Responding to climate change: on the ground in Honduras

Report on project in Honduras aimed at assessing the potential for carbon sequestration through both establishing new plantations and conservation of existing forests. At the same time the goal was to illustrate that a project to sequester CO2 could also lead to better forest and land management, and improve the economic and social well-being of vulnerable communities through the participation of community groups and local organizations.

The paper gives some policy background to the interest in carbon sequestration (UNFCCC, Kyoto, Clean Development Mechanism) and outlines the process of identifying areas for potential carbon offset credits where this added value may contribute to sustainable management. It also gives a brief overview of forestry and land use issues in the Central American context.

The author then asseses the project area by calculating the base line carbon store against a 'business as usual' projection based on current management and a 'with project' projection based on a change of suitable land use to sustainable management systems and agroforestry projects. The results show an increase in stored carbon that was cost effective compared to other assessments.

This report was presented to the Forestry, Climate Change & Development Opportunities Seminar (CIDA Forestry Advisors Network and the Science, Technical and Advisory Services Directorate) in November 2001. Other presentations from the seminar can be found at:

http://www.rcfa-cfan.org/english/seminar.htm