Criteria, potentials and costs of forestry activities to sequester carbon within the framework of the clean development mechanism

Forest activities in developing countries can be used to sequester carbon for gaining emission reductions within the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. This study has assessed the potentials and costs for carbon sequestration through afforestation, reforestation and deforestation activities and how these are affected when certain criteria for eligibility are applied. The criteria address issues of additionality, permanence, socio-economic and environmental sustainability, compliance and verification, which are of major importance for the successful implementation of forestry projects in the Clean Development Mechanism. Application of the criteria results in a substantial decrease in the carbon sequestration potential and an increase in the project costs.