A team of 12 forest science experts evaluated the protocols using a detailed rubric based on four key components of forest carbon credit protocols. The evaluation identified 18 features necessary for project implementation within these components. Each protocol’s approach to these features was summarized, grouped with similar approaches where appropriate, and organized by component. Approaches were assigned a code and evaluated separately from the protocol from which they derived. Each expert scored 126 coded approaches on a seven-factor Likert scale, allowing a detailed evaluation of specific features rather than the protocol as a whole. Experts met in person to discuss, clarify, and share information; then adjusted their initial scores based on their additional understanding. Experts also proposed weights for features within each of the four components, and for the components themselves relative to one another, based on how critical they are to guaranteeing high quality carbon credits. Final scores for each protocol were calculated by combining median feature scores with median weights assigned by all experts.
Additional details on specific approaches, scores, and weights associated with each protocol are available in the full report.
The forest carbon protocols evaluated in this dataset cover three project types:
1. Improved Forest Management (IFM)
2. Afforestation/Reforestation (AR)
3. Avoided Conversion (AC)
IFM projects span a range of practices designed to increase carbon sequestration in managed forests, including extending rotation age and silvicultural practices that retain and/or promote onsite carbon stocks like retention harvesting and reduced impact logging.
AR refers to tree planting or managed regeneration on land that was not recently forested but can support forest ecosystems (afforestation) or recently forested but cleared (reforestation).
AC refers to projects that prevent the planned conversion of forests to another legally permissible land use (such as agriculture or commercial development).