the country. Farmers receive $8 per tonne of carbon. On average, farmers will sequester about 60 tonnes of carbon per hectare, resulting in $480 per hectare. This is paid in instalments, subject to meeting monitoring targets (i.e., growth, survival). Since its inception in late 2003, Plan Vivo has generated over $80,000 for rural communities. Uganda, Scoping Mission: DFID Engagement in Climate Change, 2008, DFID. Region: Africa The objective of this mission was: to provide the UK's Department for International Development with an overview of the implications of climate change for Uganda; to frame national priorities for adaptation; and in light of these to appraise current and planned initiatives by the Ugandan government and donors in order to scope the need for and potential focus of support from the UK government. Through a review of research outputs and literature, policy analysis, key informant interviews and broad stakeholder consultation, LTS provided an accurate depiction of the challenges that a changing climate brings. This also enabled us to provide a sophisticated understanding of the likely efficacy of current efforts to reduce the country's vulnerability. Our work highlighted the magnitude of the risks which climate change and climate variability pose to maintaining Uganda's development trajectory. By ensuring a responsive approach to the assignment we were able to go beyond the requirements of the TOR, providing prioritized recommendations for action, based on our review of the adequacy of the existing donor and government response. These included recommendations for risk-based sectoral adaptation; capacity building approaches; disaster risk modeling and screening; galvanizing leadership and the changes in institutional architecture and modalities required to tackle the difficult challenges which climate change poses in countries like Uganda. UK, Review of Environmental Impact for Short Rotation Forestry in GB, Forestry Commission, 2005, Forestry Commission. Region: Europe & CIS The general objective of this study was to provide an assessment of the potential environmental impact of short rotation forestry using fast growing broadleaved trees in the UK. The recent interest for fast growing non-native species for energy generation/ biomass has raised concern on their potential impact on ecosystems. The review addressed all the environmental aspects of SRF plantations in terms of soil quality, water table balance, pest and diseases risk assessment, along with challenges related to landscape and biodiversity issues. Economics and carbon issues were also reviewed. In partnership with 4 institutions, LTS carried out the study and provided a team of specialists in forest plantation, biomass energy, carbon management, landscape and water management. Worldwide, Assessment of current capability and future costs for major forest nations to measure and monitor their carbon and scoping capacity for Climate Change mitigation in tropical forest countries, 2008, UK Office of Climate Change. Region: World This assignment was undertaken as part of the Eliasch Review: an independent review that will report to the (UK) Prime Minister on the role of global forests in tackling climate change through existing and new financing mechanisms. The study covered 25 tropical countries worldwide and required the LTS team to assess the national capacity and capability for measuring and monitoring forest as a requirement for reporting on REDD under IPCC guidelines, as well as the cost implications for defined scenarios for measuring and monitoring the major forest nations' forest carbon. The team conceptually mapped the suitability of existing tropical forest for logging and agricultural conversion uses and also calculated the resulting CO2 emissions. A variety of monitoring techniques were used including visual interpretation of satellite data, indirect approaches on satellite data to detect degradation, models of satellite data (e.g. NDFI), Radar use and Lidar use.
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