Submission on additional CDM activities – 2013
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Climate mitigation and adaptation
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Peatland conservation and restoration
This submission from Wetlands International to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) re-introduces the proposal made by Wetlands International in September 2012 to add “Avoided Drainage” and “Rewetting” as additional activities under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
The submission highlights:
• The rationale for adding “Avoided drainage” and “Rewetting” as additional LULUCF activities to the CDM;
• The definition of the new activities “Avoided drainage” and “Rewetting” under the CDM;
• Methodological guidance;
• Applicability conditions.
Currently, the only land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities that are eligible under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) are afforestation and reforestation (A/R), which allows for the generation of credits by net removal by sinks. This could include afforestation and reforestation of wet organic soils (peatlands), e.g. with swamp forest tree species.
Conservation, rehabilitation and improved management of (non-forested) peatlands are currently not eligible under the CDM, although the potential for reducing high greenhouse gas emissions is large. Including avoided peatland drainage and peatland rewetting in the CDM would therefore cover an important gap and provide an incentive for very effective and low cost measures for climate change mitigation. In addition, these projects would deliver significant non-carbon benefits in terms of ecosystem services, biodiversity, indigenous people’s rights, and prevention of soil subsidence and fire hazards.
