Estimating CO2 emissions associated with selective timber harvesting and oil palm version in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

A methodology is presented for estimating the CO2 emissions associated with selectiveharvesting and oil palm conversion in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This methodology is interim in the absence of explicit guidelines for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Emissions are estimated based on an assumption of average timber volume extracted per hectare of selective-harvesting; this assumption was used in the absence of up to date spatial information on land cover and land cover change for PNG. It is recommended that this methodology and the resulting estimates be revised as REDD guidelines become available, and spatial information for PNG improves.