Carbon Measurement and Monitoring

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON CARBON MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING

COURSE BACKGROUND

Forests are crucial for regulating Earth’s climate, yet deforestation contributes significantly to global carbon emissions. Increasing forest area and avoiding further degradation are vital for climate change mitigation. To track progress and ensure accountability, international agreements like the UNFCCC require transparent and accurate inventories of forest carbon emissions and stocks. This often involves integrating complex field measurements, remote sensing data, and models.

ECAS Institute recognizes the urgent need for precise forest carbon data to support global climate efforts. We aim to equip professionals with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) necessary for robust carbon measurement and monitoring. This course directly addresses the demand for expertise in quantifying carbon for national inventories and initiatives like REDD+ and carbon markets.

This training is designed to provide participants with methodologies for assessing and tracking forest carbon. It will cover the roles of forests in climate mitigation, understanding carbon stocks and changes, and applying practical measurement and monitoring designs. By strengthening these technical capacities, ECAS seeks to enable more accurate reporting and effective participation in climate change mitigation efforts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) on the roles of forests in climate change mitigation, forest carbon stocks, carbon measurement methods, and monitoring. At the end of the module, learners will be able to:

1. Identify the roles of forests in climate change and that of international efforts to mitigate climate change.
2. Explain forest carbon stocks, the geographic and climatic constraints on forest carbon, and the drivers of change in forest carbon.
3. Apply the theoretical issues of and practical methods for measuring and monitoring forest carbon, including statistical approaches, sampling design, and operational protocols.
4. Integrate map and field-based measures to generate forest carbon stocks and emissions at plot to national scales using an IPCC framework.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

This course provides an overview of forest carbon stocks and change, along with methodologies for forest carbon measurement and monitoring. It focuses on equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) on the roles of forests in climate change mitigation, forest carbon stocks, carbon measurement methods, and monitoring

DURATION AND PROGRAM

This is a structured training course designed to provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills in carbon measurement and monitoring for forests. The program will combine lectures, exercises, and discussions to ensure a comprehensive understanding of methodologies for forest carbon assessment. The detailed program schedule, including specific session timings and practical components, will be communicated prior to the training commencement.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

This course is designed for a diverse audience interested in forest carbon measurement and monitoring:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Governmental managers, planners, and policymakers at different levels
• NGO practitioners and natural resources professionals.

TRAINING MODULES

The Carbon Measurement and Monitoring course consists of five comprehensive sections, each including multiple relevant topics, designed to provide a robust understanding of forest carbon accounting:

No	Module	Details
1.	CMM General Information	This introductory module sets the stage for understanding the context and importance of carbon measurement and monitoring in forests, highlighting its role in global climate efforts. Introduction to Carbon Measurement and Monitoring (CMM). Why forests are important for climate regulation. The significance of deforestation in global carbon emissions. Overview of UNFCCC requirements for carbon inventories. The role of national carbon inventories in climate mitigation.
2.	Overview of Climate Change and Forest Carbon	This module delves into the fundamental connections between climate change and forest ecosystems, emphasizing the role of forests in mitigation and key international initiatives. Basic concepts of climate change and the greenhouse effect. The role of forests in the global carbon cycle. International efforts: Introduction to REDD+ and carbon markets. Opportunities for developing nations to benefit from avoided emissions.
3.	Forest Carbon Stocks and Change	This module provides a detailed understanding of how carbon is stored in forests, the factors influencing these stocks, and the drivers that lead to changes in forest carbon. Components of forest carbon stocks (aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, dead wood, litter, soil organic carbon). Geographic and climatic constraints on forest carbon accumulation. Drivers of change in forest carbon (e.g., deforestation, degradation, growth, harvest). Concepts of carbon pools and flux.
4.	Carbon Measurement and Monitoring Design	This module focuses on the principles and practicalities of designing effective systems for measuring and monitoring forest carbon, integrating various data sources. Principles of transparent, reliable, and accurate carbon inventories. Statistical approaches for sampling design in forest carbon monitoring. Integrating field measurements, remote sensing data, and models. Operational protocols for data collection and management.
5.	Carbon Stock Measurement Methods	This module provides in-depth instruction on specific methodologies for measuring forest carbon stocks, covering various components and practical considerations. Direct field measurement methods for biomass (e.g., allometric equations). Methods for measuring dead organic matter and litter carbon. Techniques for soil organic carbon measurement. Remote sensing techniques for large-scale carbon mapping (e.g., LiDAR, satellite imagery). Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) in carbon measurement.
6.	National Scale Monitoring Systems	This module explores how data from plot to regional scales can be integrated to generate forest carbon stocks and emissions at the national level, adhering to IPCC frameworks. Frameworks for national carbon inventories (e.g., IPCC guidelines). Integrating map-based and field-based measures for national reporting. Data management and reporting for national carbon inventories. Case studies of national forest carbon monitoring systems. Meeting enhanced transparency requirements for international reporting.

TRAINING STYLE

The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.

The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.

The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.

GENERAL NOTES

• Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
• Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
• We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
• Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.

ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE

The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.