Section 3.3

    CO₂ Removal from Above-ground Biomass (AGB)

    CO2 by AGB (tCO2/year)=AGB Sequestration Rate (tC/ha/year)×Area (ha)×C to CO2 factor\text{CO}_2\text{ by AGB}\ (t\text{CO}_2/\text{year}) = \text{AGB Sequestration Rate}\ (t\text{C}/\text{ha}/\text{year}) \times \text{Area}\ (\text{ha}) \times \text{C to CO}_2\text{ factor}
    (3.3)

    The Above-Ground Biomass (AGB) Sequestration Rate (tC/ha/year) represents the annual amount of carbon stored in the above-ground biomass of trees per hectare. This metric is expressed in metric tons of carbon (tC) sequestered per hectare annually and serves as a key indicator of how effectively vegetation absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and incorporates it into its biomass.

    The IPCC 2019 Refinement (Table 4.9 & 4.10) provides default values for AGB sequestration rates categorized by climate domain, ecological zone, continent, status/condition and/or species. These sources provide Tier 1 default values, which are widely accepted for general use when more detailed, localized data is unavailable.

    To ensure accuracy in the Above-ground biomass (AGB) sequestration rates used:

    1. Tier 1 Approach: Default rates provided by the IPCC are used in cases where site-specific data is not available.
    2. Refined Approaches (Tier 2 or 3): When available, project-specific data or values derived from peer-reviewed studies are prioritized. These may be obtained through recent scientific literature or direct field measurements.

    This approach balances the use of standardized guidelines with the integration of site-specific data to enhance the credibility and accuracy of carbon accounting in forest afforestation projects.

    Annual Carbon SequestrationCO₂ Removal from Below-ground Biomass (BGB)