REDD Glossary

Activity-Shifting Leakage

Forest Carbon activities that directly cause carbon-emitting activities to be shifted to another location outside of the project boundaries cancelling out some or all of the project's carbon benefits. One example would be a plantation project that displaces farmers and leads them to clear adjacent forests. See 'Leakage.'

Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry. IPCC, 2000—Robert T. Watson, Ian R. Noble, Bert Bolin, N. H. Ravindranath, David J. Verardo and David J. Dokken (Eds.) Cambridge University Press, UK. pp 375.

Adaptation

The adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Various types of adaptation can be distinguished, including anticipatory, autonomous and planned adaptation.

Appendix 1 Glossary. In Climate Change 2007 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Parry, M.L., Canziani, O.F., Palutikof, J.P., van der Linden, P.J. & Hanson, C.E. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. p. 976.

Anticipatory Adaption

Adaptation that takes place before impacts of climate change are observed. Also referred to as proactive adaptation.

Appendix 1 Glossary. In Climate Change 2007 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Parry, M.L., Canziani, O.F., Palutikof, J.P., van der Linden, P.J. & Hanson, C.E. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. p. 976.

Autonomous Adaption

Adaptation that does not constitute a conscious response to climatic stimuli but is triggered by ecological changes in natural systems and by market or welfare changes in human systems. Also referred to as spontaneous adaptation.

Appendix 1 Glossary. In Climate Change 2007 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Parry, M.L., Canziani, O.F., Palutikof, J.P., van der Linden, P.J. & Hanson, C.E. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. p. 976.

Planned Adaption

Adaptation that is the result of a deliberate policy decision, based on an awareness that conditions have changed or are about to change and that action is required to return to, maintain, or achieve a desired state.

Appendix 1 Glossary. In Climate Change 2007 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Parry, M.L., Canziani, O.F., Palutikof, J.P., van der Linden, P.J. & Hanson, C.E. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. p. 976.

Additionality

The requirement by which, under the Kyoto Protocol and sound voluntary market standards, carbon credits will be awarded only to project activities where emissions reductions are "additional to those that otherwise would occur", i.e. additional reductions compared to the "baseline scenario".

"Glossary", Ecosecurities Limited. "Challenges for a business case for high-biodiversity REDD Projects and Schemes."- A Report for the Secretariat of the CBD, February 2009, Version 1.2

Afforestation

Afforestation is the direct human-induced conversion of land that has not been forested for a period of at least 50 years to forested land through planting, seeding and/or the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources.

UNFCCC, as quoted in Global Canopy Programme, "Glossary of Terms" - "The Little REDD Book. A Guide to governmental and non-governmental proposals for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation." (Global Canopy Foundation, November 2008.) UNFCCC. Glossary of CDM Terms. EB41. 2008.

Allocation

The allocation of emissions permits or allowances among greenhouse gas emitters to establish an emission trading market. The allocation of emission permits / allowances can be done through grandfathering (based on past emissions) or the auctioning of permits.

"Glossary", Ecosecurities Limited. "Challenges for a business case for high-biodiversity REDD Projects and Schemes."- A Report for the Secretariat of the CBD, February 2009, Version 1.2

Allowance

An authorization to emit a fixed amount of a pollutant (e.g. one ton of CO2e).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Allowance Trading Basics." Clean Air Markets. 14 Apr. 2009. 19 September 2010.

Annex-1, Annex-B Countries / Parties

The signatory nations to the Kyoto Protocol that are subject to caps on their emissions of greenhouse gases and committed to reduction targets – countries with developed economies. Annex I refers to the 36 countries identified for reduction in the UNFCCC while the Annex B is an adjusted list of 39 countries identified under the more recent Kyoto Protocol. Annex B countries have their reduction targets formally stated.

Anthropogenic

The term used to distinguish naturally occurring greenhouse gas emissions from ones that result from human activity. (It is also referred as human induced).

“Glossary and Abbreviations”, Barnsley, Ingrid, United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) 2009, “UNU-IAS Guide, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD): A Guide for Indigenous Peoples.” January 2009.

Assigned Amount (AA) and Assigned Amount Units (AAUs)

The total assigned amount of greenhouse gas that each Annex B country is allowed to emit during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. An Assigned Amount Unit (AAU) is a tradable unit of 1 metric ton of CO2 equivalent. (t CO2e).

“Glossary”, Ecosecurities Limited. “Challenges for a business case for high-biodiversity REDD Projects and Schemes.”- A Report for the Secretariat of the CBD, February 2009, Version 1.2

Assisted (Accelerated) Natural Regeneration (ANR)

The term used to describe management actions taken to enhance the natural processes of forest restoration, focusing on encouraging the natural establishment and subsequent growth of indigenous forest trees, whilst preventing any factors that might harm them.

”Glossary”, FOREST RESTORATION RESEARCH UNIT, 2008. “Research for Restoring Tropical Forest Ecosystems: A Practical Guide”. Biology Department, Science Faculty, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

Avoided Deforestation

This occurs when land that would have been demonstrably deforested is not, because of a change in policy, funding, actions, goals, etc.

“Glossary and Abbreviations”, Barnsley, Ingrid, United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) 2009, “UNU-IAS Guide, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD): A Guide for Indigenous Peoples.” January 2009.

Avoiding Planned Deforestation (ADP)

The reduction in GHG emissions by stopping deforestation on forest lands that are legally authorized and documented to be converted to non-forest land. This REDD practice can occur in degraded to mature forests. APD project proponents must provide the verifier with evidence showing that the project area was planned to be converted.

Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Guidance for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use Projects. Released November 18, 2008b. Pg 14.

Avoiding Unplanned Frontier Deforestation and Degradation (AUFDD)

The reduction in GHG emissions by stopping deforestation/degradation of degraded to mature forests at the forest frontier that has been expanding historically, or will expand in the future, as a result of improved forest access, often through construction of roads.

Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Guidance for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use Projects. Released November 18, 2008b. Pg 14.

Avoiding Unplanned Mosaic Deforestation and Degradation (AUMDD)

The reduction in GHG emissions by stopping deforestation/degradation of degraded to mature forests occurring in a mosaic pattern. Such deforestation/degradation typically occurs where population pressure and local land use practices produce a patchwork of cleared lands, degraded forests, secondary forests of various ages, and mature forests; where the forests are accessible; and where the agents of deforestation/degradation typically are present within the region containing the area to be protected.

Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Guidance for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use Projects. Released November 18, 2008b. Pg 14.

Baseline Scenario

In seeking to measure whether greenhouse gases have increased or decreased, it is necessary to have a known previously emitted amount (often connected to a baseline date or year), against which to make a comparison over time. This is often referred to as the “baseline scenario” or “baseline”, i.e. expected emissions if the emission reduction activities were not implemented. In the case of REDD, the main options are historical baselines (average emissions during a past period), modeled baselines (spatially explicit - e.g., land use models – or non spatially explicit process models – e.g., econometric models), and negotiated baselines.

“Glossary”, Ecosecurities Limited. “Challenges for a business case for high-biodiversity REDD Projects and Schemes.”- A Report for the Secretariat of the CBD, February 2009, Version 1.2, “Glossary and Abbreviations”, Barnsley, Ingrid, United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) 2009, “UNU-IAS Guide, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD): A Guide for Indigenous Peoples.” January 2009.

Biodiversity

The total diversity of all organisms and ecosystems at various spatial scales (from genes to entire biomes).

Biomass

The total mass of living organisms in a given area or volume; dead plant material can be included as dead biomass.

Biomes

A major and distinct regional element of the biosphere, typically consisting of several ecosystems (e.g., forests, rivers, ponds, swamps) within a region of similar climate. Biomes are characterized by typical communities of plants and animals.

Biotrade

Those activities of collection/production, transformation and commercialization of goods and services derived from native biodiversity (genetic resources, species and ecosystems), under criteria of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Change 2007 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Parry, M.L., Canziani, O.F., Palutikof, J.P., van der Linden, P.J. & Hanson, C.E. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. p. 976.

Buffer

The amount of carbon credits, determined by risk analysis or the rules of a particular standard, which are set aside and not commercialized to ensure validity of carbon credits from a project in the event of leakage or impermanence.

“Definitions and Jargon” Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD): A Casebook of On-the-Ground Experience. 2010. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and Wildlife Conservation Society. Arlington, Virginia.

Bundling

A combination of several small-scale project activities to form a single project activity or portfolio under the CDM in order to decrease transaction costs per unit of emission reductions.

“Glossary”, Ecosecurities Limited. “Challenges for a business case for high-biodiversity REDD Projects and Schemes.”- A Report for the Secretariat of the CBD, February 2009, Version 1.2

Business- As-Usual (BAU) Scenario

The land use and emissions profile for a forest carbon project area prior to intervention, serves as a bench mark to measure the impact of REDD actions. Also referred to as “baseline.”

“Definitions and Jargon” Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD): A Casebook of On-the-Ground Experience. 2010. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and Wildlife Conservation Society. Arlington, Virginia.