2. Sources, Reference Standards and Modules

The method presented here is the update of the two methods "Method for climate protection projects in the forest for Switzerland, according to ISO 14064-2 with external certification 2019" and "SILVACONSULT® Forest Carbon Standard, according to ISO 14064-2 with external certification 2022".

2.1 Normative Foundations

The present methodology is based on the standard 14064-2:2019 (Ref. 03) and uses its terminology. ISO 14064-2 is a standard for 'Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring, and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements', including. Validation and verification. The requirements of the standard are supplemented in the present methodology by the use of elements from the CDM AR-AMS0001 (Ref. 12) for quantifying the CDM Additionality Tool (Ref. 21), for the verification of Additionality as well as consideration of the risk determination according to (Ref. 29). Thus, the aspects of good professional practice are comprehensively depicted. In addition to the principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, accuracy, transparency, conservatism is important. This means that the creditable sink performance must not be overestimated. Soil carbon accounts for more than half of the total carbon in the forest at normal locations (Ref. 10, 27, 51, 52). Soil carbon is aligned with the biomass stock of trees, but it reacts slowly to stock changes and is not easily measurable at the project level. It is therefore conservatively not credited (Ref. 66).

2.2 Scientific Principles

In the model of the sustainably managed forest, an equilibrium stock of timber (normal stock) is established over larger areas. It is common practice to strive for the 'normal forest'. Growth and utilisation are in balance. Mortality is negligible in the 'normal forest model' (Ref. 07, 08, 09). The level of growth depends on the natural site conditions. The forest sites are, amongst other things. by the potential natural forest communities (Ref. 19). There is no utilisation in the natural forest. There, the trees become significantly older and eventually die. In the natural forest, an equilibrium stock of timber also establishes itself. This is also dynamic; growth and decay are in balance. According to Ref. 14, the average standing timber stock in natural forests in temperate zones is about twice as high as in sustainably managed forests. Ref. 14 refers to the montane beech-fir-spruce forest of the temperate zone, one of the most common forest communities in Central Europe. Ref. 25 shows that this also applies to other forest communities.

The ‘normal forest model’ is an idealised model of forest structure, in which all ages are represented with equal areas. Scientific yield tables are based on this model (Ref. 07, 08).

The utilisation determines the dynamics of the carbon storage forest. If more is utilised than grows, the average stock decreases; if less is utilised, the average stock increases. From a certain stock height, natural mortality increases and the stock approaches equilibrium in the natural forest.

Forest owners control the biomass stock development in the forest by the intensity of timber utilisation in relation to growth. By partially refraining from utilisation in the managed forest, the stock and thus the carbon storage is increased or secured.