Theme 1: Monitoring, mapping, measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) of SOC

Liesl Wiese

Summary

28 Oral presentations• 2 parallel sessions

15 Poster presentations

KEY QUESTIONS

Q1-1: What are the latest and reliable reference values for SOC stocks, and stock change factors based on country- or region-specific data for the most important land uses to be updated in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines?

Q1-2: What are the recent developments in reliable methods and models to quantify stock changes and how can these be best applied for SOC measurement and monitoring?

Q1-3: How can the uncertainties of SOC stock and stock change estimates be reduced?

Q1-4: Should specific MRV guidelines be developed to track SOC stocks and stock changes and if yes, what are the main methodological considerations?

• IPCC tables of reference values need to be updated

• Still used by many countries due to lack of national values

• Incentivize countries to develop national reference values

• Capacity development and training need

Q1-1: What are the latest and reliable reference values for SOC stocks, and stock change factors based on country- or region-specific data for the most important land uses

Q1-1: What are the latest and reliable reference values for SOC stocks, and stock change factors based on country- or region-specific data for the most important land uses

• Go to Tier 2 level using reference tables as transition step

• Emphasis developing stock change values• Land use matrix

• Goal to improve soil carbon management• More detailed assessment• Broaden discussion to include C by soil type

Q1-4: Should specific MRV guidelines be developed to track SOC stocks and stock changes and if yes, what are the main methodological considerations?

- Yes, ensure that SOC is properly addressed and monitored.

- Guidelines should support the carbon market based mechanisms (standards to be defined).

- Comparability between countries and how bottom-up approach applied (national to global).

Q1-4: Should specific MRV guidelines be developed to track SOC stocks and stock changes and if yes, what are the main methodological considerations?

- Tiered approach to provide simpler and more accessible methods for countries with less capacity

- Time periods to detect stock changes and associated sampling density

Q1-4: Should specific MRV guidelines be developed to track SOC stocks and stock changes and if yes, what are the main methodological considerations?

- Grid based sampling and monitoring sites- Data management implications - Drivers of SOC stocks and stock changes

need to be incorporated in guidelines

Q1-3: How can the uncertainties of SOC stock and stock change estimates be reduced?

• Uncertainties should be measured • Improving bottom-up / top-down integration can

reduce uncertainties• Guidelines can be improved for Tier 3

uncertainty assessments

Q1-3: How can the uncertainties of SOC stock and stock change estimates be reduced?

• Guidelines should address harmonization procedures

• Mineral and organic soils intermediate classes• Improved protocols needed for quality control

and quality assessment

Q1-3: How can the uncertainties of SOC stock and stock change estimates be reduced?

• Land use change and management uncertainty• Verification of coarse uncertainty at smaller

scales• Financial implication of reduced uncertainty

Q1-2: What are the recent developments in reliable methods and models to quantify stock changes and how can these be best applied for SOC measurement and monitoring?

• Need predictions at global and local scales with appropriate spatial resolutions

• Different resolutions have different purpose – reporting vs enabling improved soil management

• Different models have different assumptions, multi-model approaches to reduce the model uncertainties

Q1-2: What are the recent developments in reliable methods and models to quantify stock changes and how can these be best applied for SOC measurement and monitoring?

• Common sampling and analysis protocols needed• Assessment of old and new models, their

application and modifications• Proximal sensing can be used to measure C stock

and stock changes – regional calibration

Q1-2: What are the recent developments in reliable methods and models to quantify stock changes and how can these be best applied for SOC measurement and monitoring?

• Laboratory networks for measuring + monitoring• Include soil erosion in modelling• Include well defined specifications for gravel

measurement to remove bias• Importance of storing samples from reference

sites