REL / RL (Reference Emission Level / Reference Level)

The REDD + Strategy invested in advancing the conceptualization and design of the REL / RL in order to respond to the decisions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the emerging methodological framework of FCPF and the JNR certification scheme of the VCS. A national dialogue is also maintained for consistency of the REL / RL with the emerging methodological framework for the C-neutrality.

The REL / RL will include a comprehensive assessment of forest degradation, for which the proposed LiDAR acquisition can help to improve accuracy. Besides degradation, other REDD + activities will be included and, insofar as possible, the sources of uncertainty (spread) to invest in improving the accuracy of the REL / RL will be identified.

The proposal includes the estimation of emission factors and activity data through a combination of measurement techniques. This proposal is discussed with the REDD+ interagency committee through a series of roundtables aimed at defining the institutional arrangements for the operation of National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS).

Sources of information for the estimation of activity data and emission factors for REDD + activity for the SNMB proposal. The methodologies for these estimates are consistent with the REL / RL.

Under the new approach of the NFMS, the national forest inventory plays a major role, especially for estimating emission factors. Further expansion factors are derived by stratum for dead wood, litter and organic mulch from biomass. Areas and REDD + activities will also be validated from the inventory. This will also support triangulating information from remote sensors. The national forest inventory is led by SINAC and overseen by the Director of Forest Inventory created by SINAC-Fonafifo agreement.