Requirements for validation

The requirements for validation of small-scale A/R (SSC A/R) projects are described in 6/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 14.  In summary, the requirements for validation of SSC A/R projects are as follows:

• The participation requirements for all projects (voluntary participation, establishment of a designated national authority (DNA) and ratification of the Kyoto Protocol) have been met;
• Comments from local stakeholders have been received and taken into account;
• Project participants have submitted documentation on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the project to the designated operational entity (DOE);
• The project is additional;
• Participants have selected an approach to deal with non-permanence;
  
• For non-bundled projects, the project falls into one of the categories in Appendix B and uses the relevant baseline and monitoring methodology for that project;
• For bundled projects, the bundle satisfies the conditions for bundling and has an appropriate overall monitoring plan;
  
• Information regarding leakage has been provided; and
  
• The project conforms to all other requirements for A/R CDM projects that are relevant to SSC A/R projects.

In full, the requirements are as follows:

The DOE selected by project participants to validate a proposed small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM, being under a contractual arrangement with them, shall review the project design document and any supporting documentation to confirm that the following requirements have been met:

1. The participation requirements set out in paragraphs 28-30 of the annex to decision 17/CP.7 and paragraphs 8 and 9 of the modalities and procedures for afforestation and reforestation project activities under the CDM are satisfied
2. Comments by local stakeholders have been invited, a summary of the comments received has been provided, and a report to the DOE on how due account was taken of any comments has been received
3. Project participants have submitted to the DOE documentation on the analysis of the socio-economic and environmental impacts, including impacts on biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and impacts outside the project boundary, of the proposed small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM. If any negative impact is considered significant by the project participants or the host Party, project participants have undertaken a socio-economic impact assessment and/or an environmental impact assessment in accordance with the procedures required by the host Party. Project participants shall submit a statement that confirms that they have undertaken such an assessment in accordance with the procedures required by the host Party and include a description of the planned monitoring and remedial measures to address them
4. The proposed small-scale afforestation and reforestation project activity under the CDM is additional if the actual net greenhouse gas removals by sinks are increased above the sum of the changes in carbon stocks in the carbon pools within the project boundary that would have occurred in the absence of the registered small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM, in accordance with paragraphs 18-19 below
5. Project participants have specified the approach proposed to address non-permanence in accordance with paragraph 38 of the modalities and procedures for afforestation and reforestation project activities under the CDM
6. The proposed small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM conforms to one of the types in appendix B and uses one of the simplified baseline and monitoring methodologies specified in appendix B, and the estimation of the existing carbon stock is conducted in an appropriate manner
7. A bundle of small-scale afforestation and reforestation project activities satisfies the conditions for bundling and the overall monitoring plan for the bundled small-scale afforestation and reforestation project activities is appropriate
8. Project participants provide information regarding leakage in accordance with appendix B
9. The proposed project activity conforms to all requirements, including monitoring, verification and reporting, for afforestation and reforestation project activities under the CDM in decision 19/CP.9, its annex on modalities and procedures for afforestation and reforestation project activities under the CDM that are not replaced by these simplified modalities and procedures, and relevant decisions by the COP/MOP and the Executive Board (6/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 14).

Process for inviting stakeholder comments

The Executive Board has clarified that the stakeholder consultation process described in paragraph (c) above must be conducted in an open and transparent manner, allowing a reasonable time for comment and describing project activities in an easily comprehensible way:

An invitation for comments by local stakeholders shall be made in an open and transparent manner, in a way that facilities comments to be received from local stakeholders and allows for a reasonable time for comments to be submitted. In this regard, project participants shall describe a project activity in a manner which allows the local stakeholders to understand the project activity, taking into account confidentiality provisions of the CDM modalities and procedures (EB 8 Annex 3, paragraph 2(b)).