Project Description

2.1.1 Project Scope

For this methodology Carbontribe focuses on afforestation projects within forest ecosystems, ensuring precise and transparent greenhouse gas (GHG) removal estimations. By focusing on the establishment of forests on previously barren or non-forested lands, this approach ensures precise carbon sequestration measurements and supports ecosystem enhancement through deliberate and well-documented afforestation efforts.

Projects related to reforestation, revegetation, or activities under Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) are excluded from this methodology. While these projects are vital to global climate and conservation goals, they involve different objectives, challenges, and accounting methods. To ensure clarity and rigor, any future expansion to include reforestation, revegetation, or REDD activities will be addressed through separate, dedicated methodologies tailored to their specific needs.

Projects applying under this methodology must provide clear evidence of afforestation activities, supported by detailed project plans, historical land-use data, and satellite imagery. These requirements ensure that project sites are accurately identified as previously barren or non-forested lands, maintaining the integrity and credibility of GHG removal estimations.

2.1.2 Purpose and Objectives

The project needs to define its overarching goal, which includes carbon sequestration, the restoration or enhancement of forest ecosystems, and the delivery of biodiversity and community co-benefits. This should encompass the specific environmental outcomes aimed for, and these objectives should be clear, measurable, and aligned with the overall sustainability goals of the project.

2.1.3 Project Boundaries

Carbon Pools and GHG Sources: The project needs to define the carbon pools and GHG sources associated with both the project and baseline scenarios. These include above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, soil organic carbon, and dead organic matter. Developers are required to provide detailed data on these carbon pools, along with methods for measuring and monitoring carbon stocks.

Geographical Boundaries: The geographical boundaries define the physical area in which the forest restoration or protection activities will take place. It is essential to clearly delineate these boundaries to avoid overlap with other carbon offset projects. Carbontribe then cross-checks and overlays the new project boundaries onto the existing repository database to detect any spatial overlap or inconsistencies.

Carbontribe will validate the project area and analyse land cover usages. For that, project developers are required to provide geographic information in a standardized format. This information must be submitted in the form of a KML file or a text file with an array of geographic coordinates. Below are the specific requirements and conditions for this submission:

Submission Format

1. KML File: The KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file must accurately delineate the project boundary. It must include a single, contiguous polygon or set of polygons representing the entire project area. The KML file must be formatted to be compatible with common GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and GPS software such as Google Earth, ArcGIS, and QGIS.
2. Array of Coordinates: If a KML file is not submitted, the project boundary may alternatively be defined by an array of geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) separated by commas. Each row has to be separated by a new line. The coordinates must be listed sequentially to form a closed loop that represents the boundary.

File Specifications

1. Coordinate System: All coordinates must be provided in the WGS84 datum (EPSG:4326).
2. Boundary Precision: Ensure the precision of the boundary coordinates is sufficient to prevent ambiguity, with at least six decimal places (e.g., 37.774929, -122.419416).
3. File Integrity: The file must be free of errors and validate against standard KML or GIS file validators.

2.1.4 Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement is essential for ensuring the success and sustainability of forest restoration projects, as it fosters collaboration, builds trust, and ensures that local needs and priorities are met. To achieve this, projects should actively involve local communities, governments, environmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders throughout all stages of the process.

In areas where Indigenous peoples and local communities are impacted, projects must adhere to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles. This involves early engagement, clear communication of project details, and securing documented consent before implementation. Compliance measures, records of consultations, and participatory decision-making processes are required to ensure alignment with community rights and environmental standards, particularly in high-risk regions.

To maintain accountability, all relevant documentation—including stakeholder engagement records, FPIC agreements (where applicable), and evidence of compliance—must be submitted as part of the application process. This ensures that projects meet ethical and legal standards while fostering long-term community support and environmental impact.