Carbon Assessment for Net Zero Commitment in Southeast Asia

The primary challenge in this project was determining the baseline land carbon stock and the potential for carbon removals within large-scale conservation areas spanning Indonesia and Malaysia. These areas included diverse land types, such as non-forest and degraded forest areas, which faced threats from deforestation, degradation, and conversion into industrial plantation land. Furthermore, aligning the carbon assessment with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) FLAG (Forest, Land, and Agriculture) Guidance added complexity to the project, requiring high precision and adherence to international standards to ensure credibility and consistency with Net Zero commitments.

Gaia Indonesia addressed these challenges by employing advanced carbon accounting methodologies, integrating the UNFCCC A/R Large-scale Consolidated Methodology, the IPCC Guidelines, the Verra Verified Carbon Standard methodology and the GHG Protocol’s Land Sector and Removals Guidance. Using a robust nested-sampling design with 84 plots (each 0.25 ha in size), Gaia conducted a non-destructive biomass estimation across various land types. The sampling approach ensured statistical accuracy, with a 10% error margin and 95% confidence interval.

To further align with SBTi FLAG requirements, Gaia developed a detailed carbon monitoring plan. This plan accounted for both emission reductions from deforestation prevention and removals through afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR). Special emphasis was placed on using native and adaptive species for restoration efforts, enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration.