Carbon prospecting in tropical forests for climate change mitigation

Lian Pin Koh (), Yiwen Zeng (), Tasya Vadya Sarira and Kelly Siman
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Lian Pin Koh: National University of Singapore
Yiwen Zeng: National University of Singapore
Tasya Vadya Sarira: National University of Singapore
Kelly Siman: National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Carbon finance projects that protect tropical forests could support both nature conservation and climate change mitigation goals. Global demand for nature-based carbon credits is outpacing their supply, due partly to gaps in knowledge needed to inform and prioritize investment decisions. Here, we show that at current carbon market prices the protection of tropical forests can generate investible carbon amounting to 1.8 (±1.1) GtCO2e yr−1 globally. We further show that financially viable carbon projects could generate return-on-investment amounting to $46.0b y−1 in net present value (Asia-Pacific: $24.6b y−1; Americas: $19.1b y−1; Africa: $2.4b y−1). However, we also find that ~80% (1.24 billion ha) of forest carbon sites would be financially unviable for failing to break even over the project lifetime. From a conservation perspective, unless carbon prices increase in the future, it is imperative to implement other conservation interventions, in addition to carbon finance, to safeguard carbon stocks and biodiversity in vulnerable forests.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21560-2

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