Gazelle Publishes White Paper on ACoGS Methodologies
We would like to highlight the latest white paper from Gazelle Ecosolutions, which delves into the analysis of mainstream Avoided Conversion of Grassland and Shrubland (ACoGS) methodologies and proposes an improved framework.
Grasslands cover approximately 25% of the Earth’s surface and hold 12% of terrestrial carbon stocks, providing significant biodiversity and ecosystem benefits. The UN Environment Programme expects 24% of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) credits to come from grasslands by 2050.
Key highlights from the white paper include:
- Grasslands as a Carbon Sink: Grasslands represent a crucial carbon sink and play an essential role in protecting ecosystems from commercial development, agriculture, and other conversion drivers in high-risk areas.
- Methodological Challenges: The paper identifies significant challenges with the reliability of remote sensing for certain baseline scenarios and the lack of grassland-specific methodologies in avoided-conversion projects, which often originate from forestry practices.
- Recommendations for Improvement: Gazelle's white paper provides open recommendations for developing more rigorous protocols, integrating advancements in digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) solutions, and utilizing standards such as ISO 14064-2 to establish best practices.
The International Carbon Registry (ICR) relies on ISO 14064-2 as a standard denominator of best practices, which is beneficial in the absence of established methodologies for developers. This approach supports the development of robust and transparent nature-based carbon projects.
Read the full white paper on Substack here and access the PDF here.