Kyoto: Think Global, Act Local
Community carbon forestry as a mitigation option under climate change agreements
Mission
Kyoto: Think Global, Act Local (K:TGAL) is a research and capacity building program, financed by the Netherlands Development Cooperation, which is investigating the possibilities and potential for Community Based Forest Management of existing natural forest to be included as an eligible carbon mitigation activity under international climate change agreements in the future. It is also exploring the value of CBFM as a climate adaptation strategy.
The program involves research teams in three regions: East Africa, West Africa and the Himalayas, which coordinate the work of a number of local NGOs and conduct experiments with them in villages that are already engaged in CBFM. We are measuring the extent to which CBFM practices increase sequestration in existing forests and reduce emissions of carbon by avoiding deforestation. We are also measuring the (non-carbon) benefits of CBFM in terms of sustainability and livelihoods. The program aims to support developing countries by strengthening capacity to submit such projects for finance under various climate funds.
Challenges for community carbon forestry
First year of the research: Jan 2003 - March 2004
Second year of the research: April 2004 - July 2005
Third year of research: October 2005 - December 2006