FREL / FRL

Forest reference (emission) levels and their methods.

Methodologies

Kenya's Forest Reference Level (submitted to the UNFCCC in 2020) covers the reference period 2002–2018. Activity data come from the SLEEK land cover maps of 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018; emission factors from the pilot forest inventories, converted with the parameters below.

Pools: above- and below-ground biomass; gas: CO₂
Carbon fraction 0.47; CO₂ = C × 44/12
Root:shoot ratios: Montane 0.37, Dryland 0.28, Coastal & mangrove 0.20, Plantation 0.27
Activities: deforestation, forest degradation, sustainable management of forests (plantations), enhancement of carbon stocks

The full emission factor matrix is under GHG Inventory › Emission Factors.

How land-use changes are assigned to REDD+ activities

Each change between two maps is assigned to one activity: forest to non-forest in the three natural strata is deforestation; a fall in canopy class within a stratum is degradation; a rise in canopy class, or non-forest becoming natural forest, is enhancement; harvesting and replanting within public plantations is sustainable management. Forest remaining in the same class, and changes among non-forest classes, carry no emissions.

How each land-use change is assigned to a REDD+ activity

Start \ end	MW-D	MW-M	MW-O	MC-D	MC-M	MC-O	DL-D	DL-M	DL-O	Plantation	Cropland	Grassland	Wetland	Settlement & other
Montane & WRF – Dense	n	dg	dg								df	df	df	df
Montane & WRF – Moderate	e	n	dg								df	df	df	df
Montane & WRF – Open	e	e	n								df	df	df	df
Mangroves & coastal – Dense				n	dg	dg					df	df	df	df
Mangroves & coastal – Moderate				e	n	dg					df	df	df	df
Mangroves & coastal – Open				e	e	n					df	df	df	df
Dryland – Dense							n	dg	dg		df	df	df	df
Dryland – Moderate							e	n	dg		df	df	df	df
Dryland – Open							e	e	n		df	df	df	df
Plantation forest										n	s	s	s	s
Cropland	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	s	n
Grassland	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	s		n
Wetland	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	s			n
Settlement & other land	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	e	s				n

DeforestationForest degradationEnhancementSustainable management (plantations)No change

How emission factors are applied

Deforestation and degradation: instantaneous oxidation, so the factor is the full difference in CO₂ stock between the start and end classes. Forest converted to cropland, wetland or settlement falls to zero; to grassland, to 14.99 t CO₂/ha.
Afforestation (non-forest to forest): new forest does not reach the stock of its class within four years, so growth rates for forests under 20 years old are applied (IPCC 2006, Table 4.9), capped at the class stock.
Canopy improvement: growth rates for forests over 20 years old, also capped at the class stock.
Plantations: stock change from non-forest to the plantation value after four years of growth (87.56 t CO₂/ha).

Growth factors for afforestation, forests under 20 years (Table 17)
Stratum	AGB gain t/ha/yr	BGB	Total	Carbon	CO₂/yr	CO₂ in 4 yrs	IPCC source
Montane & western rain forests	10	3.7	13.7	6.44	23.61	94.44	Africa tropical rain forest, < 20 yrs (IPCC 2006 Table 4.9)
Dryland forests	2.4	0.67	3.07	1.44	5.29	21.16	Africa tropical dry forest, < 20 yrs (Table 4.9)
Mangroves & coastal forests	5	1	6	2.82	10.34	41.36	Africa tropical moist deciduous forest, < 20 yrs (Table 4.9)
Public plantation	10	2.7	12.7	5.97	21.89	87.56	Africa tropical mountain systems plantations (Table 4.10)

Growth factors for canopy improvement, forests over 20 years (Table 18)
Stratum	AGB gain t/ha/yr	BGB	Total	Carbon	CO₂/yr	CO₂ in 4 yrs	IPCC source
Montane & western rain forests	3.1	1.15	4.25	2	7.32	29.28	Africa tropical rain forest, > 20 yrs (Table 4.9)
Dryland forests	1.8	0.5	2.3	1.08	3.97	15.88	Africa tropical dry forest, > 20 yrs (Table 4.9)
Mangroves & coastal forests	1.3	0.26	1.56	0.73	2.69	10.76	Africa tropical moist deciduous forest, > 20 yrs (Table 4.9)
Public plantation	10	2.7	12.7	5.97	21.89	87.56	Africa tropical mountain systems plantations (Table 4.10)

Source: Ministry of Environment and Forestry, National Forest Monitoring System in the Republic of Kenya, Version 1 (Draft), February 2021. Chapters 3.4, 5.1 and 5.2.

Source: Ministry of Environment and Forestry, The National Forest Reference Level for REDD+ Implementation, December 2019 (Kenya’s FRL submission to the UNFCCC). Chapters 3.1.3 and 3.2.

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