Develop a framework for designing context-specific MRV systems.
A detailed analysis of existing MRV systems was performed, focusing on five quality criteria: baseline, additionality, permanence, leakage, and double counting. These criteria are fundamental to the effectiveness and credibility of any CF certification framework. Each criterion was further refined by analysing the options and comparing them in terms of accuracy, cost, fairness, and acceptability for farmers. The analysis of current MRV systems and the development of draft rules and guiding principles were regularly shared and discussed among partners, contributing to a shared understanding of CF and clarifying how the MARVIC scientific community can address CRCF needs.
Identification, improvement, development and pre-assembly of MRV building blocks.
Robust and cost-efficient MRV systems need smart assembly of data and models. We hereby distinguish between the phase of MRV development and the phase of up-scaling, when MRV systems are applied at the farm or regional scale. Efficient strategies for data collection across multiple scales to meet multiple MRV purposes were developed, more specifically by a) developing a metadata sourcebook of available datasets needed for MRV, b) creating metadata datasets of benchmark sites (BS) for model calibration and validation, c) developing decision trees and guidelines to support smart soil sampling, d) reviewing remote sensing solutions and establishing a smart biomass sampling protocol to calibrate and validate models with RS assimilation, e) launching a survey to inventory and categorize farm data based on accessibility and interoperability. A model catalogue was created to consolidate information on soil and ecosystem models and evaluate their suitability for building Operational Processing Chains (OPCs) to monitor soil organic carbon and GHG emissions. In collaboration with ORCaSa, 2 international workshops were held to discuss a harmonized MRV framework and a decision tree for cropland—serving as a basis for other LUSTs. A tool was developed to match BS with models, enabling initial testing, improvement, and development of various models and OPCs. Finally, a draft guideline was delivered to a) assess model suitability, b) conduct model calibration and validation, and c) manage parameters and input data for uncertainty and sensitivity analyses to reduce error propagation.
Assessing the mitigation potential of CF practices and the impact of climate change.
A comprehensive assessment of the mitigation potential and uncertainties of CF practices in 5 key agricultural systems: peatlands, arable lands, grasslands, woody crops and agroforestry, was made and reported. The results were used in a first analysis of how these practices affect cumulative radiative forcing and temperature effects, indicating that even temporary carbon removals can contribute to net climate benefits. For the selected CF practices a start was made to collect data and quantification approaches for EU-wide spatially explicit mitigation potential maps. Finally, a protocol was developed for climate change modelling with process-based models (Landscape DNDC, DayCent, and ECOSSE), which comprises the definitions of scenarios and regions for analysis.
Socio-economic feasibility of CF practices and MRV systems.
Guidelines for assessments of operational and opportunity costs of CF practices and MRV systems were developed for test cases, and subsequent use for economic models. Experiences from the literature are sampled for an analysis of the financial mechanisms to incentivize CF and MRV, and workshops and surveys are planned for and tested to retrieve information on stakeholders’ perceptions on carbon removal certification standards and MRV, investigating trust, risk and uncertainties.
Connecting to policy, science and the wider stakeholder community.
A Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation strategy was defined to enhance MARVIC’s visibility and impact through websites, newsletters and webinars. In addition, MARVIC fosters synergies with other projects and initiatives and has prepared the setup of 3 End-user forums—Policy, Market, and Climate advocacy—to explore the needs of the specific end-users regarding MRV systems. The project is actively supporting the development of the CRCF regulation.
