Comparison of methods used within Member States for estimating CO2 emissions and sinks according to UNFCCC and EU Monitoring Mechanism: forest and other wooded land

Abstract

The national reporting for the EU Monitoring Mechanism on greenhouse gas emissions and for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change includes data for greenhouse gas emissions/removals from land-use change and forestry. By comparing the reports of EU15 Member States, we identified a lack of transparency, consistency and completeness concerning chapter 5 on land-use change and forestry. For chapter 5A (Changes in forest and other woody biomass stocks) we discuss the differing ways of estimation in detail. In addition to an improved transparency we consider a key requirement, to come to more harmonised approaches and definitions, e.g., with regard to land areas and the factors used to expand from stemwood to total tree biomass. COST E21 may become the forum for supporting the scientific/technical discussion on the issue, provided all Member States of EU15 are participating in the action.

Keywords

• Biospheric CO2 sinks
• greenhouse gas emission
• land-use change and forestry
• forest inventory
• EU Monitoring Mechanism
• UNFCCC
• comparison of methods