Table 1 Main elements of different proposals for approaches to reduced deforestation and degradation (based on [58, 59]).

Definition of forests, deforestation and degradation

National definitions

Technically detailed versus general (e.g. three classes: forest, degraded forest, non-forest as proposed by Joint Research Centre)

Marrakech accords (UNFCCC 2002): 0.05–1 ha minimum area, 10–30% tree canopy cover and a potential of 2–5 m tree height; used by Annex I country Kyoto reporting and CDM projects

Others see Mollicone et al. [16] (intact forest, non-intact forest, non-forest)

Deforestation versus deforestation and degradation

Scale

National versus projects

   Minimum Mapping Unit

   National, sectoral

   Target area

   Sub-national

   Projects

Definition of MMU

Reference level, baseline

National historical averages with a correction for countries which have already significantly reduced deforestation; compared to reference (e.g. 1990 or 2000)

   Data for baseline

   Baseline development

Global average deforestation rate, countries with less than half the global average will be credited for not increasing deforestation, geographical

Sophisticated prognostic model of land competition

Carbon model

Simple, national average carbon stock versus sophisticated assessment

Inventory versus IPCC default values

   Simple, national average carbon stock for both

intact and

non-intact (degraded) forest

   Detailed carbon maps based on RS

Financing mechanism and trading

Instruments:

   Market-based

   Tax

   Incentives

Units created for trade: Certified emission reductions (CERs) in CDM projects:

   Short-term credits (tCERs)

   Long-term credits (lCERs)

Voluntary carbon market:

   Not entire forest area accounted for

   Only specified amount banked as buffer.