PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
« SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO
REFORESTATION PROJECT »
Document Prepared By ECOTIERRA
Project Title
Version
Date of Issue
Prepared By
Contact
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SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION PROJECT
Version 4
11 April 2014
ECOTIERRA
Celso Alexis Navia Cuba
35, Belvédère Nord, Bur. 500, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. J1H 4A7
+1-819-346-1000
Etienne Desmarais
[email protected]
http://www.ECOTIERRA.co/en/
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Table of Contents
1
Project Details .................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Summary Description of the Project ............................................................................................... 3
1.2 Sectoral Scope and Project Type ................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Project Proponent ........................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Other Entities Involved in the Project ............................................................................................. 5
1.5 Project Start Date ........................................................................................................................... 7
1.6 Project Crediting Period .................................................................................................................. 7
1.7 Project Scale and Estimated GHG Emission Reductions or Removals ......................................... 7
1.8 Description of the Project Activity ................................................................................................... 9
1.9 Project Location ............................................................................................................................ 26
1.10
Conditions Prior to Project Initiation .......................................................................................... 32
1.11
Compliance with Laws, Statutes and Other Regulatory Frameworks ...................................... 45
1.12
Ownership and Other Programs ............................................................................................... 46
1.12.1
Right of Use ....................................................................................................................... 46
1.12.2
Emissions Trading Programs and Other Binding Limits .................................................... 47
1.12.3
Other Forms of Environmental Credit ................................................................................ 47
1.12.4
Participation under Other GHG Programs ......................................................................... 47
1.12.5
Projects Rejected by Other GHG Programs ...................................................................... 47
1.13
Additional Information Relevant to the Project .......................................................................... 48
2
Application of Methodology ...........................................................................................52
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
3
Title and Reference of Methodology............................................................................................. 52
Applicability of Methodology ......................................................................................................... 52
Project Boundary .......................................................................................................................... 54
Baseline Scenario ......................................................................................................................... 56
Additionality .................................................................................................................................. 68
Methodology Deviations ............................................................................................................... 68
Quantification of GHG Emission Reductions and Removals .......................................69
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4
Baseline Emissions....................................................................................................................... 69
Project Emissions ......................................................................................................................... 70
Leakage ........................................................................................................................................ 79
Net GHG Emission Reductions and Removals ............................................................................ 82
Monitoring........................................................................................................................84
4.1
4.2
Data and Parameters Available at Validation ............................................................................... 84
Data and Parameters Monitored .................................................................................................. 87
5
Environmental Impact .....................................................................................................99
6
Stakeholder Comments ................................................................................................101
HISTORY OF THE DOCUMENT .............................................................................................102
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1
1.1
PROJECT DETAILS
Summary Description of the Project
The Project Shade Coffee and Cacao Reforestation proposed by ECOTIERRA is an ARR carbon
sequestration grouped project based on improving agricultural farming techniques to include
coffee and cocoa under shade. The project aims to turn traditional land use schemes into shade,
organic and fair trade coffee and cocoa production systems by the mean of massive plantation of
trees, environmental education, technical training and accompaniment.
This Canadian-Peruvian initiative is led by ECOTIERRA, a company specializing in the
development and implementation of environmental, carbon and sustainable development
projects.
In Peru, 25% of small coffee and cocoa producers are members of cooperatives. This project was
initiated as a result of the findings by some cooperatives of the limitations and problems faced by
a large number of these producers such as inadequate management of the land, environmental
degradation, lack of income, limited technical knowledge, resistance to change and innovation,
inability to invest in developing and maintaining their parcels, difficult working conditions and the
limitations of these cooperatives to offer technical and financial help to its members. In fact,
cooperatives have very limited access to financial resources that allows them to develop and
maintain over time the technical expertise, or sufficient lending capacity, to properly support their
members in an attempt to break the state chronic poverty.
This lack of knowledge limits the ability of the producers to increase the productivity, to diversify
the agroforestry systems as well as to protect /improve the environment. At the same time the
customary management of their land, crops, pastures and their reluctance to change can affect
the overall profitability of their work and often leads to disastrous environmental impacts such as:
migratory agriculture on mountainsides with no protective measure for soil erosion, slash and
burn agriculture and poor fertilization to name a few. With the land becoming less productive over
time, the small producers abandon the parcels and move onto a neighbouring parcel and start the
whole process again.
The "SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION PROJECT" has been developed in
association with 32 cooperatives of small coffee and cocoa producers. The purpose of the project
is to convert degraded, low production or abandoned plots into high quality (fairtrade organic)
crop producing parcels with forest cover while focusing on sustainable development practices.
These Agroforestry projects will allow producers to increase their incomes by both agricultural
production and by adding the sustainable use of forestry resources.
Beyond the environmental objectives (carbon sequestration), the project focuses on sustainable
development objectives that include socio-economic and also their own environmental objectives.
The incentive related to the carbon aspect of the project as well as the initial funding will allow a
multitude of small producers to improve the management of their plot, increase crop yield,
diversify the source of income ensuring the sustainability of their farm and improving access to
education and healthcare. Reforestation, education and training related to the project will also
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
promote the improvement and protection of the environment by combating soil depletion, erosion,
contamination and the drying up of rivers, siltation of the landslide while regenerating local
biodiversity.
In total 12,111 ha of land will be reclaimed over 11 years covering 13 departments of Peru from
the border of Ecuador to that of Bolivia. According to the member list of participating Centrales
and cooperatives, more than 16,000 small producers will benefit directly and indirectly from the
project. The project is expected to generate about 1,969,139 tons (LTA) of CO2 over the 40 year
period. Given that this is a grouped project the total is an estimate of future participation.
1.2
Sectoral Scope and Project Type
Sectoral scope: 14-Agriculture Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU)
Project category: ARR
Project activity: Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation
The proposed project is a grouped project, including multiple instances in each year of
implementation of activities.
1.3
Project Proponent
Project Proponent:
Contact :
Société de gestion de projets ECOTIERRA Inc.
35, Belvédère Nord, Bur. 500,
Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
J1H 4A7
Contact person :
Etienne Desmarais
[email protected]
+1 819 346-1000
Roles and responsibilities: The project proponents and project developer is ECOTIERRA, a
Canadian based company which developed the project from the ground up. From field research
to building partnership, developing the project document, setting up planting and monitoring
procedure and training the local partners and management team.
Ecotierra will be responsible for the monitoring of GHG Emission and removal. The field team
collecting the data will be comprised of personnel from ECOTIERRA and duly qualified
contractors. Data inputting, gathering, computerization for storage as well as analysis will be
performed by qualified ECOTIERRA personnel.
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1.4
Other Entities Involved in the Project
Implementing Partner
The project is based on a solid partnership between ECOTIERRA and the rural communities in
Peru. To achieve this we have been solidifying our relationship for the past year with the different
associations of producers as well as the individual producers. Our structure is composed of 4
group.
1. ECOTIERRA
2. CENTRALES (grouping of cooperatives) and other partners
3. COOPERATIVE (We are partnered with 32 cooperatives in the development of this
project.)
4. Small producers of coffee and cocoa associated with our partner cooperatives.
Cooperatives are organizations whose members are individual small producers whom mainly
produce coffee and cocoa. They may be small in size (regrouping 40-50 members) or large in
scale (regrouping 4,000 members). The main purpose of the cooperatives is to market the crop
production of its members. The majority of the cooperatives have Organic and Fair Trade
certification and encourages all of its members to adopt these practices. Some cooperatives also
assist their members by providing some training and field technicians. Their expertise is key in
the development and the management of the project.
Roles and responsibilities: The cooperatives are responsible for the planting activities such as
the selections of the plots, the planting, the monitoring of the project including the sustainable
husbandry and commercialization of the trees. In the monitoring process they are responsible for
monitoring the integration of new plots (new instances) of the project, by onsite visits and surveys
to the producers. The cooperatives will also have the responsibility to monitor the implementation
of the project activities. For more details, see section 4 (monitoring).
Centrales were created by the grouping of smaller cooperatives whose main objective was to
reach critical mass for exporting their products. They specialize in the direct marketing and
exporting of the crop. Within the organizational structure sometimes can be found other types of
partners: Cooperatives that are not regrouped and an NGO.
Roles and responsibilities:
The Centrals have a role of support, training and monitoring activities. The project partners can
be found in the table below. In the monitoring process centrales will assume the role of first
verification and quality assurance of the monitoring of the cooperatives. For more details, see
section 4 (monitoring).
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Table 01 - List of the Implementing partners in the project
CENTRALES
COOPERATIVES
(class partner)
PRO-A
APPCACAO
FUNDACION AMAZONIA
VIVA-FUNDAVI
COPERATIVAS ASOCIADAS
CECOVASA
COCLA
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NAME
ACRONYM
ASOCIACIÓN DE PRODUCTORES ECOLÓGICOS SAN
JUAN BAUTISTA DE CAÑARIS
APE CAÑARIS
ASOCIACIÓN DE PRODUCTORES AGROPECUARIOS DE
SHATOJA- SAN MARTÍN
APA SHATOJA
LA ASOCIACIÓN DE PRODUCTORES CAFETALEROS JUAN
MARCO EL PALTO – APC JUMARP
APC JUMARP
ASOCIACION DE PRODUCTORES CAFETALEROS Y
CACAOTEROS DEL AMAZONAS-APROCAM
APROCAM
CENTRAL DE PRODUCTORES AGROPECUARIOS DE
AMAZONAS
CAC CEPROAA
ASOCIACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE CAFETALEROS
SOLIDARIOS SAN IGNACIO
APROCASSI
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA FRONTERA SAN
IGNACIO
CAC FRONTERASI
ASOCIACION DE PRODUCTORES AGROPECUARIOS DEL
ALTO MAYO
APAVAM
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA SAN IGNACIO DE
LOYOLA
CASIL
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA LA PALMA
CAC LA PALMA
COOPERATIVA DE SERVICIOS MULTIPLES CEDROS CAFÉ
LTDA
CEDROS CAFÉ
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA SAN GABÁN PROYECTO SAN GABAN
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA ALTO
URUBAMBA
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA EL QUINACHO
CAC SAN GABAN
CAC ALTO
HURUBAMBA
CAC QUINACHO
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA ORO VERDE
CAC ORO VERDE
CAC DE SERVICIOS VALLE SAN IGNACIO
CAC DE SERVICIOS
VALLE SAN IGNACIO
CAC INAMBARI LTDA
CAC INAMBARI LTDA
CAC TUPAC AMARU
CAC TUPAC AMARU
CAC SAN JORGE
CAC SAN JORGE
CAC SAN ISIDRO DE YANAHUAYA
CAC SAN ISIDRO DE
YANAHUAYA
CAC VALLE GRANDE
CAC VALLE GRANDE
CAC UNION AZATA
CAC UNION AZATA
CAC CHARUYO
CAC CHARUYO
By defining cooperatives
By defining
cooperatives
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA
INDUSTRIAL NARANJILLO
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA INDUSTRIAL NARANJILLO
COOPAIN
COPERATIVA AGRARIA
CAFETALERA LA DIVISORIA
COPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA LA DIVISORIA
CAC DIVISORIA
COOPERATIVA
AGRARIA
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA SATIPO
CAFETALERA SATIPO
COOPERATIVA
AGRARIA
RODRÍGUEZ DE MENDOZA
CAC PANGOA
CENTRAL DE PRODUCTORES
AGROECOLOGICOS DE
PICHANAKI
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA RODRÍGUEZ DE MENDOZA
COOPARM
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA PANGOA
CAC PANGOA
CENTRAL DE PRODUCTORES AGROECOLOGICOS DE
PICHANAKI
CEPROAP
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA
CAFETALERA LA FLORIDA
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA LA FLORIDA
CAC FLORIDA
CAC VALLE DE INCAHUASI
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA CAFETALERA VALLE DE
INCAHUASI
CAC VALLE DE
INCAHUASI
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA DE MUJERES PICHANAKI
CAMPC
COOPERATIVA AGRARIA DE
MUJERES PICHANAKI
1.5
CAC SATIPO
Project Start Date
The project start date is the 30 September, 2013.
The date on which we begin activities with management operationalization nurseries for planting
the first group of instances. This date has been defined as the start date of the project.
1.6
Project Crediting Period
For this Grouped Project the total length of the grouped project crediting period is: 40 years
Start Date: September 30th, 2013.
End Date: September 30th, 2053.
1.7
Project Scale and Estimated GHG Emission Reductions or Removals
Project Scale
Project
x
Large project
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
First Grouped Instances
Years
Estimated net GHG
emission reductions
or removals (tCO2e)
2,013
2,014
2,015
2,016
2,017
2,018
2,019
2,020
2,021
2,022
2,023
2,024
2,025
2,026
2,027
2,028
2,029
2,030
2,031
2,032
2,033
2,034
2,035
2,036
2,037
2,038
2,039
2,040
2,041
2,042
2,043
2,044
2,045
2,046
2,047
2,048
2,049
2,050
2,051
0
117
339
697
829
1,283
1,875
2,617
3,488
4,559
5,805
4,210
5,127
6,181
7,380
8,706
7,919
9,229
10,691
12,311
14,095
2,549
2,936
3,423
3,997
4,673
5,459
6,364
7,394
8,528
9,818
5,612
6,318
7,113
8,007
9,007
10,093
11,316
12,655
14,117
15,706
2,052
2,053
Total estimated
ERs
The whole grouped project
15,706
Estimated net
GHG emission
reductions or
removals (tCO2e)
Years
2,013
2,014
2,015
2,016
2,017
2,018
2,019
2,020
2,021
2,022
2,023
2,024
2,025
2,026
2,027
2,028
2,029
2,030
2,031
2,032
2,033
2,034
2,035
2,036
2,037
2,038
2,039
2,040
2,041
2,042
2,043
2,044
2,045
2,046
2,047
2,048
2,049
2,050
2,051
0
117
2,615
9,657
24,201
43,960
76,479
125,250
194,905
293,442
429,160
605,221
772,658
970,408
1,188,528
1,438,820
1,727,466
2,000,067
2,268,614
2,552,370
2,788,528
3,018,079
3,192,166
3,345,098
3,438,934
3,380,910
3,303,268
3,288,673
3,106,004
2,892,521
2,419,005
1,875,496
2,065,730
2,280,608
2,495,655
2,689,508
2,903,110
3,108,290
3,263,034
3,423,447
3,495,692
2,052
2,053
Total estimated
ERs
3,495,692
Total number of
crediting years
40
Total number of
crediting years
40
Average annual
ERs
393
Average annual
ERs
87,392
The Long-Term Average GHG benefit from the first group of instances is 5,541 tCO 2e, while
the whole grouped project sums up to 1,969,084 tCO 2e, according to the document AFOLU
Requirements: VCS Version 3.0 section 4.5.5.1.a. The established period determined by the
estimated LTA GHG benefit is 61 years, considering the last harvest/cutting cycle as
indicated in that section.
The buffer for the non-permanence risk is not counted here.
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1.8
Description of the Project Activity
Nature and objective of the project
The Shade Coffee and Cacao reforestation project was developed to break the cycle of land
degradation and destruction caused by traditional agricultural practice in the rural areas of the
Peruvian Andes.
The traditional land use have had long-term disastrous results which affected not only the land
where these practices took place but also affected neighbouring areas as the farmers moved
from less fertile parcel to another – which meant deforestation of the new parcels. The project
does not intend to take into consideration the avoidance of further land degradation avoided by
the carbon project. The project will focus on the ARR aspect for to evaluate the carbon footprint.
We consider the avoidance of deforestation as an environmental sustainability benefits to the
project.
Therefore the objective of the project is:
The capture of atmospheric carbon and long-term storage through reforestation within
agroforestry systems, more precisely the growing of coffee and cocoa under shade and small
forestry systems with sustainable timber harvest.
The purpose of the project is to convert degraded low production or abandoned plots into high
quality (fairtrade organic) crop producing parcels with forest cover while focusing on sustainable
development practices.
The project will be implemented on land that have been deforested for more than 10 years and
are underused and unprofitable due to their condition. Those abandoned or low yielding plots are
currently covered with annual crops, perennial fruit crops, wasteland and fallow or degraded
pasture. Their uses will completely switch to a new production systems. This Agroforestry
projects will allow producers to increase their incomes by both agricultural production and by
adding the sustainable use of forestry resources. Strategy to achieve this objective:
We have developed a strong partnership with local central and cooperatives that will facilitate the
implementation of the project. These partners are well entrenched in the community where they
serve and have established relationships with many of the local producers. Many of them have
expert agro technician who are expert in the field of coffee and cocoa agriculture.
Through the centrales and cooperatives, we provide the opportunity for small producers
(members or non-members) to participate in the project by converting their degraded, low
producing, abandoned parcels and convert them into shade coffee or cocoa producing parcels or
implement small forest massifs. The producers will benefit from the increase revenue as
described earlier. These sources of revenues are key factor in the longevity of the carbon
sequestration project.
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Support and training will be provided to the centrales, cooperatives in order to assure the proper
execution of the approved plan. ECOTIERRA will perform its own monitoring as a form of quality
control that will ensure that the work is done in accordance to the plan.
Project management structure: A community based approach
The entire project has been developed in collaboration with the initial participating centrales and
cooperatives–entities that are closest to the small producers.
ECOTIERRA`s role
ECOTIERRA will coordinate and participate in the activities related to the project including the
creation of a training program such as material, visual aid, workshops etc. It will be responsible
for the gathering of all information, its inputting, storage and its safeguard.
ECOTIERRA will take responsibility of the financing of the project and will work in the
development of a market for the crops generated from the project.
ECOTIERRA will also be responsible for the monitoring of the GHG emissions reduction.
The role of the Centrales
Centrales will have the responsibility of developing and creating some synergies between the
different regional cooperatives while monitoring the work done by both the producers and the
cooperatives and authorize payments to the producers. The hiring of forest engineer whose role
is to train and offer technical assistance to the cooperatives and the creation of forestry
cooperative will be part of the Centrales mandate.
The involvement of cooperatives
The cooperatives are responsible to offer technical support to the producers by delineating plots,
collecting data and supplying them with seeds. They will also offer technical training on the
growing and the implementation of a forestry crop, preparation of the field in accordance to the
PD and schedule field visits during the initial stage (nursery).
The cooperative will be responsible for the first level of monitoring as well as the educational
workshops and training. In the case where the trees are provided by outside sources (municipal
and regional), the cooperatives will be responsible for the transportation and the distribution of
these trees. They also have the opportunity to develop cooperative nurseries which provide
seedlings to farmers.
The role of the producers
The producer will be responsible for preparing the plot; to create a small nursery on it (in some
cases, trees will be provided by municipal or municipal nurseries), plant the trees, ensuring
proper nurturing (pruning, weeding and thinning) to assure good growth as well as replacing
seedlings in the event of high mortality in its first year.
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The producers will be paid after a satisfactory verification of the completed work. The planting of
the coffee and cocoa crop are not financed by the project but related training and technical
support related to the improvement of the crop yield, quality of the crop (organic) and the proper
use of will be part of the training received.
The 3 phases of the project
Pre-implantation phase
The projects activities begin with an information phase were ECOTIERRA in coordination with the
cooperatives and centrales present the project and its benefits to their members or groups of
producers who have shown interest.
After the information phase, producers who are interested in being part of the project can register
on a voluntary basis for the land eligibility assessment. If the land is eligible, the producer with
support of the project developer will chose the species and the technology package that is suited
and the parcels will be included as an instance.
Implantation Phase
This technical phase is described below. It is also accompanied by technical and more general
training:
Producers will receive training on planting and caring for trees (fertilization, pruning, fight against
diseases, etc.) adapted to their circumstances. As well the responsible technicians will provide
the necessary technical advice in the management of the planting to maximize the productivity
and to educate them in the value of organic agriculture. The improvement and protection of the
environment and biodiversity is part of the formation.
Through time the producers will develop a sensitivity to the effect of climate change and the
impact it has locally, as well as the negative impact of deforestation and the degrading of the
forest – this leading to a sustainable development project.
Monitoring phase
Described in section 4.
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Grouped project and inclusions of instances
Because of the sheer size of the grouped project and inclusions of instances due to the number
of small producers involved, it is impossible to anticipate all reference plots that could participate
in the project. In addition, the gradual implementation of the project will have a ripple effect on
other producers who may want to participate once their neighbour start seeing the positive effect
of the project. We anticipate that the first year implementation will be leverage to generate
interest amongst producers/investors that will then increase the size of the project in subsequent
years. It is for this reason that we opted for the grouped project option.
Each of the participating cooperatives will have supporting tools to promote and inform about the
project1. Ecotierra will also develop workshops to present the project to local producers (members
and non-members of cooperatives). Interested producers may register in the cooperatives,
participation is free and is voluntary.
Once the producer is interested in the project, the cooperative is required to inform the producers
the rules and regulations of participation. For instance: Land eligibility criteria, in which the
producer agrees to participate and confirm that its lands comply with the rules and regulations of
participation, the cooperative technician will visit the producer land or farm, he will
georeferenciate it with a GPS, take photos (Photos having geographical location -GPS) where the
producer will implement the reforestation activities and have the option to choose an agroforestry
scheme or forested area that he may want to implement. All information collected is recorded in
Ecotierra database (MINKA2) for assessing the plot as per the eligibility criteria (See section 1.13)
for it to be included in the project. A MINKA3 software user manual was drawn up in order to
register the Coffee and Cacao Project activities.
After reviewing all compiled data from the instance and its processing in the MINKA software, the
results of the evaluation can be: Instance Accepted, Rejected or Pending; in any case, the
instance information is already recorded in the database. The plot is rejected when it does not
comply with land eligibility criteria; the plot is in pending status when they did not submit the land
property title of the land that will be involved in the project, or the plot was not yet assessed. Once
the parcel is accepted, the producer must sign an assignment agreement for transferring the
rights of greenhouse gases (those that will be produced inside the plot) in favor of Ecotierra. Also
a socio-economical questionnaire will be applied to the producer. The information will be kept
stored for two years after the end of the accreditation period. The reforestation schedule will be
decided based on the available funding for the future plots to be implemented.
This validation procedure is applied to demonstrate the eligibility of land for afforestation and
reforestation CDM project activities with an adaptation to the VCS criteria.
1
ECOTIERRA will facilitate to the cooperative awareness documents about the shade coffee and cacao
reforestation project.
2
Special software developed by ECOTIERRA to manage the execution of activities for the projects. In the case of
coffee and cacao project, it records the information of the processes linking the eligibility of areas, reforestation,
monitoring and disbursements (nursery, planting, monitoring, etc.).
3
Ecotierra, MINKA User Manual –Shade coffee and cacao Project 2013
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How to achieve GHG removals
First and foremost this project is an ARR carbon sequestration project. The project focuses on
traditional economic activities of producers in the Peruvian Andes region such as growing coffee
and cocoa. Using their parcels the producers will create a new crop under shade trees generating
a forest cover and capturing carbon. The project is expected to generate an increment in existing
carbon stocks and GHG removals by sinks that are additional to those changes that would have
occurred in the absence of the project activity. This will be achieved by replacing unsustainable
activities with a sustainable commercial activity.
The project will take place on land with low vegetation cover and low biomass (crops 4, Wasteland
and fallow of one to three years old, degraded pasture).
More specifically, the project offers the following benefits related to the sustainability of the
carbon sequestration:
Given that the producers are working with known crops and are aware of the economic value that
they generate and how to market them makes these individual comfortable with the project.
Training and education provided by the Centrales/Cooperatives and the implementation of shade
trees will improve quality of their crop and revenue generated by them. The adoption of modern
farming techniques without the destruction of the shade cover will ensure the sustainability of the
carbon sequestration. The revenues generated from the coffee and cocoa crop is a sufficient
incentive for the producers to keep the forest cover.
These updated management of greener and sustainable practices that does not include
deforestation and slash and burn activities will contribute to increase the carbon sequestration of
the soil, as well as the aerial and underground biomass.
Similarly, by working on the privately owned land of producers and demonstrating the long-term
impact on their income, they can apply the knowledge to other parcels that may not be part of the
project. The knowledge is not limited to participants of the project – other producers will be
exposed to these practices and can adapt them to their needs. This ultimately will strengthen the
collective organizations and the service they can offer to their members and becomes a trusted
partner assuring the sustainability of the project.
The introduction of new economic activities for local producers such as the sustainable forest
management and timber harvesting from shade trees for coffee and cocoa plantation is also a
factor that favors the sustainability of the project. The diversification of the revenues is a crucial
element in the economic structure of the producers subject to global food markets.
The diversification of tree species in coffee and cacao project (that is normally 1-2 species per
parcels in traditional system but will reach as much as 18 certain models in this project) has many
advantages some related to the carbon capture. Some species have a high economic value,
other are fruit bearing while others have various utilities for the producers. Therefore not all trees
4
This includes annual crops and non-woody perennial fruit crops.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
will be harvested. The harvested species have different growth cycle but the majority of them are
longer cycles – leading to longer harvesting period favouring the carbon sequestration.
In addition, the tracking and monitoring of the carbon capture will enable ECOTIERRA and its
partners to adapt and react quickly to situations that can adversely affect the carbon capture of
the project.
By solidifying its presence in the customary economic activity in the Peruvian Andes and by
reinforcing its activities, increase production and revenues proposed to the producers – this
carbon capture project ensures the sustainability and the adoption of the proposed project by
small producers in the following years.
Technology, models of plantation and activities
The grouped project is based on a flexible technological package that can be adapted to the
particular circumstances of each instance, as inter alia: selected species, tree density, thinning
and harvesting. Ten different planting patterns are proposed in which 30 species of trees can be
selected.
Although ECOTIERRA emphasizes the promotion of mixed stands the different planting patterns
allows the producers to choose its mix of species. No less than 4 species are accepted for the
cocoa plantation, 5 for the coffee plantation and 3 for the forest system (18 or above). This
system has been developed considering the geographical magnitude of the project and to meet
and the requirements of the participants.
Each producer will choose, with some technical support the variety of tree species based on the
specificities of his land (climate, altitude, soil, etc.). This will include a combination of fast,
medium and slow growth tree species to plant in association with their coffee or cocoa plantation
or in little forest massif. The tree species are selected to provide shade and improve productivity
on the project area and include species of commercial value.
Each instance will provide information of the specific details of the package to be applied: the
choice of planting patterns and the number of trees of each species chosen. The information will
be stored in ECOTIERRA`s database (MINKA).
ECOTIERRA favours, without imposing the selective collection of trees and promote the natural
regeneration of trees generated by the seeds grown on the planting sites.
Species choice for reforestation and enrichment plantings
Tree species that are considered for planting in the project area were originally selected
according to the following factors: adaptability, compatibility in agroforestry systems with coffee
and cocoa, ecological and cultural value, availability of seeds, and resistance to pests and
diseases, as well as for their commercial value (for parts of the species). The project has
prioritized a large group of native species to maximize positive impacts on biodiversity, and few
exotic species. The wide list of species is explained by the extension of the project and variety of
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
planting systems (forestry and agroforestry). Even though all the regions included in the project
have similar ecological conditions, native local species are the ideal or most popular ones to be
planted in each region. The list tree species that will be used in the whole project is shown in the
following table.
Table 2. Tree species of the project
Tree
Harvest
Tree name
Familly
Group
time
Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum)
20
Rubiaceae
A
Tornillo (Cedrelinga catenaeformis)
40
Fabaceae
Cedro (Cedrela odorata)
40
Meliaceae
Moena (Aniba ssp.)
20
Lauraceae
Sangre de grado (Croton ssp.)
20
Euphorbiaceae
B
Caoba (Swietenia macrophylla)
40
Meliaceae
Romerillo (Nageia rospigliossi)
40
Podocarpaceae
Huamanzamana (Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.)
10
Bignoneaceae
Andalan (Senna ssp.)
15
Fabaceae
Shimbillo (Inga edulis)
15
Fabaceae
Piñan (Styrax ssp.)
15
Styracaceae
Pino tecunumani (Pinus tecunnumanii)
20
Pinaceae
Laurel (Cordia alliadora)
15
Boraginaceae
Albizia (Albizia falcataria)
30
Mimosoidea
C
Teca (Tectona grandis)
30
Verbenaceae
Erytrina (Erythrina poeppigiana)
20
Fabaceae
Guaba (Inga ssp)
15
Fabaceae
Nogal (Juglans neotropica)
20
Juglandaceae
Copal (Vochysia ferruginia)
30
Vochysiaceae
Oropel (Erythrina ssp.)
20
Fabaceae
Paliperro (Tabebuia ssp.)
30
Bignoniaceae
Cedro Lila (Cedrela lilloi)
20
Meliaceae
D
Pashaco (Schizolobium amazonicum)
10
Fabaceae
Ishpingo (Amburana cearensis)
20
Fabaceae
Shaina (Colubrina glandulosa)
10
Rhamnaceae
Higueron (Ficus ssp.)
40
Moraceae
Podocarpus (Podocarpus rospigliossi)
E
v3.2
Lanche (Calyptranthes ssp.; Syzygium
ssp.)
Bolaina (Guazuma crinita)
Cascarilla (Cinchona ssp.)
Growth
speed
Fast
Slow
Slow
Fast
Fast
Slow
Slow
Very fast
Fast
Fast
Fast
Slow
Fast
Fast
Fast
Fast
Fast
Slow
Fast
Fast
Slow
Slow
Very fast
Slow
Very fast
Fast
Very
Slow
Origen
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Exotic
Native
Native
Exotic
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
40
Podocarpaceae
Native
40
Myrtaceae
Fast
7
40
Sterculiaceae
Rubiaceae
Very fast Native
Slow
Native
Native
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
The Schematic layout of various systems:
The tree species were grouped in 5 groups: A, B, C, D and E. The Proposed ten different planting
patterns are based on these groupings. Thus, each pattern has a total amount distributed by the
various groups of species as shown in the following table tree:
Table 03. Table of the different planting patterns
Planting patterns
Tree species groups
Total Nb
of trees
A
B
C
D
E
Cocoa 1
45
90
45
0
90
270
Cocoa 2
48
35
80
14
133
310
Cocoa 3
84
25
80
14
133
336
Coffee 1
17
34
84
17
80
232
Coffee 2
34
25
62
17
133
271
Coffee 3
51
34
69
34
133
321
Forest massif 1
370
370
370
0
0
1110
Forest massif 2
199
422
289
133
67
1110
Forest massif 3
255
178
422
178
77
1110
Forest massif 4
133
289
311
133
244
1110
The producer and cooperative`s technician must first choose the preferred system (Coffee,
Cocoa or Massifs). Then choose one planting patterns of the system in function of the desired
tree density and the number of species. The proposed planting patterns offer a variety of species
growing in terms of their number.
Then, the producer, still with the technical support of the cooperative will choose the desired
species. For each planting pattern densities of trees (number of trees) in each group must be
respected. However, the producer may choose in each group one or more species, or even all
species of tree respecting the minimum number determined for each planting patterns.
Among the ten different planting patterns proposed:
Three were developed for coffee growers:
Coffee 1: More traditional planting pattern: Minimum number of species 5
Coffee 01: Minimal
Species
A
B
C
D
E
Coffee
v3.2
number of species
Distance
Quantity
8x8
17
8x8
34
8x8
84
8x8
17
5x5
80
1.5 X 1.5
4444
Total of tree
232
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Coffee 2: Improved planting pattern: Minimum number of species 7
Coffee 02: Minimal
Species
A
B
C
C
C
D
E
Coffee
number of species
Distance
Quantity
8x9
34
8x9
25
8x9
20
8x9
21
8x9
21
8x9
17
3x3
133
1.5 X 1.5
4444
Total of tree
271
tree hedge
Coffee 3: Ideal planting pattern: Minimum number of species 12
Coffee 03: Minimal
Species
A
A
A
B
C
C
C
D
D
D
E
E
Coffee
number of species
Distance
Quantity
10x5
17
10x5
17
10x5
17
10x5
34
10x5
23
10x5
23
10x5
23
10x5
11
10x5
11
10x5
12
3x3
66
3x3
67
1.5 X 1.5
4444
Total of tree
321
tree hedge
tree hedge
Three were developed for Cocoa:
Cocoa 1: More traditional planting pattern: Minimum number of species 4
Cocoa 01 : Minimal
Species
A
B
C
E
COCOA
v3.2
number of species
Distance
Quantity
3x3
45
3x3
90
3x3
45
3x3
90
3x3
814
Total of tree
270
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Cocoa 2 : Improved planting pattern: Minimum number of species 6
Cocoa 02 : Minimal
Species
A
B
C
C
D
E
COCOA
number of species
Quantit
Distance
y
7x8
54
7x8
35
7x8
52
7x8
28
7x8
14
3x3
133
3x3
1111
Total of tree
310
tree hedge
Cocoa 3 : Ideal planting pattern: Minimum number of species 9
Cocoa 03: Minimal number of species
Species
A
A
A
B
C
C
C
D
E
COCOA
Distance
8x6
8x6
8x6
8x6
8x6
8x6
8x6
8x6
3x3
3x3
Total of tree
Quantity
28
28
28
25
26
26
28
14
133
1111
336
tree hedge
Four planting has been developed for the Forest system.
Forest system 1: traditional: Minimum number of species 3
Forest massif 01: Minimal
Species
A
B
C
number of species
Distance
Quantity
3x3
370
3x3
370
3x3
370
Total of tree
1110
Forest system 2: Improved 1: Minimum number of species 5
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Forest massif 02: Minimal
Species
A
B
C
D
E
number of species
Distance
Quantity
3x3
199
3x3
422
3x3
289
3x3
133
3x3
67
Total of tree
1 110
Forest system 3: Improved 2: Minimum number of species 7
Forest massif 03: Minimal
Species
A
A
B
C
C
D
E
Distance
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
Total of tree
number of species
Quantity
77
178
178
67
345
178
77
1110
Forest system 4: Ideal: Minimum number of species 18
Forest massif 04: Minimal
Species
A
A
B
B
C
C
C
D
D
D
E
E
Distance
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
3x3
Total of tree
number of species
Quantity
44
89
144
145
67
111
133
44
44
45
122
122
1110
Following are the schemes of plantation for each system:
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
COFFEE PLANTATION PATTERN
Coffee 01: Conventional Planting Pattern
Coffee 02: Improved planting pattern
Coffee 03: Ideal planting pattern
COCOA PLANTATION PATTERN
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Cocoa 01: Conventional Planting Pattern
Cocoa 02: Improved planting pattern
Cocoa 03: Ideal planting pattern
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
FOREST PLANTING PATTERNS
Massif 01: Convetinal Planting pattern
Massif 03: Improved planting pattern 2
Massif 02: Improved planting pattern 1
Massif 04: Ideal planting pattern
The proportion of agroforestry coffee systems, agroforestry cocoa systems and forestry plantations
will also vary according to the new instances and region.
Plantation Management Plan
All activities will follow the forestry protocol 5 . While most producers have already managed
nurseries for the establishment of coffee and cocoa and the planting of their plots - they will
receive training at different stages of the project life.
1. Nursery preparation. The plants will come from nurseries set up by the producers. These will
be near/on their parcels (in some areas the plants come from municipal nurseries).
Cooperatives technicians will supervise the work. The Centrales are in charge of seed
supply.
5
ECOTIERRA, FORESTRY PROTOCOL ON SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION PROJECT.
2013
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Parcel preparation
2. Clearing: Site clearing is done by hand with tools such as machetes, hoes or other
instruments in order to remove weed grasses located on the site chosen for the plants to
facilitate other work and promote the availability of water, nutrients, light and space for new
trees.
3. Protective barrier around the settlement area: In the case where plantations can be in contact
with animal pasturage, a protective barrier will be erected planted with trees (e.g. Eritrhina
spp.).
4. The preparation of holes: Holes will be done by hand with simple tools, in accordance with
the installation plan, scheme established according to tree species and soil structure. A
period of 4 to 8 days preparation is provided between the holes and planting trees to promote
better ventilation. The holes have a volume of approximately 30 cm x 30 cm x30 cm.
Tree planting phase
5. The trees are then planted and fertilized: Most plots are composed of a nutrient-poor soil;
small amounts of organic and inorganic fertilizers will be added at planting.
6. Replacement of dead trees. Replacement of dead trees will be during the first year after
planting.
7. Weeding: The weeding will manually be done using a machete, twice during the first year of
planting and as needed during the next two years.
Pest and Disease control:
8. Monitoring of pests and diseases. This activity will be the responsibility of the cooperative and
will be monitored for the first 3 years after the initial planting by one of the cooperative’s
technician. The producers will be responsible to monitor and inform the cooperative.
9. Control pests and diseases. The project calls for compliance with specifications organic load
to achieve the certification of crops.
Managements of the trees
10. Tree pruning: In order to have a high quality wood, the pruning is done in the resting period of
the trees (July-September), or at the end of the rainy season (May-June). The pruning activity
is done in the early years with a pruner, and then it will be done with telescopic scissors or
hand saws. The first pruning will be called "formation pruning", the purpose of this initial or
formation pruning is to ensure that the trees have a good structure, that is to say, a single
main stem and avoid the formation of plagiotropic branches. The second pruning or
maintenance pruning is done as from the year and a have old to the third year by removing
the branches found below the 4 m high.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
11. Thinning: Thinning will be determined according to each species (2 to 4 cutting). This
elimination of the least productive in order to promote more robust trees will average in the
third, tenth and twentieth year after planting, and sometimes the thirtieth year. Because of the
variety of growth depending on the species, many of these cuts will be coupled with
commercial crops.
12. Commercial Harvest: The commercial harvest is performed based on the harvest, of
implanted species and based on minimum DBH for harvest. So around the age 7, 10, 15, 20,
30 or 40 depending of species. This harvest will selectively pick the best bole for harvesting,
preserving other high quality trees for seed production and other to harvest in a few years.
This is done in order to never completely strip the field, maintain a certain shade level, and to
preserve the different age strata. The successive selective cuts are then followed by
replacement plantings or selections of natural seedlings. This will allow permanence in time
of the different age strata in plantations and will ensure the continuity of the project activity
without any interruptions of the forest cover. At the same time, it will allow for the producer, a
better distribution of is income in time.
13. Replanting: As the project document suggests the use of diverse forest species with different
growth rates (rapid and slow growth forest species), there will be different crop years, 7, 10,
15, 20, 30 or 40 years so that when the rapid growth trees are cut, they will give the
opportunity to the slow growth trees to develop. The replacement of trees will be made
gradually and conservatively after these have served their cutting cycle by keeping the
continuity of the trees throughout the useful life of the project, for each of the planting
schemes shown in Table 04.
Table 04. Projection of the presence of trees during the life of the project considering the intervention of
thinning, harvesting and replanting.
SCHEMES AND GROUPS
A
B
C
D
COCOA1
45
90
45
0
COCOA2
48
35
80
14
COCOA3
84
25
80
14
COFFE 1
17
34
84
17
COFFE 2
34
25
62
17
COFFE 3
51
34
69
34
MASSIF 1
370 370 370
0
MASSIF 2
199 422 289 133
MASSIF 3
255 178 422 178
MASSIF 4
133 289 311 133
Initial
trees/he
ctare
E
90
133
133
80
133
133
0
67
77
244
Year 01
270
310
336
232
271
321
1110
1110
1110
1110
PRESENCE OF TREES DURING THE
PROJECT
Year 03
130
137
161
135
129
149
555
557
555
553
Year 10
108
122
143
120
120
133
444
446
443
438
Year 20
90
106
119
120
120
120
354
446
356
345
Year 30
90
100
110
120
120
120
300
357
301
302
FENCE
Year 3
to 30
--67
67
64
67
67
---------
The forest protocol includes a timeline with forest management activities of the project.
v3.2
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TOTAL
Year 40
90 trees
167 trees
177 trees
184 trees
187 trees
187 trees
300 trees
300 trees
300 trees
300 trees
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Positive impacts of the project 6
This project is supported by a global vision and analysis of socio-economic and environmental
conditions. The study of the conditions prior to project initiation led us to the conclusion that
reforestation (ARR) for carbon capture, integrated into a larger project could generate local
benefits guaranteeing carbon capture and long-term retention. In addition to the environmental
objective of biological carbon sequestration, the project includes sustainable development
objective for the local population, including social and economic objectives. This initiative aims to
ensure the initial funding for the project implementation that will allow a multitude of small-scale
producers to improve the management of their lands, increase their productivity, diversify their
income and ensure long term sustainable development business model. Indirect impacts may be
generated on the education, health, cooperative organization, etc. The project impacts go far
beyond the environmental benefits of carbon sequestration,
Among Them:
Improved economic conditions for farmers and surrounding communities through development
of business and job creation related to reforestation, diversification of income and the
accreditation plots labels "Organic" and "Fair Trade". It promotes formalization and organization
of smallholders by strengthening Centrales and cooperative institutions, contributing to the
Peruvian commercial balance in the agriculture sector.
Improved production systems using the technology package of coffee and cocoa plantations.
Including, the installation of crops under shade (creation of agroforestry systems) through
improved management (pruning and high growth, diversification of species), and the
management of the plots according to the standards of organic agriculture
Improvement and protection of the environment the creation of large and perennial vegetation
cover on degraded patches or recurring cycles of destruction with organic farming techniques will
provide an (alternatives to deforestation and land degradation as well as the negative
consequences such as soil erosion, landslides, poor water quality and biodiversity loss. At the
same time it will help Increase awareness stakeholder’s thesis is based.
The reinforcement of the organizational capacity of producers and cooperatives and
technical capacity of cooperatives. Carbons income and other investments made by the project
will provide the means to co-develop and retain engineers, agronomists and foresters can provide
adequate services and training to producers. In addition, the project training will be offered to
cooperatives by our partners to strengthen collective organizational capacity to ensure proper
long-term development project
Training and education of producers. Technical training related to the development of the
project will be done first. While the environmental protection and related topics will be addressed
and adapted to regional realities.
6
: Ecotierra, Environmental Report of the activities of the shade coffee and cacao reforestation project 2014.
v3.2
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
1.9
Project Location
In general, the project is spread throughout the Andes from North to South. The projects activities
are located on the eastern slopes of and inter-Andean valleys of the Peruvian Andes. The project
which encompasses 12 department of Peru is limited in its altitudinal zone - with a minimum of 80
Meters Above Sea Level (masl) for the cocoa agroforestry systems to a maximum of 2 500 MASL
for forest plantation. However, approximately 90% of the project will be developed between 300
masl and 1 500 masl.
These regions between 300m et 1500masl are known as the most suitable coffee and cocoa
production zones in the country, due to their similar ecological conditions (temperature,
precipitation and soil). Land use patterns in the project areas can be considered as
homogeneous. It comprises areas that are managed by producers’ members, the Cooperatives
(see section 1.4) and some independent small-scale producers who are joining the cooperative.
The General map of the SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION PROJECT (SCCR).
Note in green on this map, the zones where are the first group instances of the project.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Figure 1: General map of The SCCR project
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
The project is a grouped project. The partners of the project are located in 12 departments and 37
provinces of Peru, as shown in the following table:
Table 05. Geographic Location
12 country
37 provinces
12 country
Lambayeque Cañaris
Junin
Uctubamba
Amazonas
Ayacucho
Cajamarca
Cusco
Chanchamayo
Satipo
Bagua
Rodríguez
Mendoza
Huanta
de
San Ignacio
Madre de
Dios
Tambopata
Pasco
Oxapampa
Puno
Jaen
Carabaylla
Sandia
La Convencion
El dorado
Leoncio Prado
tarapoto
Huanuco
Moyobamba
Pachitea
San Martin
Marañón
Jose
Crespo
Castillo
Huanuco
37 provinces
y
Uchiza
Damaso
Lamas
Luyando
Daniel
Robles
Mariscal Cáceres
Shunte
Rupa Rupa
Marino
Veraun
Tocache
Padre Abad
Alomia
Ucayali
Curimana
Chinchao
Irazola
Hermilio Valdizan
Campo Verde
Monzón
The grouped project is made on a single geographic area for the inclusion of new instances as
defined by the VCS criteria. Indeed, the initial conditions that can influence the baseline scenario
and additionality (land use, socioeconomic conditions biophysical and ecological) are sufficiently
homogeneous throughout the scope of the project to justify this grouping. Small Peruvian
producers of coffee and cocoa, with whom we work, form a very homogeneous group with
respect to the management of their lands and plantations and their socioeconomic conditions.
Popular and current agricultural practices (such as "slash and burn, Migratory agriculture, low
density and diversity in the use of shadow when used, etc.) are common to all. We use the same
unique geographic area for the non-permanence risk assessment.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
The geographic area within which new project activity instances may be developed is delimited by
the sphere of influence of the participating cooperatives:
Each cooperative has its producer members and performs these activities in a zone of influence.
Each of these geographic zones forms a unit for an implementing partner. In addition, producers
who are not related to a cooperative of the project but are located within the area of influence of a
cooperative may choose to become member and join the project. The following maps show areas
of cooperatives or central that are part of the SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION
PROJECT. In some cases these territories may overlap. All these maps are stored in ArcGis, and
also joined in KML files, where each one is delimited by a geodetic polygons. Below are few
examples of maps of the territories covered by each cooperative. The complete list of these maps
is attached.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Geographic area for the first group instances
Every instance has its polygon defined by a GPS during the initial visit. The geographic
coordinates of the boundaries of each one of the plots include a georeferencing procedure by
registering the UTM coordinates with horizontal projection WGS 1984 South. This information is
stored in our database (MINKA), processed in ArcGIS and identifies every instance of the project.
Also KML digital files referring to the cooperative size and location of the first group of instances
were prepared.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
The following table shows the participating cooperatives of the first instances group, with
departments, provinces, districts and the number of hectares. Implementation of the reforestation
activities with the first instances group will be carried out during the first year of the project, as
pilot test to collect lessons learned. Almost 30 hectares will be reforested in the departments of
Amazonas and Junin scattered in "different producer areas".
Table 06: Participating cooperatives, geographic reference and size of the first group of instances
First group instances: Partners and Locations
Cooperative
Departm ent
Province
District
Sector
Area (ha)
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
LLAYLLA
C HALLHUAMAYO
3.0293
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
LLAYLLA
VISTA ALEGRE
0.6799
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO NEGRO
HUAHUARI BAJO
4.7626
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO NEGRO
UNION PROGRESO
0.6608
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO TAMBO
VISTA ALEGRE
0.8968
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
C APIRO BAJO
1.7128
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
NUEVA ESPERANZA
1.8801
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
PARATUSHALI
7.6429
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
SANTA C LARA
3.1111
3.58
1.8139
C AC SATIPO JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
PUEBLO LIBRE DE
AZOPE
JUMARP
UTC UBAMBA
YAMON
NUEVO AMAZONAS
AMAZONAS
Total Area By
Cooperative (ha)
27.9563
1.8139
29.7702
The following maps are example of the first instances.
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1.10 Conditions Prior to Project Initiation
Global geographical areas of the project
Natural and physical description of the development area of the grouped project
Ecoregions
As previously noted in section 1.9 the project will be developed over a large area encompassing
the northern and southern Peruvian cordillera. Given that the projects aim to reforest these
areas with agroforestry systems based on the coffee and cocoa crop and in its area altitudinal
limits of these cultures. For these reasons, the project will be mainly developed on the slopes
and inter-Andean valleys (between 300masl and 1,500masl) but can reach 2,500masl (forestry)
for a few cooperatives in the Cusco, Puno et Lambayeque regions and a minimum of 80 meters
for cocoa agroforestry systems. For this, only one ecoregion is affected by the project – the
lower section of the Selva Alta. The project will also encompass to a lesser degree other
ecoregion in Peru – the upper section of the Amazonian tropical forest (Bosque Tropical
Amazónico o Selva Baja) and Equatorial dry forest (Bosque Seco Ecuatorial) which represent
less than 5% or the project. The MINAN (Ministry of the environment – Peru) defines an
ecoregion as a geographical area having similar characteristics (climate, soil, hydrology, flora
and fauna) that are interrelated and interdependent. These zones can be differentiated from one
another with relative ease (Brack-Egg, 2004)
Selva Alta: This area on the eastern flank of the Andean cordillera spans from the Ecuadorian
border to the Bolivian border at between 500 and 3 500 masl in altitude as well as on the
western flank in the high watershed of the Jequetepeque, Zaña, La Leche, Chira and Piura
rivers. The climate is semi-hot in the lower region and cold in altitude. Three distinct altitudinal
areas are present. From top to bottom they are: the Rainforest where rain accumulation can
exceed 3,000mm, the Cloud forest and the high altitude Dwarf forest. The moisture allows the
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abundance of epiphytic plants that grow not only in trees, but also on the ground. The project is
located in the lower part: the rainforest.
The Amazonian rainforest (lower forest): It includes all the Amazon rainforest (east of the
Andes, below 600 masl The climate is hot and humid Its average temperature is 24 º to 26 º C.
It.. find the greatest diversity of species. vegetation is more heterogeneous and fauna is rich and
varied. The project is located in the upper part of this zone. (more than 300m) .
The equatorial dry forest: coastal strip 100 to 150 km wide. The main vegetation types are
carob wood, dry wood and savannah formations. The fauna is of Amazonian origin while its
maximum altitude is of 1 500m. The climate is characterized by a prolonged dry season, which
can lasts up to 9 months.
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Map 1- Ecoregions.
The Soil:
The type of soil found in our project area is of the Acrisólica variety. They are typicaly found in
coffee growing area. On the other hand, in the cocoa growing regions of the project that
stretches further down the rain forest it is also possible to encounter the following types of soils:
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Acrísólica Litosólica and waved. As for the Cusco, Puno and Lambayeque departments we will
encounter Lito-cambisólica and Kastanosólica.
Acrisólica: This type of soil is found in the middle and lower section of the forest between 500
and 2800 masl in altitude. This includes a few valleys where the soil is rich. Deep, red and
yellow soil with good drainage (acrisols) and deep clay soils (nitosols) are predominant. As we
move to the lower forest, the appearance of clay soils, acid and ferrous (acrisols plinthic)
become apparent. On the hillside a rocky soils (litho) is present while in the bottom of the valley
we encounter alluvial (fluvisoles), sometimes with poor drainage (gleisoles) or clay (Vertisols).
Acrísólica ondulada: soil found in the lower forest. This includes red and yellow, acidic soil and
naturally infertile (Ultisols), young undistinguishable soils (Entisols), young distinguishable soil
(Inceptisols), poorly drained soils (aguajales), well drained moderately fertile (Alfisols, Vertisols,
Mollisols) and very infertile sandy soils (Spodosols), or white sand.
Litosólica : On the western slopes and on the arid slopes where the topography is very
unfavorable predominate rocky and rocky soils (litho) is encountered. In the lower region there
is an accumulation of sand (regosols) gravel and lime (calcium Yermosols). While in the middle
section clay and lime (Yermosols Luvic), soil with lime and dark layer (xerosols) and brown soils
(Kastanozems) can be found.
Líto-cambisólica : This type of soil is encountered in the intermediate and high forest zone – or
between 2200 and 3000 masl in altitudes. The soils are poor due to the steepness of the slope
and are susceptible to erosion in heavy rainfall. The topsoil is predominantly litho and Cambisol
and can be acidic or limestone and are often yellow in color.
Kastanosólica : This soil can be found in valleys between 2,200 and 4,000 m in altitudes.
Predominantly, red and reddish-brown color ( Kastanozems calcium), clay (Kastanozems storm)
and depth and thin (Phaeozems). In the south dominated by lacuster soils (planosols),
sometimes poorly drained (gleisoles) and volcanic soils (Andosols).
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Map 2- Soils of Peru
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Elevational ecoregions of Peru
Hydrology:
The project will be developed on the territory of most of the Peruvian river basins. The project
activities are carried away from the altitudes refill areas or the origin of these basins (heads of
watersheds). Among the most important watersheds, the project goes through the Marañon
basin, characterized by the importance of its tributaries. The Following basins are located within
the project's area:
Chinchipe River Basin, Utcubamba River Basin, Alto Marañón Basin, Imaza River Basin, Sisa
River Basin, Alto Huallaga Basin, Aguaytía River Basin, Perené River Basin, Ene River Basin,
Tambo River Basin, Apurimac River Basin, Inambari River Basin, Tambopata River Basin.
Regarding minor courses or streams, it should be noted that these are irregular. Many of them
are dry most of the year despite having at certain times of the year a strong water flow. Others
have a more regular and higher flow allowing intensive agriculture in irrigated areas.
Climate:
In general the project is located on the Eastern flank of the Andes cordillera – subject to the dry
coastal climate. Although rain can be observed all year, the climate can be divided into the dry
(summer) and rainy (winter) season. North to South variation depends on the seasons but heat is
more of a factor in the North. Altitude plays an important role in the climate – where hot and
humid temperature is found in the low lying areas and the reverse is also true even though the
humidity always remain relatively high. Differential in temperature are high in high altitudes and
narrows as we move toward the coast. The following table summarizes the temperatures and
average precipitation of various departments and provinces without taking into account the most
local variations (due to altitude).
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Table 07 Altitudinal range, temperature, mean annual precipitation and geographical location of the
coffee and cacao project
Project Area
Department
Province
Altitude
Uctubamba
500 msnm a 2400 msnm
Luya
1000 msnm a 2000 msnm
Rodrigues de Mendoza
1500 msnm a 3300 msnm
Bagua
400 msnm a 1500 Climas msnm
Huanta
800 msnm a 1800 msnm
La Mar
800 msnm a 2200 msnm
San Ignacio
500 msnm a 2200 msnm
Cutervo
1400 msnm a 3300 msnm
Jaen
400 msnm a 2600 msnm
La Convension
500 msnm a 3000 msnm
Marañon
250 msnm a 600 msnm
Leoncio Prado
0 msnm a 1200 msnm
Huamalies
1000 msnm a 1800 msnm
Huanuco
1000 msnm a 2000 msnm
Satipo
400 msnm a 2600 msnm
Chanchamayo
700 msnm a 1900 msnm
Lambayeque
(Cañaris)
Ferreñafe
Madre de Dios
Pasco
Amazonas
Ayacucho
Cajamarca
Cusco
Huanuco
Junin
Puno
SAN MARTIN
Ucayali
Temperature range by Annual precipitation
department
Average
4°C min. A 36°C+ max.
882,3 mm
6°C min. a 28°C max.
613,5 mm
20°C min A 35°C max.
1 247,2 mm
6°C min. A 22°C max.
732,5 mm
13,7° C min. A 36° C max.
701,0 mm
4,5° C min a 30° C max.
912,1 mm
2500 msnm a 3200 msnm
4°C min. A 22° C max.
800 mm
Tambopata
186 msnm
8° C min. A 36° C max.
2 217,9 mm
Oxapampa
800 a msnm a 2600 msnm
8°C min. A 30° C max.
993,4 mm
Sandia
700 msnm a 3300 msnm
San Antonio de Putina
1000 msnm a 2000 msnm
Promedio 0° C a 22°C max.
760,5 mm
Carabaya
500 msnm a 2700 msnm
El dorado
600 msnm a 1800 msnm
Lamas
600 msnm a 1400 msnm
22°C min A 33° C max.
1 298,6 mm
20°C min a 31° C max.
2 019,6 mm
Picota
300 msnm a 900 msnm
Tocache
500 msnm a 2000 msnm
Huallaga
400 msnm a 800 msnm
Mariscal Caceres
300 msnm a 1300 msnm
Rioja
900 msnm a 1900 msnm
Moyobamba
900 msnm a 2100 msn
Padre Abad
200 msnm a 1400 msnm
For example, in the Amazonas in the Utcubamba Province the rainy season starts between
October and November declining in December and continuing in March and April, presenting a
summer season between May and August. Its precipitation ranges between 630 and 1800 mm
per year and has 50% of relative humidity, the temperature ranges from 14 ºC to 22 ºC in the high
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altitude. (Provincial Municipality of Utcubamba - Provincial Institute Utcubamba) while the Bagua
Province has an average annual temperature that ranges between 22°C and 27°C and the
average annual rainfall range from 588 mm to 1.053 mm.
Flora and Fauna:
Despite the uniformity in this section, a variety of habitats exists due to the varied mountainous
terrain and the area covered (low-high altitude) by the project. These differences lead to a
multitude of smaller ecosystems.
"Peru is a very diverse country because of its location and the presence of the Andes Range,
which gathers various climates (28 of 35 identified climates around world), ecosystems and life
zones (84 of 117 worldwide life zones). This diversity also makes Peru more vulnerable to climate
hazards as floods, droughts, hailstorms, freezing fronts, heat waves, among others, that impact
severely our society and its assets". Second National Communication of Peru to the UNFCCC,
2006.
It would be nearly impossible to individually describe all of these areas as they are poorly
documented and the total biodiversity of these forests is not known. It is possible that there are a
numbers of species endemic to a small area exist. For example, orchids and other epiphytes
(bromeliads, aroids, etc.), are found in the Andean valleys in northern areas of the country. In
reality, this only applies in areas or very low human interaction. The areas related to our projects
are agricultural land and have been long cleared and frequently disturbed by slash and burn
method. By increasing the productivity - therefore profitability of these agricultural areas and
regenerating the soil fertility, the project will contribute to the protection of the ecosystems by
reducing the deforestation due to migratory agriculture and creating niches or corridors for many
species.
The flora and fauna are characterized not only by its relative abundance but also by their great
variety, as well as species that are endemic to Peru. The location of these species varies greatly
depending on the environment and the altitude where they are located. A significant number of
species are threatened in the zone of influence of the grouped project.
The area of first group instances of the projects holds a landscape of humid montane forests with
mosses, lichens, characteristic fungi, tree ferns, palms and countless epiphytes. Ecologically,
according to the Holdridge Classification System, the following ecological formations have been
identified in the provinces: Pre-montane transitional dry forest to tropical dry forest (Bagua area
and Jaén) and Tropical Pre-montane Dry Forest Premontano transitional to Pre-montane dry
forest. According to the Holdridge Classification, most of the area of the first group instances is
classified within the Montane Humid Tropical Forest.
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Threatened Species 7 :
The project covers a large area of Peru and is home to many endangered and threatened for its
commercial value. The list of these species can be found in the annex.
Annex01: Flora Species Protected by National and International Legislation in the Area.
Annex02: Fauna Species Protected by National and International Legislation in the Area.
Development Zone of the grouped project and anthropogenic activities:
The above descriptions relate the abiotic environment of the project and its natural environment
of origin, without considerations of disturbance by human presence. The project activities will
occur in inhabited area which has already been affected by human presence. Given that the area
covered by our project, we will be utilizing national statistics.
Deforestation is a growing problem in Peru, to year 2000 MINAM estimated a deforested area
ascending to more than 7 million hectares, in the same way INRENA 8 confirmed the annual forest
loss to be 261000 hectares due to the increasing shifting cultivation.
In Peru deforestation is one of the main sources for CO2 emissions. This activity is intrinsically
related to LULUCF (Land use, land-use change, forestry) activities, whose emissions represent
63% of the National net CO2 emissions. On the other hand, these deforestation related emissions
represent 47% of the net GHG emissions according to the National GHG Inventory to year 2000 9.
The deforestation process has yet to stabilize and according to the MINAM the natural Peruvian
forest continue to fall victim to deforestation (logging and slash and burn) related to migratory
agriculture. These forests are always threatened by the arrival of new populations migrating from
the highlands in search of a better life.
The problem is amplified by the fact that the Peruvian soils are extremely vulnerable.
A large portion of the area, eastern and western slopes of the Andes and the inter-Andean valleys
the soil is less than 60cm deep. In the project area, the soil can be characterized as low infertility,
natural acidity, low in nutrient (caused by erosion) and because clay as a low incidence of
transfer. All these characteristics make the soil more sensitive to erosion.
According to MINAM, the erosion related to water and winds has reached ¨alarming proportions
and constitutes one of the most disturbing problems¨ and are generally of human origin. Poor
farming practices and destruction of vegetation cover are more prevalent on the western and
eastern slopes of the Sierra mountain range.
7
Convention CITES- http://www.cites.org/esp/disc/how.php and Decreto supremo N° 043-2006-AG- Reference
threatened plant species.
8
Currently is Dirección General Forestal de Fauna Silvestre (DGFFS)
9
MINAM, Segunda Comunicación Nacional del Perú a la convención del Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el
Cambio Climático 2009
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More specifically in the Sierra and inter-Andean valleys where deforestation is a common method
of converting forest into agricultural parcels water erosion (river and rain) is a problem. Low
vegetation cover and frequent use of the slash and burn techniques to clear the land makes 60%
of the agricultural land in the region susceptible to erosion. Overgrazing and the massive
trampling of non-local species (sheep, horse and cattle) have had a negative impact on the
vegetation destroying the roots and the surface structure. Erosion related to water as caused
large scale damage during the rainy season. Given the pronounced slope it is not uncommon to
see mudslide, rock slide and landslide. This problem is widespread.
Peru`s deforestation problem can also be noticed by the "soil classification according to their
ability to use." Although Peru is a poor country it has relatively good soil. Of the 128 521 560 ha
of the country, only 25.525 million ha (19.86%) are suitable for agriculture and livestock (in
Category A, C and D). While 3.81% (4.8 million HAS, of which 1.341 million hectares in the
mountainous region, the project site) are of category A – or suitable to all form of agriculture.
Type C soil represent 2.11% of the total land mass (2.7 million Has) of which 20,000 Has are in
the mountainous region and should be used for permanent crops that do not disturb the soil and
that maintain permanent cover and abundant ground cover. It is therefore estimated that 94% of
the land against serious limitations to agriculture.
The Peruvian situation is exasperated by the fact that the authorities have little to no resources
available to curb the problem. Illegal mining, logging, migration, slash and burn methods,
deforestation are virtually unchallenged by the local authorities. While there is some work done
on the characterization of the soil at the national level – the reality is that very little work has been
accomplished by the department. The most advanced department barely finished their maps and
its current uses. In the field no concrete action has been taken to manage the use of the soil.
The inappropriate use of the land can lead to major issues – which easily explains the speed at
which a parcel of land once deforested rapidly reaches the quasi-irreversible stage
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Peru – 60% of agricultural soil in the Andes is facing
moderate to extremely serious erosion conditions. In the lower forest, 60% of these parcels are
already abandoned due lack of fertility.
As mentioned previously, the main cause of deforestation is related to the migratory farming
practice in Peru. A pattern as emerged: new productive lands are generated by slash and burn
technique. Then the ground begins to be cultivated. Crops are either annual, permanent, but at
the end of each cycle of vegetation they are burned and razed. The soil is degraded and
impoverished. Few years of annual crops are enough to make the soil unproductive. The land is
fallow and cultivated again. The first fallow will normally last four years before the land can be
used again. It is then replanted and the cycle begins again (The second fallow will last at least 7
to 10 year) until depletion no longer allows the culture. The land is either abandoned or use for
pasture –requiring yearly burning to clear. In the end it becomes totally depleted and abandoned
for up to 20 years in the hope that it naturally regains its fertility.
The cycle looks like this:
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Deforestation  Perennial culture  Annual culture  Abandoned Annual culture  Pasture
 abandonment
After the land has finally been abandoned, the soil can stagnate without cover becoming a sparse
pasture, one overgrown with invasive weeds, best indicators of degraded areas, like the
herbaceous vegetation grasses as cashaucsha (Imperata), torourco (Axonopus, Paspalum,
Homolepsis), foxtail (Andropogon), or fern (genus Pteridium) or a secondary forest (Bosque
Secundario).
The following table highlights the impact on land degradation caused by migratory agricultural
practice. If we assume as the MINAM and INRENA confirms that the majority of these parcels
have been deforested for migratory farming purposes we notice that these parcels go through
these 4 cycles. First, agricultural production - annual or perennial (Agricultura, Bosque
Secundario / Agricultura), second becoming pasture (Pasto), followed by degradation – leading to
abandonment and ultimately becoming secondary forest (Bosque Secundario) or soil without
vegetation (Areas sin vegetacion).
Table 8-Accumulated deforested area in 2000 according to soil use
Source: PROCLIM 2000
Project development area
The project development area encompasses the area covered by our partner cooperative. Within
these areas, the project focuses on parcels own by small producers who are members of the
cooperative. These small producers are owner of a “Finca” often far from his home. These
parcels are used for multitude purposes – from coffee and cocoa production, abandoned,
pasture, annual food crop, fallow land, fruits and unexploited forest.
The project is developed small and low producing plots of these fincas and are scattered
throughout the territory. According to the first group instances, these plots are mainly located on
the slopes of the mountains and not in the valleys. These are all agricultural plots that have been
deforested for more than 10 years. The soil is usually degraded due their over-utilization, bad
farming practices and the regular uses of burning as a mean to clear the land.
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In all cases no deforestation activities have been undertaken for the purpose of claiming the GHG
removals of the subsequent reforestation. The project is only claiming the removal related to the
reforestation and sequestration in the tree`s biomass. The project has therefore not generated
any GHG emission for the purpose of their subsequent removal.
Description of initial strata
We defined the project for three types of land use that are eligible to run project activities.
A. Crop areas: It consists of annual and perennial fruit crop areas.
These land use types (annual crop and perennial fruit areas) have the same behavior, they will
always repeat the same soil use cycle: Crop  Abandonment crop Abandonment
crop.
Annual crop areas: The crop grown in these areas are maize, sorghum, beans etc. The soils
have a low fertility because of past intensive use and often, after harvest, the land will remain
as fallow for several years. An annual crop is a way of using as much as possible the low
productive land and the crops cultivated are not always necessary for the farmer’s
subsistence.
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Perennial fruit crops: These areas are destined to harvesting over a two year period – such as
the Yuca, rice and ¨caupi¨ or over a few years such as bananas, plantain, papaya which allows
the small producers to obtain some short-term income.
B. Degraded pastures:
They are grasslands with some cacti typical of interandean valleys and ignoring the poor
quality of the soil they could be very adapted to coffee shade growing because of the climate
and the altitude at which they are found. The pastures have been cultivated and after have
been allocated for grazing animals, characterized by having a very low vegetation.
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C. Wasteland and fallow of one to three years old:
These unproductive areas are temporarly abandoned by the farmers due to their very low
fertility. These are degraded land with a mixted vegetation cover. These areas present a low
vegetation with the presence of invasive herbaceous weed or a medium height of vegetation
(up to 3 to 4 meters high with a crown cover about 5%).
1.11 Compliance with Laws, Statutes and Other Regulatory Frameworks
The project is located on private land owned by Peruvian producers. The land has historically
been used for agricultural purposes. They are all considered farmland and none of them include
primary or secondary forest. The project has a positive impact on the environment and does not
threaten endangered species.
Only activities related with the use, the transport and marketing of timber production from
plantations, primary or secondary forests are subject to the supervision of domestic Peruvian
laws. Forest and Wildlife Law N° 27308, currently in force, indicates that a technical dossier
(Forestry Management Plan) is required for timber extraction activities in plantations, primary and
secondary forests, however, there is a new Forestry Law (Forest and Wildlife Law N° 29763), to
enter into force soon (currently at the consultation process), which mentions this provision does
not apply to private land. According to the Articles 5 and 111 of this new Forestry Law, plantation
forest areas out of primary and secondary forests contributes to improvement and protection of
degraded soil and environment in private lands.
The project is compliant to the local and national Peruvian laws 10.
8 Document Ecotierra, Compliance with laws and local regulations related to Shade Coffee & Cacao reforestation
project 2013.
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1.12 Ownership and Other Programs
1.12.1 Right of Use
As part of the participation requirements, all produces participating on the project must provide a
document of right of use (a legal title of property). According to the forestry law the landholder is
the owner of the trees planted and have the right of use on GHG removal. This means that the
landowner is the owner of the carbon pools as well. The following list represents the legal
document accepted in Peru and those that we accept as proof of right of use:
The legal title is registered at national level in public registers:
1.
Título de propiedad – MINAG11 (Property title - MINAG)
2.
Certificado de posesión comunal (Certificate of communal ownership)
3.
Documento en registros públicos (Document in public records)
4.
Certificado de inscripción registral (Certificate of registration)
5.
Certificado de formalizacion de la propiedad rural - COFOPRI (Certificate of formalization
of land ownership - COFOPRI)
The legal land title is issued but registration at national level is not completed yet:
11
6.
Certificado de posesión - MINAG (Certificate of ownership - minag)
7.
Certificado de posesión municipal (Municipal ownership certificate)
8.
Documento notarial de compra y venta (Notarial act of buying and selling)
9.
Documentos que acreditan préstamos (crédito agrario)- (Documents evidencing loans
(agricultural credit))
10.
Certificado de haber sido empadronado en el censo Agropecuario (Certified as having
been registered in the Agricultural Census)
11.
Contrato de compra/venta de producción agrícola, pecuaria o forestal (contract buying
and selling of agriculture, livestock and forestry.)
12.
Documento público o documento privado, con firmas legalizadas por Notario Público o
Juez de Paz, en el que conste la transferencia de la posesión plena del predio en favor
del poseedor. (Public document or private document, with signatures legalized by a
Notary Public or Justice of the Peace attesting the transfer of full possession of the
property in favor of the possessor).
13.
Declaración Jurada de Pago del Impuesto Predial correspondiente a los años de
posesión del predio (Affidavit of sum Payment covering the years of possession of the
property Parcel Tax)
14.
Certificate issued to the occupant of the land of having outstanding debts payment
contracts with agricultural credit FONDEAGRO or the Ministry of Agriculture or other
financial institutions.
Currently is Ministerio de Agricultura y Riego (MINAGRI)
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However, given the Peruvian context, the statement prepared by Ecotierra: "Documentary
evidence of land use right of producers of the shade coffee and cacao project 2013 12", where only
a fraction of small producers have legal title; Land ownership can be proven by the community or
the central which could issue a certificate to the producers with no title. ECOTIERRA, through the
help of the cooperatives will accompany the small producers in obtaining the legal documents.
In all cases, the ECOTIERRA database (MINKA) will contain all document related to the right of
use. No parcels will be verified until the right of uses has been established and are consistent
with the VCS requirements.
Proof of right
Every producers participating in the program will sign a contract with ECOTIERRA setting the
conditions of their participation in the SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION
PROJECT. The contract will include the transfer of all their GHG removal rights in favour of
ECOTIERRA.
1.12.2 Emissions Trading Programs and Other Binding Limits
GHG removals generated by the project will not be used for compliance with binding limits to
GHG emissions. Currently, no other emissions trading programs or binding limits exist in the
geographic region where this grouped project will be developed.
All net GHG emission reductions generated by the project will be sold exclusively on the voluntary
market, to private or public organizations willing to voluntarily offset their emissions.
The Project Proponent itself does not have any binding limits on GHG emissions, and does not
look for any compliance with an emissions trading program.
1.12.3 Other Forms of Environmental Credit
The project neither has nor intends to generate any other form of GHG-related environmental
credit for GHG emission reductions or removals claimed under the VCS Program.
1.12.4 Participation under Other GHG Programs
The SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION PROJECT is a new ARR project and is
not registered in any other GHG program nor is it seeking registration under any other GHG
program.
1.12.5 Projects Rejected by Other GHG Programs
This project has not been presented, therefore have not been rejected by any other GHG
program.
12
Document prepared by Ecotierra based on Decreto Legislativo Nro 1089; LEY ORGANICA DE GOBIERNOS
REGIONALES Ley Nro.27867
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1.13 Additional Information Relevant to the Project
Eligibility Criteria
The Project proponent has developed a set of eligibility criteria for the inclusion of instances
within the project. This criteria will also be valid for any other instance able to access later on
during the development of the grouped project.
Any new parcels registered in the project must pass by an evaluation process which includes
georeferencing, photos of the vegetation cover (land use type), inputted in the database with all
other information as per section 4. Information is reviewed and registered in the database
(MINKA).
Eligibility criteria:
As this project is a grouped project, any instances implemented after validation must comply with
sections 3.4.9 and 3.4.10 of the VCS Standard version 3.3. In addition instances will comply with
UNFCCC methodology AR-ACM0003 v1.0:
1.
The whole land within the instance must comply as Non-Forest lands according to the
definition of forest of the Peruvian DNA, which is: Threshold of 0.5 hectares, crown cover of
30% and trees height of 5 meters; and has not been a forest for the last 10 years.
2.
All land participating in the project shall not fall in wetland category.
3.
All land participating in the project shall be implemented on degraded lands, which are
expected to remain degraded or to continue to degrade in the absence of the project; hence
the land cannot be expected to revert to a non-degraded state without human intervention.
To demonstrate that the land is degraded or degrading land, it has to comply with the tool
“Tool for the identification of degraded or degrading lands for consideration in implementing
CDM A/R project activities” (version 01).
4.
In any case, the implementation of the project activity cannot cause soil disturbance that
cover more than, or that is equal to 10 per cent of area.
5.
The lands included in the project shall belong legally to the producers whom voluntarily have
registered in the project. The accepted land titles are Certificado de posesión comunal,
Documento en registros públicos, Documento notarial de compra y venta, Certificado de
inscripción registral, Certificado de formalización de la propiedad rural - COFOPRI, Título de
propiedad - MINAG. In case of the legal documents are in the process of formalization, the
producer and the cooperatives will work to get them as soon as possible with a delay of 4
years.
To ensure the new instances use the technologies or measures specified in the project
description and apply the technologies or measures in the same manner as specified in the
project description the producer must:
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
6.
The producer who registers to participate in the project must be member or join to a
cooperative with a signed agreement or convention with Ecotierra.
7.
Producer must sign the " Assignment Agreement of Rights on Environmental Services
for Storing, Sequestering and/or Capturing Carbon derived from the Shade Coffee
and Cacao Reforestation Project (Contrato de Cesión de Derechos sobre los Servicios
Ambientales de Almacenamiento, Secuestro y/o Captura de Carbono derivados del Proyecto
de Reforestación de Café y Cacao Bajo Sombra )" in order to participate in the project.
8.
Producer must follow recommendations of management plant described in the PD for the
tree plantation method. (see section 1.8).
To ensure the new instances are subject to the baseline scenario determined in the project
description for the specified geographic area.
9.
All the instances registered in the Project, must be developed in one of the pre-projetc forest
land use types (initial strata), as identified in section 1.10
To assure futures instances have similar or homogeneous characteristics related to the first group
of instances, the entire geographical area of the project is considered (geographical area of
coffee and cacao cooperatives). All new instances entering the project must belong to associated
producers with similar socioeconomic conditions related to initial producers, conditions that will be
evaluated in our field studies.
To know the first instances ground conditions 10 years before the start of the project, GIS Arcgis
tools, satellite images LANDSAT TM were used in combination with 321 bands, coming from
ESDI 13 web page and the deforestation study from PROCLIM year 2000, producer was also
surveyed to know its economic condition and the historical use of lands;
All instances should comply with criteria specified in items 1 to 9 of present chapter. Based on
criteria mentioned above, tools were designed to assess the land elegibility criteria adapted to
current conditions of the coffee and cocoa cooperatives participating in the project:

“Eligibility manual 2013”

Georeferencing Form

Survey: "Producer's current condition” (Situación actual del productor)
The Eligibility Manual explains criteria mentioned above and requirements which producer
needs to fulfill in order to participate in Coffee and Cacao Project, also explains in a detailed
manner how to fill the georeferencing form.
13
http://glcfapp.glcf.umd.edu:8080/esdi/ there are free Landsat images of the planet in different years.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Producers questionnaire contains questions related to historical use of land, possible
displacements of activities and socio economic related questions14.
PROCLIM 2000
IMAGEN LANDSAT 2001109-321
Leakage Management
The methodology selected by the project activity identifies “activity displacement” as the only
potential source of leakage. The project does not cause any displacement of activities according
14
Its integrated into the MINKA -Coffee and Cacao Project described in the Ecotierra document, User Manual MINKA Shade Coffee and Cacao Project 2013
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
to (i) “Guidelines on conditions under which increase in GHG emissions attributable to
displacement of pre-project crop cultivation activities in A/R CDM project activity is insignificant,
(Version 01), and (ii) “Guidelines on conditions under which increase in GHG emissions related to
displacement of pre-project grazing activities in A/R CDM project activity is insignificant” (Version
01).
According to the above mentioned guideliness consultation questionnaire was drawn up for
participating producers in order to determine potential leaks. Based on surveys results it can be
said that there is an insignificant displacement since it strictly accomplishes the following:

Total area subjected to pre-project grazing activities to be displaced is less than 50 ha.
The result that will move is 11.77 ha. (see Table 12 in section 3.3).

Total number of animals expected to be displaced is not more than 40 LSU. The
resulting displacement is 25 LSU. (see Table 12 in section 3.3).

Total area subjected to pre-project crop cultivation activities to be displaced is less than
5% of the area of the entire A/R CDM project activity, or less than 50 ha. The result
displaced of agricultural activities is 4.1327 hectares (See table 12 in section 3.3).
And therefore leakage is assumed to be zero.
With these results the leakage is assumed to be zero, however, given the type of land use on the
area in which the projects take place (crop areas, perennial fruit crop, degraded pastures, 1-3
years old wasteland and fallows) and the strong shifting cultivation costumes 15 there is a
possibility for future activities displacement. In this context, ECOTIERRA will establish a
monitoring plan for the displacements of the pre-project agricultural activities.
Monitoring:

During the producer`s inscription to the project a questionnaire will evaluate if there will be
any displacement, the type of activities that will generate this displacement, the area
covered and the characteristic of the area where these activities will then take place. The
producers will strongly be encouraged not to have any displacement activities.

After the implementation of the project, a second questionnaire will evaluate the effective
displacement related to the agricultural activities. If the leakage exceeds the norm they will
be accounted for in the ex-post calculation of the projects.
Commercially Sensitive Information
There is no commercially sensitive information that has been excluded from the public version of
the project description.
Further Information
15
MINAG, Plan Estratégico Sectorial Multianual del Ministerio de Agricultura 2012 - 2016, Ministerio de Agricultura Oficina
de Planeamiento y Presupuesto Unidad de Política Sectorial.
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2
2.1
APPLICATION OF METHODOLOGY
Title and Reference of Methodology
The methodology to be applied in this VCS ARR project is the CDM Consolidated afforestation
and reforestation methodology, AR-ACM0003: “Afforestation and reforestation of lands except
wetlands,” Version 01.0.0."
The methodology also refers to the latest approved versions of the following tools, procedures,
guidelines and guidance:

Clean Development Mechanism project standard;

Combined tool to identify the baseline scenario and demonstrate additionality in A/R CDM
project activities, Version 01.016

Estimation of non-CO2 GHG emissions resulting from burning of biomass attributable to an
A/R CDM project activity.17

Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks in dead wood and litter in A/R
CDM project activities, Version 01.1.018

Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM
project activities, Version 03.0.019

Estimation of the increase in GHG emissions attributable to displacement of pre-project
agricultural activities in A/R CDM project activity, Version 01.020
Tool for estimation of change in soil organic carbon stocks due to the implementation of A/R CDM
project activities, Version 01.1.021
2.2
Applicability of Methodology
The proposed project activity consists in implementing agro-forestry systems of coffee and cocoa
under forestry shade, as well as forest massifs.
The selected methodology (AR-ACM0003 v1.0) is applicable under the conditions mentioned
below. Following is an assessment of the application of those conditions to the proposed project
activity.
16
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ARmethodologies/tools/ar-am-tool-02-v1.pdf
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ARmethodologies/tools/ar-am-tool-08-v4.0.0.pdf
18
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ARmethodologies/tools/ar-am-tool-12-v2.0.0.pdf
19
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ARmethodologies/tools/ar-am-tool-14-v3.0.0.pdf
20
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ARmethodologies/tools/ar-am-tool-15-v1.pdf
21
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ARmethodologies/tools/ar-am-tool-16-v1.1.0.pdf
17
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
a) The land subject to the project activity does not fall in wetland category.
According to 2006 IPCC for National GHG Inventories (Volume 4) 22 wetlands are defined as
any land that is covered or saturated by water for all or part of the year, and that does not fall
into the Forest Land, Cropland or Grassland categories, the most common wetlands are
Peatlands and Flooded Lands.
The lands that will be included within the project area according to information collected in the
pre-project stage, these are agricultural areas, in abandoned plots (1 to 3 years); and
degraded pastures, none of them falling into the “wetland” category. Coffee and Cocoa
Agroforestry Systems do not prosper in wetlands 23, therefore this land category was never
considered for the project.
b) Soil disturbance attributable to the afforestation and reforestation (A/R) clean development
mechanism (CDM) project activity does not cover more than 10 per cent of area in each of
the following lands:
(i) Land containing organic soils.
According to the definition of Organic Soils of the Glossary, Annex A, IPCC Good
Practice Guidance to LULUCF, land soils intended for the project do not fit into the
category. Considering that soil surveys developed by the project developer on the project
area (106 samples in the different land use types identified) shows carbon contents
below 10% in all cases, with a mean value of 4,45%, the project lands do not satisfy the
requirements established by the IPCC to define this type of soil.
If at least a part of the project activity is implemented on organic soils, drainage of these
soils is not allowed and not more than 10% of their area may be disturbed as result of soil
preparation for planting;
The project is not located on organic soil.
(ii) Land which, in the baseline, is subjected to land-use and management practices and
receives inputs listed in appendices 1 and 2 to this methodology.
Considering the appendices of the methodology:
 Annex 1 “Cropland in which soil disturbance is restricted” of the methodology, there is
an amount of lands within the project that fit in the following category: Located in the
tropical montane region, with a land-use of “short-term or set aside cropland”, with
both management of “No-Till” and “Reduced Tillage” and inputs of “High without
manure”.
22
Directrices del IPCC de 2006 para los inventarios nacionales de gases de efecto invernadero Volumen 4 Agricultura,
silvicultura y otros usos de la tierra - capitulo 07 Humedales
23
INFORME FINAL, Caracterización de las zonas cafetaleras en el Perú, PROAMAZONIA, Ministerio de Agricultura, 136
pag, 2003. INFORME FINAL, Caracterización de las zonas productoras de cacao en el Perú y su competitividad,
PROAMAZONIA, Ministerio de Agricultura, 207 pag, 2003
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
 Annex 2 “Grassland in which soil disturbance is restricted”, no land within the project
is included; due to the amount of inputs of the 2006 IPCC for National GHG
Inventories is very low.
Even though some lands within the project boundary may be included as “Located in
the tropical montane region, with a land-use of “short-term or set aside cropland”, with
both management of “No-Till” and “Reduced Tillage” and inputs of “High without
manure” as defined on Annex 1 of the methodology, the methodology is still
applicable.
The soil disturbance attributable to the project will cover in no case more than 10 per
cent of the area. No machinery is used for soil preparation and installation trees. For
denser systems, which are pure forest plantations, it is estimated a maximum density
of planting of 1110 trees / ha with spacing of 3 m x 3 m, with digging pits no larger
than 0,30 m x 0,30 m (length x width), covering approximately 1% of the area. For
agroforestry systems, including coffee and cocoa plants and trees (a maximum of
4500 + 320 plants-trees) it is a maximum of 4.5% of the soil area that will be disturbed
during implantation.
The combined tool to identify the baseline scenario and demonstrate additionality in
A/R CDM project activities, has the following applicability conditions:
 Forestation of the land within the proposed project boundary performed with or
without being registered as the A/R CDM project activity shall not lead to violation of
any applicable law even if the law is not enforced.
The lands included in the project legally belong to producers whom voluntarily
registered in the project. There is no law that forbids the forestry or agroforestry use of
the lands.
 The tool is not applicable to small-scale afforestation and reforestation activities.
The ECOTIERRA project is not a small-scale project.
2.3
Project Boundary
According to the AR-ACM0003 v1.0 methodology, the carbon pools selected for accounting of
carbon stock changes shall be at minimum above-ground biomass and below-ground biomass,
the other pools are optional. Our choices are found in table 2.
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Table 9- Carbon pools selected for accounting of carbon stock changes
Carbon Pools
Whether
selected
Justification/Explanation
Above-ground
biomass
Yes
This is the major carbon pool subjected to project activity
Below-ground
biomass
Yes
Carbon stock in this pool is expected to increase due to the
implementation of the project activity
Soil organic
carbon
Yes
Carbon stock in this pool may increase due to the
implementation of the project activity
Dead wood
No
Litter
No
For Dead Wood and Litter, the applied methodology
provides the option of not taking into account carbon
variations in deadwood and fallen leaves; the choice is
identical for the baseline and project scenarios.
Following VCS AFOLU 24 dispositions, above-ground forest biomass, forest biomass, belowground biomass, litter, dead wood, soil carbon and wood products are identified as carbon pools
for ARR projects (see Table 9)
In accordance with CDM A/R methodology, authorized by the VCS AFOLU, litter, deadwood and
soil carbon pools are optional and can be excluded from project activities as long as they do not
significantly reduce the pool. For the present project, carbon reservoirs in litter and deadwood
have been deemed off-limits.
In conclusion, to calculate the removals of this project, counted carbon reservoirs are: Aboveground forest biomass, Below-ground forest biomass, and soil carbon (SOC).
Leakage is not accounted because leakage due to project activity are considered insignificant
(see section 3.3 of this document).
The GHG emission sources selected for accounting indicated in the methodology, is only from
burning of woody biomass. Fire for site preparation is not part of forest management plan;
24
VCS AFOLU Requirements: VCS Version 3.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Table 10- Emission sources and GHGs selected for accounting
Sources
Gas
Whether
Selected
Justification/Explanation
Burning of
woody
biomass
CO2
No
CO2 emissions due to burning of biomass, if occur, will be
accounted as a change in carbon stock in the ex-post
measurement.
CH4
No
Burning of woody biomass for the purpose of site preparation, or as
part of forest management, is allowed under this methodology.
However, A/R Methodological Tool "Estimation of non-CO2 GHG
emissions resulting from burning of biomass attributable to an A/R
CDM project activity" (Version 04.0.0) (paragraph 7) states that in
the calculation of emission of non-CO2 GHGs resulting from use of
fire in site preparation is accounted as zero (0) for all areas of land
where: (i) Slash-and-burn is a common practice in the baseline, and
(ii) Fire has been used in the area at least once during the period of
ten years preceding the start of the A/R CDM project activity:
(GHGSPF,t =0)
Conditions that are satisfied by the present project.
and
N2O
2.4
Baseline Scenario
Given the chosen methodology, the baseline scenario and the additionality was defined by using
the tool “Combined tool to identify the baseline scenario and demonstrate additionality in A/R
CDM project activities”, version 01.
The Standard VCS section 3.4.2 states that projects must be grouped in one or more geographic
area within which all project activity instances may be developed.
According to Standard VCS section 3.4.3, for a grouped project, the identification of the "baseline
scenario" and demonstration of additionality should be based on the "initial instances of the
project." The same document (3.4.5) states that the initial instance must be determined for each
geographic area of the project and it is the same for the demonstration of additionality should be
from the initial project activity instances.
The area of the shade-grown coffee and cacao extends across the Peruvian Andes mountain
range, divided in various non-continuous areas, nevertheless, they all share the same conditions
in baseline scenarios and demonstrated additionality.
Indeed, as explained in section 1.10, "Conditions Prior to Project Initiation", the initial conditions
are homogeneous enough in the entirety of the project scope. Small peruvian coffee and cacao
producers form an homogeneous group in regard to land and plantation management, with
traditional farming customs such as "slash-and-burn", shifting cultivation, low density cultivation,
among others, all of which are very common in Peru.
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Following is a description of the application of the tool.
Step 0: Preliminary screening based on the starting date of the A/R project activity
ECOTIERRA started its ARR project on September 2013; this is before the registration date and
after 31 December 1999. According to the rules of VCS "AFOLU projects with a project start date
on or after 8 March 2008 shall complete validation within five years of the project start date»
The project began its recording activities of the plots in March 2012. At the same time, parcels
accepted the project could begin implementation of their crops (coffee and cocoa) activities, but
not the plantation of trees. However, ECOTIERRA, central and cooperatives began their efforts to
get the project up in January 2011 by performing preliminary feasibility studies, funding
approaches, and seeking additional partners. Throughout the year 2012 field partners
(cooperatives and producers) have received ECOTIERRA presentations on project financing and
the distribution of income between the different participants. All fieldwork done by the centrales
such as identifying the parcels, the registration of producers, georeferencing of the land was
motivated by the revenues generated by the sale of the carbon credits. This motivation can be
evidenced by the letter of interest followed participation agreement and more recently the right of
use contracts signed by both parties.
The several documents stated very clearly that carbon sequestration by reforestation and
regeneration of vegetation cover and the sale of carbon credits were key objectives of the project.
Dated and signed copies of all the documents that were submitted are kept in project
documentation archive. It was stated in these documents that carbon sequestration was one of
the main objectives of the SCCR (SHADE COFFEE AND CACAO REFORESTATION) project.
Here is the list of pre-project documents that clearly demonstrates the existence of the motivation
generated by the carbon revenue to initiate activities:
• Contracts for participation in reforestation project signed in 2011,
• Letters of intent to participate in the project submitted by cooperatives 2011 - 2012,
• The commitment of participation of producers and cooperatives letters
• Message entries ECOTIERRA contracts, and the CENTRAL COOPERATIVE,
• Contracts for sale of carbon rights (rights) with producers.
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DATABASE ECOTIERRA (MINKA)
Project stratification
The v.1.0 AR-ACM003 methodology indicates the stratification of the project area in order to
improve the accuracy of estimates of biomass.
As recommended by methodology, since the project areas are not homogeneous baseline
stratification is justified. This was performed according to the types of vegetation. It is expected
that baseline removal of degraded soil may be lower when compared with projects activities
removals.
As stated in section 1.10 – Conditions prior to project initiation, 3 types of land use have already
been identified according to the kind to eligible vegetation within the project:

Crop areas: Areas of annual crops and non-perennial fruit crops,

Degraded pastures,

Wasteland and fallow of one to three years old.
As 3 strata are identified for the baseline scenario, the procedure that follows is applied 3 times.
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Application of the tool
Step 1. Identification of alternative land use scenario to the proposed ARR project activity
For the development of alternate reference scenarios, bibliographical information and participant
producer targeted surveys were also employed, considering the different pre-project uses of
ground strata.
The alternative land use scenarios that have been proposed are different according to the
stratum.
Strata 1: Crop areas (areas of annual crops and perennial fruit crops) alternative and
use scenario
1)
Continued pre-project land use25: The plots continue to be exploited for their annual and
perennial fruit crops. This scenario will last until the soil exhaustion (2-5 years), when the
plot is abandoned.
2)
The plots are abandoned and they became a fallow 26 . By significantly reducing the
volume of harvesting of crops, the plot is abandoned (5-10 years, but it can last up to 20
years, depending on the soil quality and pressure put by producers), this is covered with
herbaceous vegetation, then shrub and tree in forest succession which is interrupted
again by slash and burn when producer considers that fertility has been restored to a
sufficient level to make a new culture period.
3)
The plot is turned into a coffee and cocoa traditional crop: This scenario would occur after
its use has been annual or perennial fruit crops. It would only be possible if the trading
price of the fruits of coffee and cocoa are high. We can assess the likelihood of this
scenario based on the annual growth surfaces of these crops in Peru: being on average
4.13%/year for coffee27 and 9%/year for cocoa28 , in any event, the shadow tree would be
nonexistent or scanty, little diversified and poorly managed. These trees would be
systematically destroyed every 7 to 15 years for coffee, and 10 to 20 years for cocoa.
4)
Forestation of lands within the project limits without being registered as A/R project.
Strata 2: Degraded pastures; alternative land use scenario
1)
Continuation of the pre-project land use: The plots continue to be grasslands. It is very
likely that this scenario leads to degradation. Slow soil exhaustion and biomass reduction
25
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana, Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
26
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana, Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
27
INFORME FINAL, Caracterización de las zonas cafetaleras en el Perú, PROAMAZONIA, Ministerio de
Agricultura, 136 pag, 2003.
28
INFORME FINAL, Caracterización de las zonas productoras de cacao en el Perú y su competitividad,
PROAMAZONIA, Ministerio de Agricultura, 207 pag, 2003
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
caused by abandonment, grazing and erosion due to trampling is expected. It can remain
in steady state due to the decrease in livestock activity.
2)
The plot is turned into a coffee and cocoa traditional crop: This scenario is very unlikely,
small producers are aware of the poor soil quality and fertility. They could choose other
types of vegetation covers as fallows or secondary forests.
3)
Forestation of lands within the project limits without being registered as A/R project.
Strata 3: Wasteland and fallow of one to three years old alternative land use scenario:
1)
Continued pre-project land use 29 : The plot with 1 to 3 year purma vegetation cover
continues to be abandoned, it is in recovery period. Under this scenario is very likely to
last 7 to 9 years, it can take up to 20 years depending on soil degradation and pressure
by producers to renew their farms by turning them in croplands or pasture (depending on
the soil fertility state). This scenario is temporary, when the plot is recovered (purma or
secondary forest), vegetation will be destroyed and the crop will be set up again.
2)
The plot is turned into a coffee and cocoa traditional crop: This scenario would occur after
its land use has been annual or perennial fruit crops. It would only be possible if trading
price of the fruits of coffee and cocoa are high. We can assess the likelihood of this
scenario based on the annual growth surfaces of these crops in Peru: Being on average
4.3%/year for coffee and 9%/year for cocoa, in any event, the shade tree is non-existent
or scanty, little diversified and poorly managed. These trees would be systematically
destroyed every 7 to 15 years for coffee, and 10 to 20 years for cocoa.
3)
The plot becomes unsustainable farming area 30: The need for food, short-term revenue,
and the inability of small producers to invest in more profitable perennial crops (coffee
and cocoa) are reasons for making it a likely scenario. Once implemented the crop, this
scenario remains until the soil exhaustion (2-5 years), when the plot is abandoned. These
crops are unsustainable due to the soil fertility exhaustion.
4)
The plot becomes degraded pastures 31 This scenario is the easiest and cheapest way of
taking advantage of the plots. Purchasing animals and their low maintenance cost make
this a very likely scenario. The common practice of cleaning cycles is through fire or
herbicides (rarely by hand), adding the lack of measures to protect soil erosion that leads
to a loss of organic matter and the soil structure exhaustion. After a substantial loss of
fertility, the plots are used for grazing. Abandoning land care, grazing and erosion due to
trampling continue to degrade soil.
29
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana, Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
30
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana, Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
31
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
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5)
Forestation of lands within the project limits carried out without being registered as A/R
project.
Step 1b: Consistency of credible alternative land use scenarios with enforced mandatory
applicable laws and regulations.
All the scenarios identified, except one (forestation land scenario), and their alternatives are
subsistence farming activities for the local farmers and compliant with all mandatory applicable
legal and regulatory requirements.
As for the forestation land scenario, "Forestal y Fauna Silvestre No. 27308", the current to make
use of the forest trees as extraction activities required to develop a forest management plan and
submitting it to the competent authority, after the competent authority submitted a field trip
program to evaluate and give subsequent to the extraction permit issuance.
Under the new Forest Law (Ley Forestal y Fauna Silvestre No. 29763), which will soon come
into effect, privately owned land will no longer be subject to submit management plan.
According to Section 5, and Section 111 of the new law, the state emphasizes the promotion of
reforestation (outside primary and secondary forest) as it contributes to the improvement of the
soil and the environment in degraded areas.
None of the above scenario is in conflict with local and national Peruvian laws.
Step 2. Barrier analysis
Step 2a:
List of barriers that may prevent one or more land use scenarios identified in
step 1b.
 Investment barriers:
-
Lack of access to credit.
a) Reluctance of lending institutions to grant loans to small producers 32 or community
organizations for projects whose impacts will be felt on a long term basis. Market
fluctuations, inconstancy of small and short-sighted producers (linked to short-term
needs) and negative credit history makes these reforestation projects unattractive for
creditors.
b) In Similar way, individual producers have no access to credit33 for a variety of reasons:
Poor quality of the loan portfolio in rural areas, poor geographical location of financial
institutions nationwide, improper supply related to rural demand, high cost of services
related to loans and the lack of a savings culture among producers.
32
News report at the newspaper GESTIÓN 07-07-2013”
MINAG, Plan Estratégico Sectorial Multianual del Ministerio de Agricultura 2012 - 2016, Ministerio de Agricultura Oficina
de Planeamiento y Presupuesto Unidad de Política Sectorial, 123 pag, 2012
33
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 Barriers related to local tradition and technological barriers:
- Customs, traditional knowledge and practices and lack of technical knowledge:
c) In rural areas of Peru, there is no tradition of investment in forest plantations34 either in
pure forests or in combination with annual crops such as agroforestry projects and even
when this investment activity can be profitable.
d) Among Peruvian producers there is strong resistance to change: they grow as they
learned and are not open to integrate new methods or develop new crops35. The data
collected from project members and stakeholders through interviews or surveys show that
at the scale of the project, no such initiative has been carried out by cooperatives and
producers 36 . Individual initiatives to improve the coverage of forest plantation or the
conversion to the coverage of commercial forest management are almost nonexistent 37.
This resistance to change is well known to workers in cooperatives. Very few
cooperatives are likely to propose innovations, do not want to risk losing the confidence of
its producers in case of failure or mistakes. Furthermore, the lack of resources and
technical assistance at cooperative level makes it almost impossible to implement the
Project.
e) Current agricultural practices, such as "slash and burn and shifting cultivation 38" are often
used by producers to save time and money due to the lack of appropriate agricultural
tools, given the complexity of mountainous terrain. However, these practices have a
significant environmental impact leading to a significant degradation of soil (repeating the
cycle of destruction of vegetation during the installation of the new crops, especially will
be more on the side of the mountain). In many pastures or "fallow and degraded lands"
this soil depletion in relation to the recurrent destruction of vegetation that promotes
invasion by alien grasses or pioneers (such as ferns of the genus Pteridium, which are
very good indicators of soils degradation39) that prevents any natural regeneration.
f)
Producers establishing of coffee and cocoa crops, do not consider the forest shade.
Peruvian coffee40 is grown with very little shade, while cocoa 41 is grown in many cases
without shadow.
34
MONJARÁS M., PLANTACIONES FORESTALES, INFORME DE INVESTIGACIÓN N°22 / 2013-2014, Área de
Servicios de Investigación del Departamento de Investigación y Documentación Parlamentaria (DIDP), Congreso de la Republica
de Perú, 19 pag, 2013.
35
JUMARP, Proyecto: Mejoramiento de la competitividad de la cadena productiva del café orgánico en la microcuenca
del Río Chiñuña ó Palto, Proyecto de Inversión Publica, 58 pag, 2010
36
Results of survey SIEP Ecotierra 2013
37
INFORME FINAL, CARACTERIZACIÓN DE LAS ZONAS PRODUCTORAS DE CACAO EN EL PERÚ Y SU
COMPETITIVIDAD, PROAMAZONIA, MINISTERIO DE AGRICULTURA, 207 pag, 2003
38
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia peruana Lima,
Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
39
Meza, Abel; Sabogal, César y De Jong, Wil. Rehabilitación de Áreas Degradadas en la Amazonía Peruana. Revisión de
experiencias y lecciones aprendidas. Indonesia: CIFOR, 2006
40
INFORME FINAL, CARACTERIZACION DE LAS ZONAS CAFETALERAS EN EL PERU, PROAMAZONIA,
MINISTERIO DE AGRICULTURA, 136 pag, 2003
41
INFORME FINAL, CARACTERIZACIÓN DE LAS ZONAS PRODUCTORAS DE CACAO EN EL PERÚ Y SU
COMPETITIVIDAD, PROAMAZONIA, MINISTERIO DE AGRICULTURA, 207 pag, 2003
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 Barriers due to social conditions:
g) Our analysis reveals the socio-economic status of small producers in Peru: There is a low
level of education42, inadequate income, lack of savings culture and social security, they
work a semi-commercial agriculture, a semi-personal43 use agriculture, they specialize in
the trade of some agricultural products, which is mainly affected by fluctuations in the
prices of raw materials cultivated, etc. We know that according to fluctuations in the
prices, producers will range from direct sales and sales of the cooperative; and even
choose the temporary abandonment of the crop and a possible return to it, only if there is
proven profitability in prices.
h) Population pressure44: After the first wave of colonization of new lands, families take over
and take charge of the land (with or without legal title) and become sedentary. As
consequence of shifting cultivation patterns, more primary forests were felled to continue
their agricultural activities 45. Currently the project areas are located in open land and far
from cities.
i)
They do not have adequate training in the management of land use 46; they prefer to apply
the simple methods of land use over the more complex methods of land use.
 Other Barriers
j)
Business Informality: According to the "Research Institute of the Peruvian Amazon (IIAP)"
70% of logging in the country is of illegal origin. Therefore, this market (wood market) is
largely out of control and does not provide security and stability in prices, limited to small
producers decided to choose this activity.
k) The fragmented distribution of small parcels, remoteness from markets, generates
additional cost affecting the profitability of the cultures.
l)
Generally producers seek safety and ease in selling their products at short term 47:
-
Easy access to markets, ideally without the intervention of intermediaries.
-
Known and stable or with little or no fluctuation Markets.
42
MINAG, Plan Estratégico Sectorial Multianual del Ministerio de Agricultura 2012 - 2016, Ministerio de Agricultura Oficina
de Planeamiento y Presupuesto Unidad de Política Sectorial, 123 pag, 2012
43
Castro P., Contreras Y., Laca D., Nakamatsu K., Café de Especialidad: Alternativa para el sector cafetalero Peruano,
PROGRAMA MAGÍSTER ENADMINISTRACIÓN, ESAN, Año 9, n.º 17, 24 pag, 2004
44 Meza, Abel; Sabogal, César y De Jong, Wil. Rehabilitación de Áreas Degradadas en la Amazonía Peruana. Revisión de
experiencias y lecciones aprendidas. Indonesia: CIFOR, 2006
45 45 Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia peruana Lima,
Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
46
MINAG, Plan Estratégico Sectorial Multianual del Ministerio de Agricultura 2012 - 2016, Ministerio de Agricultura Oficina
de Planeamiento y Presupuesto Unidad de Política Sectorial, 123 pag, 2012
47 Castro P., Contreras Y., Laca D., Nakamatsu K., Café de Especialidad: Alternativa para el sector cafetalero Peruano,
PROGRAMA MAGÍSTER ENADMINISTRACIÓN, ESAN, Año 9, n.º 17, 24 pag, 2004
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
-
The handling of the products should be relatively easy without complex
transformations48,
Step 2b: Elimination of land use scenarios that are prevent by the identified barriers and
list of land use scenarios that are not prevent by any barriers.
Removal of the following scenarios is summarized here:
Identifying alternative land use scenarios suggested for the ARR
project
Barriers limiting
scenarios
Strata 1: Crop areas (Areas of annual crops and perennial fruit crops)
1) Continued pre-project land use.
2) The plots are abandoned and they became a fallow
3) The plot is turned into a coffee and cocoa traditional crop
a, c, l, i
4) Forestation of lands without being registered as A/R project.
a, b, c, d, j, i
Strata 2: Degraded pastures; alternative land use scenario
1) Continued pre-project land use
2) The plot is turned into a coffee and cocoa traditional crop
3) Forestation of lands without being registered as A/R project.
d, f, g, k, l, i
a, b, c, d, j, i
Strata 3: Wasteland and fallow of one to three years old
1) Continued pre-project land use.
2) The plot is turned into a coffee and cocoa traditional crop
d, f, g, k, l, i
3) The plot is turned into cultivation area
4) The plot is turned into pasture
5) Forestation of lands without being registered as A/R project.
a, b, c, d, j, i
In the first part (Step 1), we describe the scenarios for each of the initial strata of the project. In
Step 2b, common scenarios that meet the different strata are grouped together to lighten the
report.
i. For strata 1, 2 and 3 the "Forestation of lands without being registered as A/F project”
scenario is prevented by the following barriers: a, b, c, d, j, i. As it is hampered by barrier
unless the producer retains a mature plantation as "insurance."
The project is developed not only on the producers land, but full agricultural zone. It is clearly
demonstrated that the producers have no tendency to move towards what they do not know,
even less to invest time or money unless there is a clear short term benefits. As already
stated farmers have a projection towards the expansion of the agricultural frontier and not
towards reforestation. It also has a strong propensity to invest their time in food crops that
gives short term benefits rather than any other. While the governments promotes
48
PUR PROJET. ALTO HUAYABAMBA: CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION THROUGH REFORESTATION WITH
SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN PERU, SAN MARTIN REGION. Document project carbone. 65 pag. 2011
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
reforestation no concrete support are in place (government, Nongovernmental organization
and private partners) to incentivize the local small producers.
ii. For Strata 1, 2 and 3 scenario " The plot is turned into a coffee and cocoa traditional
crop " is prevented by the following barriers: d, f, g, k, l, i. In addition to these three strata,
the probability of establishment a coffee or cocoa crop remains low due to:
1 - The state of degradation of the soils that is not the preferred ground covers for producers
expand their production. Instead, they support more old fallows that have better recovered,
old land of coffee or cocoa or even abandoned forest land.
2 – The necessity and desire of the producers to generate short term – promoting the
implementation of food crops.
3 - The fact that for small producers the profitability of their crop (coffee and cocoa) is not
sufficient to enable them to invest themselves in the development of their land.
4 - The financial risk incurred by those associated with investing in a crop that does not
generate short term revenues (start to produce at four years) and are subject to relatively
large fluctuations on the open market.
Outcome 2b: List of land use scenarios that are not prevent by any barriers of scenarios
Step 01:
Strata 1
Crop areas (Areas of annual crops and perennial fruit crops)
1) Continued pre-project land use.
2) The plots are abandoned and they became a fallow
Strata 2
Degraded pastures; or
Strata 3
1) Continued pre-project land use.
Wasteland and fallow of one to three years old
1) Continued pre-project land use.
3) The plot is turned into crop areas.
4) The plot is turned into pasture.
For stratas 1, 2 and 3 (crop areas, degraded pastures, wastelands and fallow for one to three
years), the remaining scenarios represent the continuation of current activities, common
practices and cannot be identify barriers that affect them. These scenarios are still the most
prone to the "natural" evolution of each of these strata. It will degrade according to the cycle of
anthropogenic exploitation49: For a period of time, these plots remains as a crops when the land
49
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987 Meza, Abel; Sabogal, César y De Jong, Wil. Rehabilitación de Áreas Degradadas en la Amazonía Peruana.
Revisión de experiencias y lecciones aprendidas. Indonesia: CIFOR, 2006
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loses fertility are abandoned and becomes "fallow", later become again in culture (it will become
unsustainable by low yields), and again abandoned, by the slow recovery of soil and vegetation,
these areas will make it in pasture. The soil certainly will continue to degenerate in the absence
of our reforestation project. This is the most plausible scenario and appropriate reference.
Step 2c: Determination of baseline scenario
The list does contain more than one land use scenarios. The “Combined tool to identify the
baseline scenario and demonstrate additionality in A/R CDM project activities (version 01)" says
that if the list of land use scenarios that are not prevent by any barriers contain more than one
land use scenarios, then through qualitative analysis, assess the removal by sinks for each
scenario and (option 1) select as the baseline the scenario than allows for the highest baseline
GHG removal by sinks and then continue with Step 4: Common practice test.
For strata 1 (Crop areas): The most likely development is to maintain in culture in a range of
three to five years and then the area will rest or it will be abandoned for about 10 years (year 6
to 15 of project) and then culture is set again for 3 to 5 years (year 16 to 18) depending on the
degradation stage and the soil recovering.
For strata 2 (Degraded pastures) the most likely development is that it remains in the
unproductive meadow or pasture for the duration of the project.
For strata 3 (Wasteland and fallow of one to three years old). The most likely development
is that it continues to be abandoned (for the next 9 or 7 years) and again the culture is set. If the
plot is highly degraded by the constant cycles of slash and burn, the plot would be assigned to
grazing.
Strata 1, 2 and 3 are considered within the cycle of shifting cultivation, and the most likely
reference scenarios are "Crops, fallows and degraded pastures." Thus, the likely final
scenario would be "Continuation of pre-project activities", considering pre-project activities
such as land use for crops and fallow and shifting cultivation, activities which will end up turning
the soil and strata in degraded pastures 50. These land use activities will inevitably prevail in the
absence of the project and, in terms of woody coverage or biomass, do not represent significant
changes in carbon stocks.
Baseline “Continuation of pre-project activities”:
The crop areas (annual and perennial fruit crops) without the project are expected to be
abandoned. We expect that the natural regeneration of these areas is established for them to be
re-used. The traditional crop pattern and historical land use is also affected by slash and burns
on these areas when every productive activity is abandoned (annual and perennial fruit crops)
50
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
Meza, Abel; Sabogal, César y De Jong, Wil. Rehabilitación de Áreas Degradadas en la Amazonía Peruana. Revisión
de experiencias y lecciones aprendidas. Indonesia: CIFOR, 2006
FAO. Políticas Pecuarias 03: Ganadería y deforestación. Subdirección de Información Ganadera y de Análisis y
Política del Sector, Dirección de Producción y Sanidad Animal, 8 pag, 2006.
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for an indefinite period (usually 5 to 10 years, but it can last up to 20 years or more, depending
on the soil quality and pressure by the producers) 51. This cycle can be very slow to almost
nonexistent in the degradation state that the plot was left. When the plot has recovered its
vitality, is again destroyed and the crop is established again for some years (usually 2 to 3
years), being unsustainable this crop due the loss of soil fertility 52. Obviously, these plots are
degraded and it does not mean changes in long term carbon stocks, because any positive
change would mean the destruction of vegetation and the crop is to be established again,
leading to a net loss of organic matter and carbon.
This scenario is inevitably evolving into a slow soil exhaustion and biomass reduction. When the
land is unproductive, they transform it in pastures for cattle 53. Erosion due to trampling, and the
recurrent lack of soil protection measures, especially on the slopes, causes a loss of organic
matter and further destroys soil structure, meaning that the soil organic carbon does not
increase.
Step 4: Common practice analysis
The research detailed in the document "Ecotierra, STEP 4. Common practice analysis 2013",
compiles the information of forest projects executed in Peru, and shows that, countrywide,
reforestation initiatives similar to the present project are scarce; being them similar in carried out
activities (agroforestry system reforestation) or project-driven portions of the local population
(small Peruvian coffee/cacao producers) However, despite some similarity none could be
considered the same due to the difference in the scale of the project or by its permanence. Only
three such projects were encountered across the country totaling 450 to 2000 Has according to
their maximum projections. These projects are implemented by NGOs or research groups. They
are developed with a short term horizon offering no long term support and follow-up to assure the
sustainability of the project.
In addition, several other reforestation projects addressing degraded soils have been developed
in Peru; the vast majority of them focused their efforts in the "Puna" high meadows of the Andes
and watersheds. Outside of the project`s area, therefore not in a comparable environment. These
projects are mostly local or regional government’s initiatives or international development
cooperation funds that focus on watershed protection. All these projects are realized under the
same short term vision as mentioned above (installation over 3 to 5 years without any monitoring
and no subsequent support).
An external review of these projects raises serious doubt about the sustainability of these projects
given "No one has a defined plan for follow up and for this, there is a significant risk of failure."
The same project proponents recognize this limit and are turning increasingly to the carbon
market to solve this problem.
51
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
52
Meza, Abel; Sabogal, César y De Jong, Wil. Rehabilitación de Áreas Degradadas en la Amazonía Peruana.
Revisión de experiencias y lecciones aprendidas. Indonesia: CIFOR, 2006
53
FAO. Políticas Pecuarias 03: Ganadería y deforestación. Subdirección de Información Ganadera y de Análisis y
Política del Sector, Dirección de Producción y Sanidad Animal, 8 pag, 2006.
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In addition, a majority of the projects implemented so far, have been done at great expense and
have been funded by governmental institutions and international cooperation agencies. The short
term financing of these project lead to a financial barrier that the project must overcome.
Despite these few initiatives to introduce the idea of plantation forest management in forestry or
agroforestry systems, A / R activities are not a common practice among the producers or others
in the Peruvian Andes. Those people are mainly concentrate their effort on agricultural practices.
Our survey shows that over the entire area covered by the project no producer derives significant
revenues from the sale of timber and no one declared having forestry activities. Only 4% of
producers interviewed said they sale occasionally some shoots from their crop shade cover.
The project faces many barriers such as the monitoring of the project for 40 years to insure the
integration and the acceptance of the new practices for the long term – leading to a sustainable
economy as well as the sheer size of the project are barriers that can only be overcome by the
revenues generated by the carbon credits.
Overall, the areas covered by reforestation activities across the country remain modest compared
gradation of agricultural land (over 3 million hectares) and deforested areas of the country (more
than 7 million hectares).
In conclusion, taking into account the definition of "similar activities" such activities cannot be
observed. So, all evidence considered, we can establish unequivocally that the proposed A/R
project activities for the purposes of carbon sequestration is not the result of a common practice.
2.5
Additionality
According to STEP 4: Common practice analysis of section 2.4 Baseline and Additionality, it is
proven that reforestation is not a common practice in the project zone. For each of the three initial
strata of the project, the expected and most probable scenario is the continuity of pre-project
activities (degraded areas).
In conclusion, no long-term activities are observed to be similar to those proposed by the project,
with the objective of reforestation; therefore, we can establish that activities proposed by the A/R
project for carbon retention goals prove to be additional.
2.6
Methodology Deviations
There are no anticipated deviations of the methodology.
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3
3.1
QUANTIFICATION OF GHG EMISSION REDUCTIONS AND REMOVALS
Baseline Emissions
Baseline Emissions have been estimated in accordance with the AR-ACM0003 v1.0.0
Methodology Procedure, Sections 5.4. “Baseline net GHG removals by sinks”. According to the
methodology, baseline net GHG removals by sinks are calculated with the following equation:
CBSL,t CTREE _ BSL,t CSHRUB _ BSL,t CDW _ BSL,t CLI _ BSL,t
Where:
CBSL,t
Baseline net GHG removals by sinks in year t; t CO2-e
CTREE _ BSL,t Change in carbon stock in baseline tree biomass within the project boundary in year
t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon
stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-e
CSHRUB _ BSL,t
Change in carbon stock in baseline shrub biomass within the project boundary, in
year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon
stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-e
CDW _ BSL,t Change in carbon stock in baseline dead wood biomass within the project boundary,
in year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon
stocks in dead wood and litter in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-e
CLI _ BSL,t
Change in carbon stock in baseline litter biomass within the project boundary, in
year t, as estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon
stocks in dead wood and litter in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-e
Carbon pools named dead wood and litter will not be considered under this project as explained
above in section 2.3 . Therefore, these carbon pools are assumed to be zero for the baseline,
CDW _ BSL,t =0, and CLI _ BSL,t=0;
Then,
CBSL,t CTREE _ BSL,t CSHRUB _ BSL,t
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According to the MINKA54 database report, the result indicates the absence of trees and woody
perennial plants in the project baseline. This result is attributed to pre-project land use activities
(see section 1.10), which subject the soil to constant change of use by shifting cultivation
activities as explained in Step 2c: Determination of baseline scenario of section 2.4.
Therefore, changes in carbon stocks of reservoirs above and below ground tree biomass, and
biomass of the shrubs is conservatively assumed to be zero for the baseline; with;
CTREE _ BSL,t
0 ; CSHRUB _ BSL,t 0
Under these conditions, the net GHG removals by sinks baseline are not significant. In addition,
they do not mean positive changes in carbon stocks in the long term because the pre-project
vegetation cover are degraded lands that would remain degraded in the absence of the project;
and any positive change of regeneration on vegetation would destroy it by shifting cultivation
activities55.
Therefore the baseline net GHG removals by sinks will be determined as for each pool in the
baseline scenario:

 CBSL,t CTREE _ BSL,t CSHRUB _ BSL,t CDW _ BSL,t CLI _ BSL,t =0
Changes in carbon stocks for the baseline are assumed zero (0)
project.
3.2
for the initial pools of the
Project Emissions
Estimation of changes in the carbon stocks
Stratification of project planting/management plans:
The project proposes to the producers a choice of 10 planting / management plan: 3 for coffee
under shade; 3 for cocoa under shade; and 4 for forest massifs as stated in Section 1.8.
For the ex-ante calculation of the project biomass, the project area is stratified according to
those 10 planting/management plan and the year of implantation (there is 11 years of
implantation for this grouped project).
54
MINKA Report: Registration of existing trees and georeferenced photographs of the pre-project vegetation cover
of the first group of instances
55
Dourojeanni M, Aprovechamiento del barbecho forestal en áreas de agricultura migratoria en la Amazonia
peruana Lima, Revista Forestal del Perú, v.14, n.2, p.15-61, 1987
Meza, Abel; Sabogal, César y De Jong, Wil. Rehabilitación de Áreas Degradadas en la Amazonía Peruana.
Revisión de experiencias y lecciones aprendidas. Indonesia: CIFOR, 2006
FAO. Políticas Pecuarias 03: Ganadería y deforestación. Subdirección de Información Ganadera y de Análisis y
Política del Sector, Dirección de Producción y Sanidad Animal, 8 pag, 2006.
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Actual net GHG removals by sinks
According to approved methodology AR-ACM0003/ version 1.0.0 the quantity of the actual net
GHG removals by sinks within the project boundary are estimated using equation 2
(Section 5.5 of the applied methodology):
∆ C ACTUAL = ∆ C P − GHG E
(2)
where:
 ΔC ACTUAL = Actual net GHG removals by sinks; t CO2-e
 ΔCP = Sum of the changes the carbon stock in the selected carbon pools within the
project boundary (t CO2-e)
 GHGE = Increase in non-CO2 GHG emissions within the project boundary as a
result of the implementation of the A/R CDM project activity (t CO2-e)
Change in carbon stock in all selected carbon pools, in year t, is calculated using the following
equation 3:
(3)
where:
v3.2

ΔCp,t = Change in carbon stock in all selected carbon pools in the project scenario, in
year t; t CO2-e

ΔCTREE_PROJ,t = Change in carbon stock in tree biomass in project, in year t, as
estimated in the tool Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of trees
and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities; t CO2-e

ΔCSHRUB_PROJ,t = Change in carbon stock in shrub biomass in project in year t, as
estimated in the tool “Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of
trees and shrubs in A/R CDM project activities”; t CO2-e.

ΔCDW_PROJ,t = Change in carbon stock in dead wood biomass in project, in year t, as
estimated in the Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks in dead
wood and litter in A/R CDM project activities; t CO2-e (No included)

ΔCLI_PROJ,t = Change in carbon stock in litter biomass in project, in year t, as estimated
in the tool Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks in dead wood and
litter in A/R CDM project activities; t CO2-e (No included)

ΔCSOC_AL,t = Change in carbon stock in SOC in project, in year t, in areas of land
meeting the applicability conditions of the tool Tool for estimation of change in soil
organic carbon stocks due to the implementation of A/R CDM project activities, as
estimated in the same tool; t CO2-e

t = 1, 2, 3, ... t years elapsed since the start of the A/R CDM project activity.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Change in carbon stock in tree biomass in project
The calculation of the estimate ex ante of tree biomass was performed according to the tool
“Estimation of carbon stocks and change in carbon stocks of trees and shrubs in A/R CDM
project activities” (Version 03.0.0), as indicated by methodology AR-ACM000 3 v1.0.056
For coffee and cacao project, calculations estimating carbon stocks in trees were performed
using the technique of allometric equation. Under this technique allometric equations are used
to convert tree dimensions to above- ground biomass of trees and the above-ground tree
biomass is expanded to total tree biomass using root-to-shoot ratios. Thus, biomass of trees of
species “j” in sample plot “p” is calculated as:
BTREE , j, p,i,t f j ( x1 p,i,t ,x2 p,i,t ,x3 p,i,t ) (1R j )
BTREE , p,i,t  BTREE , j, p,i,t
(4)
j
BTREE , j, p,i,t
Biomass of trees of species j in sample plot p of stratum i at a
given point of time in year t; t d.m.
fj(x1p,i,t,x2p,i,t,x3p,i,t)
Function relating measured tree dimensions (x1, x2, x3, …) to
above- ground biomass. Tree dimensions are measured in
sample plot p of stratum i at a given point of time in year t. Tree
dimensions x1, x2, x3, … could be, for example DBH, height of tree,
etc.
Rj
Root-shoot ratio for tree species j; dimensionless
i = 1, 2, 3, … tree biomass estimation strata within the project boundary
t = 1, 2, 3, …years counted from the start of the A/R CDM project activity
An adjustment was made in the estimation of ex-ante estimates of the total biomass of trees in
the first group of instances and clustered around the project; taking into consideration the
amount of forest species and initial studies of the project57, proceeding as follows:
1. Growth parameter information was collected as Mean Annual Increment (MAI), and in
some cases the Basic Density (DB) of forest species which structure the 10 planting
schemes of this project (see section 1.8). The basic information was obtained through local
literature survey58.
Section 5.5. “Actual net GHG removals by sinks” Paragraph 16 of methodology AR-ACM000 3 v1.0.0
Ecotierra, Compilation of agroforestry schemes and clumps of cocoa and coffee cooperatives and shade coffee and
cacao project 2013
58
Dissertations, local consultants, all scientific papers compiled in the document: Ecotierra. Bibliographic sources of
Mean Annual Increase (AAI) and Basic density (BD), of forestry species from Shade Coffe and Cacao Project. 2013
56
57
v3.2
72
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
2. Root-to-shoot ratios for the involved species are not available. Therefore the conservative
default value of 0.14 and 0,21 (secondary tropical and sub-tropical forest ) of the IPCC
good practice guidance for LULUCF, Table 3A.1.8 will be used.
3. The constant used was 0.5 = carbon fraction of dry matter (t C/t dm) IPCC good practice
guidance for LULUCF, Table 3A.1.8 was used.
4. For the estimated calculation of biomass, the following allometric equation was used
SPECIES
EQUATION
Other species
Huaba (Inga ssp)
Bolaina
(Guazuma crinita)
Teca (Tectona
grandis)
R2
Reference
0.99
(1)59
0.97
(2)60
0.98
(3)61 (Broadleaf)
0.96
(4)62 (Conifers)
0.71
(5)63
0.88
(6)64
0.98
(7)65
5. The forest species growing information was used with the allometric equations to know
the biomass, this way the long term biomass growth was determined for each tree
species. With this data the tree species were grouped in five categories A, B, C, D and E,
according to their long term biomass growth value (see table 11), and also the average
biomass growth per year per group as seen in table 12.
Table 11. Tree species grouped by Long Term Average (LTA) biomass growth
GROUP
A
B
C
D
E
BIOMASS VALUES
LTA
(Tonnes/tree)
(tonnes/group)
2.17 - 1.84
1.31 - 1.05
0.80 - 0.14
0.36 - 0.14
0.11 - 0.04
1.63
1.02
0.66
0.31
0.03
59
Chave, J., Andalo, C., Brown S., Cairns, M. A., Chambers, J. Q., Eamus, D., Fölster, H., Fromard, F., Higuchi, N.,
Kira, T., Lescure, J.-P., Nelson, B. W., Ogawa, H., Puig, H., Riéra, B. and Yamakura, T. 2005. Tree allometry and
improved estimation of carbon stocks and balance in tropical forests, Oecologia, 145: 87–99.
60
Brown, S. 1997. Estimating biomass and biomass change of tropical forests: a primer. FAO Forestry Paper 134,
Rome, Italy.
61
LULUCF. 2003. Orientación del IPCC sobre las Buenas Practicas para UTCUTS. Cuadro 4.A.1
62
LULUCF. 2003. Orientación del IPCC sobre las Buenas Practicas para UTCUTS. Cuadro 4.A.1
63
Segura, M., M. Kanninen and D. Suárez. 2006. Allometric models for estimating aboveground biomass of shade
trees and coffe plants in agroforestry systems in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Submitted to Agroforestry Systems.
64
Samaniego, D. 2009 Estimación de la cantidad de carbono capturado por Guazuma crinita en una plantación de 8
años en Ucayali. Tesis para optar el Titulo de Ingeniero forestal. UNALM. Lima Peru.
65
LULUCF. 2003. Orientación del IPCC sobre las Buenas Practicas para UTCUTS. Cuadro 4.A.1
v3.2
73
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Table 12.
Anual average biomass growth projection per group per year (Tonnes)
Average biomass groups (Tonnes)
Year
A
B
Average biomass groups (Tonnes)
C
D
E
Year
A
B
C
D
E
0
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
31
1.598
0.618
0.064
0.047
0.048
1
0.000
0.001
0.001
0.000
0.000
32
1.770
0.707
0.083
0.060
0.053
2
0.004
0.008
0.004
0.002
0.002
33
1.954
0.810
0.108
0.076
0.059
3
0.011
0.023
0.012
0.005
0.003
34
2.152
0.928
0.139
0.096
0.067
4
0.023
0.048
0.024
0.011
0.005
35
2.363
1.064
0.178
0.120
0.077
5
0.041
0.087
0.043
0.019
0.008
36
2.589
1.218
0.225
0.148
0.074
6
0.067
0.140
0.068
0.031
0.013
37
2.828
1.391
0.281
0.180
0.084
7
0.101
0.209
0.101
0.047
0.019
38
3.081
1.584
0.346
0.218
0.093
8
0.143
0.294
0.143
0.067
0.014
39
3.348
1.797
0.421
0.260
0.104
9
0.196
0.398
0.193
0.091
0.020
40
3.630
2.031
0.506
0.308
0.116
10
0.258
0.519
0.253
0.120
0.026
41
0.001
0.001
0.217
0.019
0.003
11
0.331
0.217
0.323
0.066
0.006
42
0.004
0.008
0.271
0.026
0.001
12
0.416
0.276
0.403
0.084
0.008
43
0.011
0.023
0.333
0.034
0.001
13
0.511
0.349
0.494
0.105
0.012
44
0.023
0.048
0.404
0.046
0.003
14
0.619
0.438
0.596
0.131
0.017
45
0.041
0.087
0.483
0.061
0.004
15
0.740
0.543
0.709
0.161
0.010
46
0.067
0.140
0.099
0.079
0.007
16
0.873
0.666
0.248
0.195
0.016
47
0.101
0.209
0.125
0.102
0.010
17
1.019
0.809
0.292
0.235
0.020
48
0.143
0.294
0.156
0.129
0.014
18
1.178
0.971
0.343
0.280
0.026
49
0.196
0.398
0.196
0.161
0.018
19
1.351
1.153
0.401
0.331
0.033
50
0.258
0.519
0.243
0.199
0.024
20
1.537
1.356
0.468
0.387
0.042
51
0.331
0.217
0.299
0.153
0.003
21
0.509
0.155
0.202
0.106
0.026
52
0.416
0.276
0.364
0.180
0.004
22
0.576
0.182
0.245
0.121
0.019
53
0.511
0.349
0.439
0.210
0.006
23
0.650
0.218
0.296
0.139
0.024
54
0.619
0.438
0.525
0.245
0.008
24
0.732
0.266
0.355
0.160
0.027
55
0.740
0.543
0.621
0.284
0.010
25
0.823
0.328
0.423
0.184
0.032
56
0.873
0.666
0.616
0.329
0.014
26
0.924
0.406
0.501
0.213
0.039
57
1.019
0.809
0.716
0.379
0.018
27
1.036
0.500
0.589
0.246
0.047
58
1.178
0.971
0.827
0.434
0.023
28
1.159
0.612
0.688
0.283
0.057
59
1.351
1.153
0.948
0.495
0.029
29
1.293
0.743
0.797
0.326
0.055
60
1.537
1.356
1.081
0.562
0.036
30
1.439
0.892
0.918
0.374
0.065
61
0.509
0.155
0.009
0.000
0.016
Annual growth projection for biomass of each scheme will be shown until year 61 following
recommendations stated in section 4.5.5.1.a from de document AFOLU Requirements V3.0.
v3.2
74
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
6. For each category is used an annual growth rate, and a growing projection is performed
for each cropping pattern starting with the number of trees on the following table:
Table 13: Schemes and groups at the beginning of the (Year 01)
A
B
C
D
E
TOTAL
Thinning
intensity during
the live cycle of
the project
45
48
84
17
34
51
370
199
255
133
90
35
25
34
25
34
370
422
178
289
45
80
80
84
62
69
370
289
422
311
0
14
14
17
17
34
0
133
178
133
90
133
133
80
133
133
0
67
77
244
270
310
336
232
271
321
1110
1110
1110
1110
67%
68%
67%
48%
56%
63%
73%
73%
73%
73%
SCHEMES AND GROUPS/ Hectare
Year 01
COCOA1 (E1)
COCOA2 (E2)
COCOA3 (E3)
COFFE 1 (E4)
COFFE 2 (E5)
COFFE 3 (E6)
MASSIF 1 (E7)
MASSIF 2 (E8)
MASSIF 3 (E9)
MASSIF 4 (E10)
Biomass average annual growing is multiplied on each category within the pattern to
determine growing rate projection for each sowing scheme.
7. Taking into consideration the value of harvesting cycles of each forestry species grouped
in the same category, during the whole cycle of the project, it will be apply to harvests and
thinnings affecting the number of trees in schemes as shown in the table bellow:
Table 14: Schemes and groups over the years 40 to 61
v3.2
75
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
8. Average annual growth values of each forestry scheme interact with the estimated values
of implementation of each scheme on the following table:
Table 15:
Activity
Percentage (%) of reforestation schemes feature the 1st group instances
% of according to 1st
group of instances
SHADE
COCOA
52.000%
SHADE
COFFEE
11.000%
FOREST
MASSIF
Schemes
37.000%
% of implantation according % Estimated of
to (Qualitative estimation) implementation
Cocoa1
70%
36.40%
Cocoa2
20%
10.40%
Cocoa3
10%
5.20%
Coffee1
70%
7.70%
Coffee2
20%
2.20%
Coffee3
10%
1.10%
Massif 1
50%
18.50%
Massif 2
30%
11.10%
Massif 3
10%
3.70%
Massif 4
10%
3.70%
With the results of percentages interaction of each scheme, an annual projection/hectare is
obtained from the percentages of each scheme, and carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions
afterwards, of all sowing schemes of the project.
9. The projection obtained will be multiply for each year of activities implementation (see
table 16), obtaining estimate calculation of the annual projection of carbon dioxide (CO 2)
capture from the trees of all grouped project.
Table 16: Projection of areas to be implemented during the first 11 years
Year
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Hectare
29.77
581.23
600.00
750.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
1,150.00
1,500.00
1,500.00
2,000.00
2,000.00
Change in carbon stocks in soil organic carbon in project
Soil organic carbon (SOC) ex-ante estimation stocks were done in accordance to the “Tool for
the estimation of change in soil organic carbon stocks due to the implementation of A/R CDM
project activity”. As suggested by the tool, it is assumed that the implementation of the project
activity increases the SOC content of the lands from the pre-project level to the level that is
v3.2
76
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
equal to the steady-state SOC content under native vegetation. The increase in SOC content
in the project scenario takes place at a constant rate over a period of 20 years from the year of
planting. The project meets the applicability conditions of this tool:

The areas of plots (instances) o which the tool is applied do not fall into wetland category,
do not contain organic soils and are not subject to any of the land management practices
and application of inputs listed in Tables 1 and 2 of the tool:
For Baseline cropland management practices in Tropical, montane, Short-term or set
aside cropland with no or very low tillage and no or little inputs.
For Baseline grassland management practices in Tropical, montane, the land are
degraded to very degraded with no inputs.

And the project activity meets the following conditions: litter remains on site and is not
removed, soil disturbance is in accordance with appropriate conservation practices, very
limited to site preparation and will not be repeated within 20 years.
Table 17: Parameters used for estimation of SOC
Parameter
Symbol
Reference SOC
SOCREF,i
(tC/ha)
Stratum 1: Crop land
Land use factor
fLU ,i
Management factor
Input factor
Stratum 2: Grassland
Land use factor
Management factor
Input factor
Value
63
Source (SOC estimation tool, V01.1.0)
Table 3: Tropical, montane, LAC soils,
for both strata.
0.88
Stratum 1: Table 4: Short-term cultivated
f MG,i
1.09
Stratum1:Table 4: Short-term cultivated:
Reduced tillage
fIN,i
0.94
Stratum 1: Table 5: Low input
fLU ,i
f MG,i
1
0.70
fIN,i
1.00
Stratum 2: Table 6 All permanent grassland
Stratum 2: Table 6 Severely degraded
grassland.
Stratum 2: Table 6: Grassland without input of
fertilizer
The initial SOC stock (SOCINITIAL,i) at the start of the project is estimated as follows:
SOCINITIAL,i SOCREF ,i * f LU ,i * f MG,i * f IN ,i
No areas of land of any strata is subjected to soil disturbance attributable to project activity
that is greater than 10% of the area of the stratum. therefore SOC LOSS ,i
v3.2

77
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
The following methodological formula is used for calculating the annual change in SOC stock:
dSOCt ,i SOCREF , i - (SOCINITIAL,i - SOC LOSS ,i )
20
Where:

dSOC t,i:
t; t C/ha/yr

SOC REF,i :
Reference SOC stock corresponding to the reference condition in
native lands by climate region and soil types applicable to stratum i of the area of land;
tC/ha

SOCINICIAL,I :
SOC stock at the beginning of the A/R CDM project activity in stratum i
of the areas of land

SOC LOSS,i :
Loss of SOC caused by soil disturbance attributable the A/R CDM
project activity, in stratum i of the areas of land ; tC/ha
The rate of change in SOC stock in stratum i of the area of land, in year

i :1, 2, 3, strata of areas of land; dimensionless

t :1, 2, 3, years elapsed since the start of the A/R CDM project activity
Application of the equation results in an estimated increase of 0.3098 t C/ha/year in soil
organic carbon (SOC) for the Stratum 1: Crop land, and for the Stratum 2: Grassland results in
an estimated increase of 0.945 t C/ha/year that is being used.
Change in carbon stocks in dead wood and litter in project
The carbon stock in dead wood and litter are not selected (See section 2.3) and thus, in
accordance with the applied methodology, these pools are set to zero.
Estimation of GHG emissions within the project boundary
According to the methodology, the burning of woody biomass for the purpose of site preparation,
or as part of forest management, is allowed under this methodology and therefor CH4 and N2O
emission must be considered and taken into account in the emissions related to the project.
According to the methodology all other sources of GHG emissions resulting from or attributable to
the project activity shall be considered insignificant and therefore accounted as zero. According to
the methodology, the increase in GHG emissions as a result of the implementation of the
proposed A/R CDM project activity within the project boundary can be estimated as:
GHGE = ∑ GHGE,t

v3.2
where:
GHGE = Increase in GHG emissions as a result of the implementation of the proposed A/R
CDM project activity within the project boundary (t CO2-e)
78
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3

GHGE,t = Increase in non-CO2 emissions due to burning of biomass of existing vegetation
as part of site preparation in year t, as estimated in the tool "Estimation of non-CO2 GHG
emissions resulting from burning of biomass attributable to an A/R CDM project activity" (t
CO2-e)

t = 1, 2, 3, ... t years elapsed since the start of the A/R CDM project activity.
The "A/R Methodological Tool: Estimation of non-CO2 GHG emissions resulting from burning of
biomass attributable to an A/R CDM project activity, Version 04.1.0" specifies that; emission of
non-CO2 GHGs resulting from use of fire in site preparation are estimated as "0" (zero) "for all
areas of land where: (i) Slash-and-burn is a common practice in the baseline, and (ii) Fire has
been used in the area at least once during the period of ten years preceding the start of the A/R
CDM project activity". These 2 criteria are founds across the project`s area and evidence of
burning have been observed during the registration visits of the first group instances.
The emissions caused by CH4 and N2O during the implementation of the project are therefore
considered to be zero.
The burning activity is not permitted under this project, but in the event it happens, the CO2
emissions due to burning of biomass will be accounted as a change in carbon stock.
Ex-post estimation of GHG removals
For ex-post estimation of GHG removals, biomass stock per ha will be calculated for each
stratum, based on field data measurements from permanent sampling plots for tree biomass
(above and below ground), and SOC.
For the ex-post estimation of tree biomass calculation allometric equation will be applied,
including measuring the additional parameter "tree height", which is indicated in the monitoring
plan. It will be possible to use new allometric equations in case future investigaciones
investigations show better adaptation to the conditions of forest species of the project.
For sampling of soil are taken before project installation and will regularly be taken during the first
20 years after the establishment of plots on control plots randomly selected. This is to assess the
actual SOC stock change during the project (see monitoring section). If there are any problems
that cannot be solved with the sampling of one of those pools, the concerned pool will not be
used in the analysis of carbon data.
3.3
Leakage
According the applied methodology the only leakage emissions that can occur are the GHG
emissions due to displacement of pre-project agricultural activities. Procedure to be used for
calculation of ex ante leakage is described in AR-ACM0003 methodology (Version 01.0.0) under
the section 5.6 “Leakage”. Leakage emissions are estimated as follows:
v3.2
79
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
LK t  LK AGRIC t
Where:
LKt
GHG emissions due to leakage, in year t; tCO2-e
LKAGRICt
Leakage due to the displacement of agricultural activities in year t, as
estimated in the tool “Estimation of the increase in GHG emissions
attributable to displacement of pre-project agricultural activities in A/R
CDM project activity”; tCO2-e
According to the methodology, the leakage must be calculated from the "Estimation of the
increase in GHG emissions attributable to displacement of pre-project agricultural activities in A/R
CDM project activity”. This tool refers to two guidelines to evaluate leakage if the leaks are
considered to be significant. Firstly, "Guidelines on conditions under which increase in GHG
emissions attributable to displacement of pre-project crop cultivation activities in A/R CDM project
activity is insignificant" (A), (Version 01). Secondly, “Guidelines on conditions under which
increase in GHG emissions related to displacement of pre-project grazing activities in A/R CDM
project activity is insignificant” (B) (Version 01).
The application of these two guidelines led to the conclusion that the increase in GHG emissions
due to displacement of pre-project activities attributable to the A/R CDM project activity is
deemed insignificant and that this source can be neglected.
A questionnaire was developed to query all participating producers to determine
potential leakage, questions were developed according to the guidelines listed above,
and the result is summarized in the following table:
Table 18: Summary of producer surveys regarding leakage of the first group of instances
Grazing Displacement
Cooperative Department
v3.2
Province
District
Village
Instance
Code
Estimated
area of
​rural land
(Ha)
Area
instance
(Ha)
Number of
animals
Cattle
Will
displace
activities
25
x
x
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
PARATUSHALI
2096033101
44.8
7.6429
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO NEGRO
HUAHUARI BAJO
2096623602
140
0.5527
0
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
LLAYLLA
VISTA ALEGRE
2096968402
8
3.7092
10
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO NEGRO
UNION PROGRESO
2004296601
5
0.6608
0
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
CAPIRO BAJO
872932402
15
1.7128
0
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO NEGRO
HUAHUARI BAJO
2096354701
74
3.446
17
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
NUEVA ESPERANZA
2098344901
8
1.8801
10
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
SANTA CLARA
2096427002
30
3.1111
0
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO TAMBO
VISTA ALEGRE
4195787001
10
0.8968
0
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
RIO NEGRO
HUAHUARI BAJO
2096419001
10
0.7639
0
CAC SATIPO
JUNIN
SATIPO
SATIPO
PUEBLO LIBRE DE AZOPE 2099289502
20
3.5800
0
JUMARP
AMAZONAS
UTCUBAMBA
YAMON
4
1.8139
0
368.8
29.7702
NUEVO AMAZONAS
4034994201
x
80
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
There is a total of 62 head of cattle amounting 62 LSU in the first group of instances, of which
only 25 LSU will move.
Of the 29.77 hectares of the first group of instances, only 11.77 hectares will move their activities
to another place of the property.
Of the 29.77 hectares of the first group of instances, only 4.1327 hectares will move their
activities elsewhere on the property.
So according to these guidelines:

Total area subjected to pre-project grazing activities to be displaced is less than 50 ha;

Total number of animals expected to be displaced is not more than 40 LSU;

Total area subjected to pre-project crop cultivation activities to be displaced is less than
5% of the area of the entire A/R CDM project activity, or less than 50 ha.
And therefore leakage is assumed to be zero.
However, given the presence of activities capable of being displaced, ECOTIERRA is planning to
monitor for these leakage (see section 1.13).
v3.2
81
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
3.4
Net GHG Emission Reductions and Removals
FIRST GROUP INSTANCES
Number of years
of the project
Years
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
2,013
2,014
2,015
2,016
2,017
2,018
2,019
2,020
2,021
2,022
2,023
2,024
2,025
2,026
2,027
2,028
2,029
2,030
2,031
2,032
2,033
2,034
2,035
2,036
2,037
2,038
2,039
2,040
2,041
2,042
2,043
2,044
2,045
2,046
2,047
2,048
2,049
2,050
2,051
2,052
2,053
Total
v3.2
Estimated baseline
emissions or removals
(tCO2e)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Estimated project
emissions or removals
(tCO2e)
0
117
339
697
829
1,283
1,875
2,617
3,488
4,559
5,805
4,210
5,127
6,181
7,380
8,706
7,919
9,229
10,691
12,311
14,095
2,549
2,936
3,423
3,997
4,673
5,459
6,364
7,394
8,528
9,818
5,612
6,318
7,113
8,007
9,007
10,093
11,316
12,655
14,117
15,706
Estimated leakage
emissions (tCO2e)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Estimated net
GHG emission
reductions or
removals (tCO2e)
0
117
339
697
829
1,283
1,875
2,617
3,488
4,559
5,805
4,210
5,127
6,181
7,380
8,706
7,919
9,229
10,691
12,311
14,095
2,549
2,936
3,423
3,997
4,673
5,459
6,364
7,394
8,528
9,818
5,612
6,318
7,113
8,007
9,007
10,093
11,316
12,655
14,117
15,706
15,706
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
THE WHOLE GROUPED PROJECT
Estimated net GHG
emission reductions or
removals (tCO2e)
Years
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
2,013
2,014
2,015
2,016
2,017
2,018
2,019
2,020
2,021
2,022
2,023
2,024
2,025
2,026
2,027
2,028
2,029
2,030
2,031
2,032
2,033
2,034
2,035
2,036
2,037
2,038
2,039
2,040
2,041
2,042
2,043
2,044
2,045
2,046
2,047
2,048
2,049
2,050
2,051
2,052
2,053
Estimated baseline
emissions or removals
(tCO2e)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Estimated project
emissions or
removals (tCO2e)
0
117
2,615
9,657
24,201
43,960
76,479
125,250
194,905
293,442
429,160
605,221
772,658
970,408
1,188,528
1,438,820
1,727,466
2,000,067
2,268,614
2,552,370
2,788,528
3,018,079
3,192,166
3,345,098
3,438,934
3,380,910
3,303,268
3,288,673
3,106,004
2,892,521
2,419,005
1,875,496
2,065,730
2,280,608
2,495,655
2,689,508
2,903,110
3,108,290
3,263,034
3,423,447
3,495,692
Estimated leakage
emissions (tCO2e)
Estimated net GHG
emission
reductions or
removals (tCO2e)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
117
2,615
9,657
24,201
43,960
76,479
125,250
194,905
293,442
429,160
605,221
772,658
970,408
1,188,528
1,438,820
1,727,466
2,000,067
2,268,614
2,552,370
2,788,528
3,018,079
3,192,166
3,345,098
3,438,934
3,380,910
3,303,268
3,288,673
3,106,004
2,892,521
2,419,005
1,875,496
2,065,730
2,280,608
2,495,655
2,689,508
2,903,110
3,108,290
3,263,034
3,423,447
3,495,692
Total
v3.2
3,495,692
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
The Long-Term Average GHG benefit are calculated based on the reference documents the
AFOLU Requirements section 4.5.5.1.a and AFOLU Guidance "Example for Calculating the
Long-Term Average Carbon Stock for ARR Projects with Harvesting". The established period
determined by the estimated LTA GHG benefit is 61 years, considering the last harvest/cutting
cycle as indicated in that section.
4
4.1
MONITORING
Data and Parameters Available at Validation
Data Unit / Parameter:
-3
Data unit:
t d.m. m
Description:
Basic wood density for species or group of species j
Source of data:
The sources were scientific studies, and theses articles
local and Foreign firms. See the document: Ecotierra.
Bibliographic sources of Mean Annual Increase (AAI)
and Basic density (BD), of forestry species from Shade
Coffe and Cacao Project. 2013
Value applied:
Between 0.24 and 0.78
Justification of choice of data or
description of measurement
methods and procedures applied:
Purpose of Data
Any comment:
v3.2
Dj
N/A
Calculation of project emissions
N/A
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
Description:
CFj
-1
t C t d.m.
Carbon fraction of tree biomass for species or group
of species j
-1
Source of data:
The IPCC 2006 default value of 0.47 t C t
Value applied:
0.47
The default value of 0.47 is used as there is no
available transparent and verifiable information to
justify a different value in forest cover of Peru.
Justification of choice of data or
description of measurement methods
and procedures applied:
Purpose of Data
Any comment:
Calculation of project emissions
N/A
Data / Parameter:
Rj
Data unit:
Dimensionless
Description:
Root-shoot ratio for tree species j
d.m.
TABLE 3A.1.8 from the IPCC GPG LULUCF 2003
For ex post estimation, will be used:
Y=exp[–1.085+0.9256*ln(Bt)]
Source of data:
Where:
 Y= root biomass in Tn ha-1 of dry matter
 ln = natural logarithm
 exp = “e to the power of”
 Bt = aboveground biomass in t d.m. ha-1
Value applied:
0.14 to 0.21 depending on species
[Table 4.A.4 of IPCC GPGLULUCF 2003]
v3.2
Justification of choice of data or
description of measurement
methods and procedures applied:
Conservative default value are use for a simple
calculation of ex ante projections.
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Any comment:
N/A
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Data / Parameter:
f j ( x1 p ,i ,t , x2 p ,i ,t , x3 p ,i ,t ,...)
Data unit:
t d.m.
Description:
Algometric function relating measured tree
dimensions (x1, x2, x3, …) to above-ground tree
biomass.
For ex ante estimation the allometric equation
applicable to a tree species is selected from the
following sources:
 Chave, J., Andalo, C., Brown S., Cairns, M. A.,
Chambers, J. Q., Eamus, D., Fölster, H., Fromard,
F., Higuchi, N., Kira, T., Lescure, J.-P., Nelson, B.
W., Ogawa, H., Puig, H., Riéra, B. and Yamakura,
T. 2005. Tree allometry and improved estimation
of carbon stocks and balance in tropical forests,
Oecologia, 145: 87–99.

Brown, S. 1997. Estimating biomass and biomass
change of tropical forests: a primer. FAO Forestry
Paper 134, Rome, Italy.

LULUCF. 2003. Orientación del IPCC sobre las
Buenas Practicas para UTCUTS. Cuadro 4.A.1

Segura, M., M. Kanninen and D. Suárez. 2006.
Allometric models for estimating aboveground
biomass of shade trees and coffe plants in
agroforestry systems in Matagalpa, Nicaragua.
Submitted to Agroforestry Systems.

Samaniego, D. 2009 Estimación de la cantidad de
carbono capturado por Guazuma crinita en una
plantación de 8 años en Ucayali. Tesis para optar
el Titulo de Ingeniero forestal. UNALM. Lima Peru.
Source of data:
Value applied:
Justification of choice of data or
description of measurement
methods and procedures applied:
Purpose of Data
Any comment:
v3.2
N/A
N/A
For ex post estimation, the allometric equation used
must be demonstrated to be appropriate for the
purpose of estimation of tree biomass by applying the
Calculation
of project emissions
tool “Demonstrating
appropriateness of allometric
equations for estimation of aboveground tree biomass
N/A
in A/R CDM project activities”.
86
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Data Unit / Parameter:
DBH
Data unit:
cm
Description:
Tree diameter at breast height
Source of data:
The sources were scientific studies, and theses
articles local and Foreign firms. See the document:
Ecotierra. Bibliographic sources of Mean Annual
Increase (AAI) and Basic density (BD), of forestry
species from Shade Coffe and Cacao Project. 2013
Value applied:
from 5 cm
Justification of choice of data or
description of measurement methods
and procedures applied:
N/A
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Any comment:
4.2
v3.2
N/A
Data and Parameters Monitored
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
Apar
Hectares
Description:
Surface of the Instance
It is the surface of each unit of land (parcel of land of
one piece) implemented by the project activities.
Total area where the plantation is established
Source of data:
Field measurements of eligible areas for the project.
Description of measurement
methods and procedures to be
applied:
Recorded with GPS coordinates in UTM angles most
representative of the eligible land surface for the
project.
Frequency of
monitoring/recording:
Recording of data is done before and after planting
Value applied:
100%
Monitoring equipment:
GPS (Garmin SCx); or other high precision instrument.
QA/QC procedures to be applied:
GPS calibration
Randomly verification of field data.
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Calculation method:
Any comment:
N/A
N/A
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
Description:
Source of data:
Description of measurement
methods and procedures to be
applied:
Frequency of
monitoring/recording:
Value applied:
Monitoring equipment:
Measured
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed
under national forest inventory are applied. In the
absence of these, SOPs from published handbooks, or
from the IPCC GPG LULUCF 2003, may be applied.
Every verification
N/A
GPS (Garmin SCx); or other high precision instrument
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Calculation method:
Any comment:
N/A
N/A
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
ai
m2
2
Description:
Source of data:
Description of measurement
methods and
procedures to be applied:
Frequency of
monitoring/recording:
Value applied:
Monitoring equipment:
QA/QC procedures to be applied:
v3.2
East, north
UTM
Location coordinates of the sample plots
(a)
Area of sample plot of tree biomass stratum i;
(b)
Area of sample plot of SOC stratum i of the land
meeting the applicability conditions of the SOC tool
WINROCK, Standard Operating Procedures for
Terrestrial Carbon Measurement, Version: 2012”
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed
under national forest inventory are applied. In absence
of these, SOPs from published handbooks, or from the
IPCC GPG LULUCF 2003, may be applied.
Every verification.
N/A
N/A
Quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC) procedures
prescribed under national forest inventor are applied.
In the absence of these, QA/QC procedures from
published handbooks, or from the IPCC GPG LULUCF
2003, may be applied.
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Calculation method:
Any comment:
N/A
N/A
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
Description:
Source of data:
Description of measurement
methods and procedures to be
applied:
Frequency of
monitoring/recording:
Value applied:
Monitoring equipment:
v3.2
DBH
cm
Diameter at breast height of tree
Field measurements in sample plots
Usually the diameter at breast height of the tree, but it
could be any other diameter or dimensional
measurement (e.g. basal diameter, root-collar
diameter, basal area, etc.) applicable for the model or
data source used. Standard operating procedures
(SOPs) prescribed under national forest inventory are
applied. In the absence of these, SOPs from
published handbooks, or from the IPCC GPG LULUCF
2003, are applied.
A first comprehensive sampling will be carried out before
or four year project. For each verification, at least once
every 5 years.
N/A
Caliper or diameter tape; or other high precision
instrument.
QA/QC procedures to be applied:
Quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC) procedures
prescribed under national forest inventory are applied.
In the absence of these, QA/QC procedures from
published handbooks, or from the IPCC GPG LULUCF
2003, are applied.
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Calculation method:
Any comment:
N/A
N/A
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
Description:
Source of data:
Description of measurement
methods and procedures to be
applied:
Frequency of
monitoring/recording:
Before every verification event
Value applied:
N/A
Monitoring equipment:
Clinometer (Suunto), or other high precision instrument.
QA/QC procedures to be applied:
Quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC)
procedures prescribed under national forest inventory
are applied. In the absence of these, QA/QC
procedures from published handbooks, or from the
IPCC GPG LULUCF 2003, are applied.
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Calculation method:
Any comment:
N/A
N/A
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
Description:
Source of data:
%C
Dimensionless
% Organic carbon Soil
Description of measurement
methods and procedures to be
applied:
Frequency of
monitoring/recording:
Value applied:
Monitoring equipment:
v3.2
H
meter
Height of trees
Field measurements in sample plots
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed
under national forest inventory are applied. In the
absence of these, SOPs from published handbooks, or
from the IPCC GPG LULUCF 2003, are applied.
This monitored variable applies only to the case of
allometric equations that fit the forest species of the
project.
Laboratory measurement of field samples
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed
under national forest inventory are applied. In the
absence of these, SOPs from published handbooks, or
from the IPCC GPG LULUCF 2003, may be applied.
Every verification
N/A
N/A
QA/QC procedures to be applied:
Quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC)
procedures prescribed under national forest inventory
are applied. In the absence of these, QA/QC
procedures from published handbooks, or from the
IPCC GPG LULUCF 2003, may be applied.
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Calculation method:
Any comment:
N/A
N/A
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
db
g cm-3
soil bulk density for sub sample collected from plots
Laboratory measurement of field samples
Soil bulk samples shall be collected and well mixed into
one composite sample at the same time of the year in
order to account for natural and anthropogenic
influences accumulation to eliminate seasonal effects.
A subsample from the composite of bulk density is
taken, oven dried and weighed to determine the dry
weight.
Data Unit / Parameter:
Data unit:
Description:
Source of data:
Description of measurement
methods and
procedures to be applied:
Before every verification event
Frequency of
monitoring/recording:
Value applied:
Monitoring equipment:
QA/QC procedures to be applied:
N/A
N/A
N/A
Purpose of Data
Calculation of project emissions
Calculation method:
N/A
It is acceptable to determine this ratio for three
randomly selected sample plots in a stratum and then
apply the average ratio to all plots in that stratum.
Any comment:
Description of the Monitoring Plan
While the monitoring of the project is split between ECOTIERRA, the Centrales and the
Cooperatives, ECOTIERRA is ultimately responsible for the monitoring and supervision of the
project activities. The monitoring is divided as follows:
1) Monitoring the integration of new plots (new instances) of the project,
2) Monitoring the implementation and project activities (including stock conservation, emissions
to the implementation and the leakage).
3) Monitoring of GHG Emission and during the life time of the project (including emissions at the
project implementation and leakage – if the threshold is reached).
Ecotierra will train and guide the Centrales in the early years so that they can be able to take
these responsibilities when new groups of instances are implemented.
This team should be comprised of an engineer responsible for the project (Ecotierra), a technician
or engineer in charge of organization and centralize information (Central), another responsible for
field operations (Cooperative) who must be part of the Cooperative team.
v3.2
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
OPERATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES TO PLAN MONITORING
The project proponent has developed an operation plan that describes the activities of the coffee
and cacao project throughout the period of accreditation. This document is being updated, and as
the project progresses tools will be adapted to existing activities to meet the activities of this
section.
1.
Monitoring the integration of new plots (new instances) of the project
This refers to the pre-implementation monitoring. Its objective is to ensure compliance with
CDM and VCS standards and the applicability of the methodology AR-ACM003 v1 criteria, and
therefore the criteria of eligibility for new instances defined in section 1.13 of this document.
Cooperatives are responsible for this phase of information gathering. They also have the
ability to refuse parcels that do not meet the criteria.
This monitoring is performed:
1. By the cooperatives technician with an onsite visit. Information is gathered on the site visit
such as GPS coordinates, forest cover, land usage and trees if present on the parcel. In
addition, information regarding the planting system is included on the form. Geo-referenced
photos are taken from the vegetation cover.
2. By a survey filled by the technician with the producer. The questionnaire contains, among
other things, data on land use of the plot and the displacement of pre-project activities (see
1.13 B). All technicians have been previously trained by ECOTIERRA and are adept to
perform these tasks 1 and 2.
3. By analyzing the data. Information gathered is sent to ECOTIERRA and all entries are
incorporated in the MINKA database and a GIS system. They are compared to an
v3.2
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
analyzing grid and aerial images to ensure that they respect the criteria set by our project.
A double verification process, manual and automated, can detect errors at this stage
(incomplete form, GPS erroneous data, written information and photo incoherent, etc.). The
information containing errors is returned to technicians who must correct it.
Within the database, plots are identified as being accepted, rejected or awaiting approval.
Only accepted parcels are included and may start the implementation process.
For every instance that will be planted annually, ECOTIERRA will conduct a field audit on a
sample that complies with the margin of error of ± 10% with 90% confidence to ensure that the
information provided by the cooperative is correct and to improve the technician work and
pertinence of the questionnaire. If a margin of more than 10% error was encountered and,
depending on the source of the errors detected:
a)
A second ECOTIERRA team would conduct a new audit of the same land and increase
the sample in sensitive areas (cooperatives demonstrating a wide margin of error),
b)
Plots that do not match the data could be rejected from the project,
c)
Technicians of the cooperatives are retrained and will redo the work of initial monitoring
plots.
All these possibilities can also be implemented.
2.
Monitoring the implementation and activities of the project:
This monitoring will be used to ensure both proper development of the project and to verify the
implementation of healthy trees and the subsequent implementation of appropriate forestry
activities while identifying problems, gaps in training and support for producers and improve
the provision of training and technical monitoring. On the other hand, it is essential to complete
the verification of compliance with the applicability of the threshold methodology of soil
disturbance, as well as to track potential leaks and potential emissions of the implementation
of the projects activities (burning of tree biomass).
This monitoring will also be conducted by the cooperative and is under its responsibility. It will
require many visits of the plots during the implementation phase and at other key times. A new
questionnaire on leakage will also be completed by the technician with the producer and sent
to ECOTIERRA at the first visit post implantation.
All activities performed in each stratum will be recorded and relevant parameters quantified.
This includes the following:
v3.2

Site preparation: Date of operation, tools used, burning.

Planting: Date of planting, project activity stratum (Confirmation of the adopted system
and planning scheme) - the number of trees planted will be calculated from the data
obtained.

Tree survival rate and replacement of sapling in the first year
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3

Fertilization date, application form, type and amount of fertilizer used.

Tinning and pruning activity.

Harvesting date and volumes of wood removed by specie (DBH, length and species).

Disturbances: date, location, kind of disturbance, affected area (using GPS), significance,
whether anthropogenic or natural (disease, insects, fire, unplanned cuts, etc..). All
substantial businesses disturbances (any event that results in a loss of more than 5% of
carbon stocks in pools) from human or natural causes will be documented on an annual
basis and the biomass lost will be measured by an ECOTIERRA crew.

Geographic boundary of the project: After plantations are established the project
boundary (instances boundary), and strata boundaries, will be re measured and adjusted.
This will be done by using GPS and the information will be organized in GIS format and in
the MINKA system where they will be compared with initials pre-project boundaries.
Areas of each stratum will be recalculated and adjusted accordingly.
Every visit to the parcelled, the technician will mark a GPS point on the plot and for some key
information a geo-referenced picture. The sampling will be carried out in such a way that it
ensures that commonly established principles of forest inventory and management are put
into practice.
In all cases, the information gathered is sent to ECOTIERRA, computerized and stored in the
system internal database (MINKA) according to the same procedures for processing and
storage of information illustrated in point 1.
For each group of instances implanted in a year, an audit will be performed the following year
by ECOTIERRA or the CENTRAL supervised by ECOTIERRA on a sample that complies
with the margin of error of ± 10% with 90% confidence to ensure that the information provided
by the cooperative is correct and to improve the technician work and pertinence of the
questionnaire. If a margin of more than 10% error was encountered, and depending on the
source of the errors detected:
a) A second ECOTIERRA team would conduct a new audit of the same land and increase
the sample in sensitive areas (cooperatives demonstrating a wide margin of error),
b) Plots that do not match the data could be re stratified or rejected from the project,
c) Technicians of the cooperatives are retrained and will redo the work of monitoring of the
plots.
All these possibilities can also be implemented.
3.
v3.2
Monitoring the greenhouse gas emission and removal
To maintain accuracy data of carbon removal this information will be monitored periodically
during the life time of the project. Monitoring comprises collecting information, recording,
compilation and analyzing it to make estimations of GHG emissions and removals. And then,
report this information. Our monitoring will ensure that commonly established principles of
forest inventory and management are put into practice. All the monitoring will be done
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VCS Version 3
according to the methodology and with the respect of the confidence interval at 90% with a
margin of error of ± 10%.
Role
Regarding the monitoring of GHG Emission and removal, ECOTIERRA will be fully
responsible for operation. The field team collecting the data will be composed by regular and
qualified personnel of ECOTIERRA as well as duly qualified and trained temporary staff. Data
manipulation, gathering, computerization for storage as well as the analysis will be performed
by qualified regular staff of ECOTIERRA.
Stratification
The geographical area in which this grouped project is developed is defined in this Project
Document. Inside this area, the project boundaries will be in constant evolution as new
instances will be added. Thus, the project boundaries will be updated along the 11 years of
project implementation. Boundaries may also vary along the crediting period or new strata
may be created after disturbances effects (pests, droughts, fire, variations in the plantation
management practices that may affect the carbon stock) and boundaries will be redefined.
Geographic coordinates will be established, recorded and archived for each event that may
disturb the carbon pools.
For the purpose of developing the monitoring plan and the following of the project
implementation, the total area will be divided into a number of strata. Stratification will be done
considering the 10 planting patterns and the plantation year. Current stratification could be
merges or subdivided in the case insignificant inter-stratum variability is detected in the annual
variation in carbon pools or unexpected disturbances occur, natural or anthropic (e.g. forest
management activities like thinning or harvesting that is not planed). The initial stratification of
the project is summarized in the following table according to the 10 planting pattern and the 11
years of implantation.
Table 19 - Ex ante stratification of the Project
Planting
patterns
Years of implantation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Cocoa 1
ST 1.1
ST 1.2
ST 1.3
ST 1.4
ST 1.5
ST 1.6
ST 1.7
ST 1.8
ST 1.9
ST 1.10
ST 1.11
Cocoa 2
ST 2.1
ST 2.2
ST 2.3
ST 2.4
ST 2.5
ST 2.6
ST 2.7
ST 2.8
ST 2.9
ST 2.10
ST 2.11
Cocoa 3
ST 3.1
ST 3.2
ST 3.3
ST 3.4
ST 3.5
ST 3.6
ST 3.7
ST 3.8
ST 3.9
ST 3.10
ST 3.11
Coffee 1
ST 4.1
ST 4.2
ST 4.3
ST 4.4
ST 4.5
ST 4.6
ST 4.7
ST 4.8
ST 4.9
ST 4.10
ST 4.11
Coffee 2
ST 5.1
ST 5.2
ST 5.3
ST 5.4
ST 5.5
ST 5.6
ST 5.7
ST 5.8
ST 5.9
ST 5.10
ST 5.11
Coffee 3
ST 6.1
ST 6.2
ST 6.3
ST 6.4
ST 6.5
ST 6.6
ST 6.7
ST 6.8
ST 6.9
ST 6.10
ST 6.11
Forest massif 1
ST 7.1
ST 7.2
ST 7.3
ST 7.4
ST 7.5
ST 7.6
ST 7.7
ST 7.8
ST 7.9
ST 7.10
ST 7.11
Forest massif 2
ST 8.1
ST 8.2
ST 8.3
ST 8.4
ST 8.5
ST 8.6
ST 8.7
ST 8.8
ST 8.9
ST 8.10
ST 8.11
Forest massif 3
ST 9.1
ST 9.2
ST 9.3
ST 9.4
ST 9.5
ST 9.6
ST 9.7
ST 9.8
ST 9.9
ST 9.10
ST 9.11
Forest massif 4
ST 10.1
ST 10.2
ST 10.3
ST 10.4
ST 10.5
ST 10.6
ST 10.7
ST 10.8
ST 10.9
ST 10.10
ST 10.11
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Instances of the project are grouped into blocks. Each block cover an implementation period
not exceeding one year and include the strata (1 to 10 ) implemented in this current year.
Recollection of data and Sampling design
Before starting a complete inventory, a standard operating procedure (SOP) will be developed
and implemented for the field data collection (the way the plots are located and marked,
systems and codes to be used for numbering, how variables will be measured, what tools to
use for measurements and how to handle predictable anomalies). The SOP will include how
electronic data must be entered and stored for the GIS analysis, data documentation and data
storage. Ours pre project activities and sampling have been base on the “WINROCK,
Standard Operating Procedures for Terrestrial Carbon Measurement, Version: 2012” and all
sampling procedure will be base, with some modifications, on this document witch is
commonly used by carbon project in Peru. Permanent sampling plots are selected, since
these are considered to be more efficient for estimating changes in carbon stocks by filtering
out any variance due to plot effect.
Sampling plots size
The size of the plot shall be as specified by the SOP Winrock Version 2012 of 35m x 35 m,
representative size for this type of project, which ensures a greater number of trees sampled
within the limits of the plot.
Sampling plots number
The number of plots will be determined in accordance with the methodological tool
“Calculation of the number of sample plots for measurements within A/R CDM project
activities”, which takes into account the strata present in the area.
Sampling plots location
The location of the permanent sample plots will follow the guidance given by the WINROCK
SOP Version: 2012 and will be randomly selected with an Arc-Map function. They will be mark
on a map and the geographical position (GPS coordinate) will be recorded and archived in
MINKA. This way the plots position can be loaded on the GPS receptors and used by the
sampling crews to reach the plots accurately.
Frequency
A first comprehensive sampling will be carried out before or during the fourth year of the
project. Then for each verification, at least once every 5 years period.
Sampling
Each pool will be measured based in the methodology procedures and WINROCK SOP
Version: 2012.
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Carbon stocks in both above and below ground biomass of trees are estimated by applying
the Algometric equation technique and equations based on DBH (and sometimes height)
measurement and using a basic wood density (D) factor and root-to-shoot ratio (R) to convert
measurement to above-ground and below-ground tree biomass. Default carbon fraction (CF)
value will be used in order to estimate the carbon stock.
Given the specificity of the project where the parcels are owned by small producers the dead
wood will be mainly collected as firewood. Therefore lying dead wood is an insignificant pool.
The measures will be made in the same sample plots used for estimating biomass stocks. If
there are any problems that cannot be solved with the sampling of this pool relatively to a plot,
this pool will not be used in the analysis of this plot. If there are any problems that cannot be
solved with the comprehensive sampling of this pool, this entire pool will not be used in the
analysis of carbon data.
For the soil organic carbon66 (SOC) measurement, the same “WINROCK, Standard Operating
Procedures for Terrestrial Carbon Measurement, Version: 2012” will be applied. If there are
any problems that cannot be solved with the sampling of this pool relatively to a plot, this pool
will not be used in the analysis of this plot. If there are any problems that cannot be solved
with the comprehensive sampling of this pool, this entire pool will not be used in the analysis
of carbon data.
Calibration:
Prior to the start of the inventory, all equipment used to collect data during the field work will
be checked and calibrated. This includes Measuring tapes, Caliper, GPS, and all Others
Equipment. A guide and a checklist will be created to ensure that every instrument is
calibrated and that the proper parameters are entered, such as parcels positioning, GPS maps
etc.
Data entry process
After the collection of field data, the information will be brought back to office of ECOTIERRA
where they will be inputted within the following week either in the MINKA or GIS system. All
data gathered as part of the monitoring plan is archived electronically and will be kept for at
least two years after the end of the last crediting period. Data will be stored in electronic and
paper format.
QA
To reduce the uncertainties and the probability of errors during the sampling and data
management process, ECOTIERRA will implement a Quality Assurance System for routinely
checking for data consistencies, correctness and completeness; for identifying and correcting
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ESTABLISHING MEASURING PARCELS
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errors and omissions; and for properly documenting and archiving data and documentation
related with the monitoring activities.
Following the WINROCK SOP for Quality Assurance and the IPCC Good Practice Guidance
for LULUCF, 2003, we will apply the following controls:
Data collection in field: All field crews will be trained. Test sample plots will be put in place in
order to ensure that training can be conducted and to ensure learning by measuring all
relevant components. A field chief will observe each field crew member during data collection
of a parcel to verify measurement processes and correct immediately any errors in techniques
or any systematic measurement errors. Any errors or misunderstandings could this way be
explained and corrected. We will clearly defining all staff responsibilities and raising
awareness about the importance of each task for producing reliable results.
All data sheets will include a “Data recorded by” field with the name of the crew member
responsible for recording data. If any confusion exists, the transcribers will know which crew
member to contact. Before leaving each plot, the crew leader will double check to make sure
that all data is correctly and completely filled. The crew leader will ensure the data recorded
matches with field conditions, e.g. by verifying the number of trees recorded.
Data sheet checks: At the end of each day all data sheets will be checked by team leaders to
ensure that all the relevant information was collected. If for some reason there is some
information that seems odd or is missing, mistakes can be corrected the following day.
Every 10 plots, the parameters will be re-measured and independently checked and
measurements compared for errors. Any errors will be explained, corrected and recorded.
These new measurements on permanent plots are intended to verify that the measurement
procedures were performed correctly.
Data Entry checks: To ensure that data is entered(registered) correctly, the person entering it
will recheck all of the data entered(registered) and compare it with the original data sheet
before entering another sheet. Communication between all personnel involved in measuring
and analysing data will be used to resolve any apparent anomalies before final analysis of the
monitoring data can be completed.
A random check will be made of 10 % of the data entered in the data base.
If there are any problems that cannot be resolved with one of the plot data, the plot will not be
used in the analysis.
Documents showing that these procedures were followed, will be archived along with the
project documentation. The document will include a list of members of the field team and the
project leader will certify that the crew members were trained.
QC
During field work, or soon after, a double check will be done on the field measurements. A
complete measurement of 10% of the plots will be done by a different team from the one that
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performed the measurement and sampling to quantify the amount of error due to field
measurement techniques. The first field crews who take measurements will not be aware of
which plots will be re-measured.
Comparison of project data with benchmarks will also help detecting possible inconsistencies
in data collection or processing.
Carbon stocks will be calculated at the plot (instance) level for each pool measured. The mean
and variation for all instance in a stratum will allow us to estimate, by sector, the average
carbon stocks for each pool. This will tell us if the target accuracy has been reached or if the
sample size must be increased.
Monitoring system (MINKA & GIS)
MINKA: It is the ECOTIERRA project database system developed on PHP Web language and
supported by Mysql.
A Geographic Information System will be implemented with the following basic layers:

project boundaries,

aerial photographs

identification of each instance with is initial stratification and is projected planting
pattern (project strata),

permanent sampling plots,


Other layers may be added in the future
Storage: All digital data on MINKA are kept on two physical hard disks and a space on
the Web. MINKA is secured by the uses of individual user id and password.
Adaptive Management plan
All the work within this document is the result of a process of adaptation. To set up such a project,
ECOTIERRA had to be in constant adaptation to the demands and realities of cooperatives and
producers. The varieties of tree species and strata implantation are a clear sign of this. It is the
same with the constant improvement of the MINKA database system following quality and
reliability tests. To achieve this process and generate a follow-up lessons learned, ECOTIERRA
will establish a register of lessons learned, project changes, corrections and progress that
generates a continuous quality improvement project.
5
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The area affected by the project consists of plots where the soil has been degraded over time by
its misuse and poor agricultural practices (culture migration, the burning and low fertilization) and
are still deteriorating. Currently, these plots belonging to Peruvian farmers are either extensive
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crops and for limited periods due to the poor soil, abandoned or extended, meadow or pasture
used fallow.
A public consultation conducted in two communities reported that most farmers have noticed a
degradation of their environment over time, decrease in soil fertility, change in the water cycle
(variation in rainfall, scarcity water), deforestation, soil erosion due to more intense rainfall,
reduced diversity of fauna and flora, warming and climate instability. Environmental changes are
identified as problematic by the communities as they lead to negative socioeconomic impacts (i.e.
decrease in income and more difficult access to water).
It is important to note that the project is located on small scattered plots and the technology
utilized is simple and manual. No machinery is planned. Soil disturbance in the implementation
will have a very small negative impact, especially when compared to regular disturbances that the
land is already experiencing. In addition, the implanted species are mainly native and noninvasive (2 exotic species are used out of 30). No use of chemicals is expected during the project.
Currently, no negative impact is anticipated.
In contrast, the positive environmental impacts that will result from the implementation of the
project of the same plots will be many. The project will increase the plant and forest cover,
increased diversity in tree species compared to traditional agroforestry system, using suitable and
compatible native species and the principles of organic farming.
Anticipated effects on the plots are increased litter and soil organic matter is that will have a
positive effect on the micro flora and micro fauna.
The anticipated impact on the wider environment is increasing the diversity and biological density
in plants, insects and improving ecological niches for native species (insects, birds, mammals,
reptiles and amphibians). The positive effects that should also be felt in the abiotic environment:
soil regeneration (protection against erosion, nutrient retention, etc.) and regulation of the water
cycle (better infiltration, retention not soil filtration water and release more progressive in terms of
watersheds involved in heavy flood mitigation).
The project will have a positive effect in regard to climate change by capturing and storing
additional carbon as shown in the calculations but also by the effects of mitigating the
consequences of climate change.
In the SEIA 67 official website it states: "If any natural or legal person, public or private, national or
foreign law, which seeks to develop an investment project likely to generate negative
environmental impacts of a significant nature, must be managed to an Environmental Certification
Competent authority is due”.
67
National System of Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) is a single, coordinated identification, prevention,
monitoring and early correction of negative environmental impacts system. Which has as governing body to the
Ministry of Environment. Are also included policies, plans and programs for national, regional and local levels that
generate environmental, significant implications, as well as private public investment projects or joint venture that
could cause significant negative environmental impacts.
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An analysis of the potential environmental impacts 68 has been developed by the operations team
of Ecotierra. This analysis shows that there is no significant negative environmental impact. We
attach said document in separate in the annexes of the project document.
Under this context, the coffee and cacao project will not generate significant negative impacts for
their activities themselves.
6
STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS
Since 2011, the project has been developed in partnership with Peruvian coffee and cocoa
cooperatives. We have identified the beneficiary of the project to be the producers, communities,
cooperatives and the central.
Public consultation was conducted in two communities: Coopallin and Bagua where 250 people
attended. The participant were mostly farmers, women and municipal and regional
representatives. The meeting was to introduce the project and to see if there were any comments
or objections. Each producer also responded to a survey which was later analyzed.
For the majority, planting trees is identified as a means to fight against deforestation and
environmental degradation. Initiatives in this direction have already been implemented by some
farmers. For these communities the project is perceived as carrying a positive impact in the
environment, and also the socio-economic level (i.e. increase soil productivity, rising incomes, job
opportunities, economic incentives for reforestation). Producers are also looking at the impact of
their organizations (greater cohesion within cooperatives by mobilizing project) and the
improvement in their technical knowledge which would help them diversify their revenue source.
This responds directly to the need expressed by the community to have more economic and
political power to improve their living conditions.
According to our survey, the project will have no negative impact on the local customs and
traditions, although some techniques related to local traditions, such as slash and burn farming,
should be avoided. A minority believes that for some farmers, there will be resistance to change
their current methods, which should be reduced when the project will begin to have a positive
impact.
During consultations, suggestions were made by the participants on how the project could be
improved. The main points reported affect the following areas: technical support and adequate
community awareness, strengthening community organizations and increase economic benefits
for the producer. Ways to integrate more women in the project, particularly in collective
organizations were also discussed.
All participants in the public consultation were in favor of implementing the project in their
community and the vast majority has confidence in its realization.
The suggestions made during the public consultation have been considered in the development
of the project
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HISTORY OF THE DOCUMENT
Version
v3.2
Date
1.0
Standard
version
VCS 2012.3
Nature of revision
Aug 16, 2013
First version sent to ECOCERT
2.0
VCS 2012.3
Dec 06, 2012
Second version sent to ECOCERT
3.0
VCS 2012.3
Jan 24, 2014
Third version sent to ECOCERT
4.0
VCS 2013.10
Apr 11, 2014
Fourd version sent to ECOCERT
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