Project Updates

KACSAT Engine and Biomass Estimations GMT is committed to preserving and restoring the mangrove forests in the 001-OxC project area. To achieve this, GMT relies on the guidance from KACSAT, a powerful tool designed to monitor changes in deforestation rates, carbon sequestration, and mangrove forest coverage. The KACSAT system plays a critical role in determining the baseline data necessary to effectively manage the project area. Assessing Historical Deforestation with KACSAT One of the key functions of the KACSAT system is to evaluate historical deforestation rates in the project area. This data is crucial in determining future rates of unplanned deforestation and in creating a designated leakage belt. The system is equipped with the capability to perform high-resolution forest density analysis, which allows GMT to gain a deep understanding of the distribution of forest density within the project area. KACSAT classifies the forest cover percentages into five categories: bare, light, moderate, dense, and high. These classes are further divided based on their location relative to either water or roads as lower and higher than 10 meters. This information is used to guide GMT’s forest inventory and soil sample work in the field. In-Situ Measurements in the Field GMT conducts in-situ measurements in the field with the help of seven trained forestry teams. Each team is responsible for collecting soil samples and tree data, as well as measuring key parameters such as diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, and other relevant field measurements. Mangrove species found in the 001-OxC region offer ecological solutions for reducing coastal erosion and managing seasonal floods and sudden high ocean waves. These forests also provide habitats for a diverse range of coastal and marine organisms, including birds, tropical fauna, and fish. The most dominant species in the project area is Rhizophora apiculata, accounting for 49% of the mangrove forest cover, followed by Bruguiera sexangula (11.2%) and Lumnitzera racemose (10.3%). Comprehensive Analysis of Soil Components In addition to collecting tree data, GMT also takes in-situ measurements for soil and water parameters, such as soil pH, temperature, conductivity, and moisture, as well as water pH/temperature, total dissolved solids/electrical conductivity (TDS/EC), and salinity. The laboratory measurements encompass a comprehensive analysis of various soil components, including soil Carbon stock, water content, soil fractionation (sand, silt, and clay), and Nitrogen content. KACSAT uses this data to produce high-resolution Above-ground Biomass (AGB) and Below-ground Biomass (BGB) calculations, and deforestation rates Biomass Estimation with KACSAT Engine The KACSAT engine is designed to generate high-quality land use classification satellite images for a thorough analysis of deforestation and the development of biomass estimates for the project. The engine operates two core applications. The first is the generation and utilization of land cover classification and forest density analysis, while the second involves the development, calibration, and deployment of a carbon estimation engine to assess the carbon stocks of dynamic mangrove forests, both above and below ground.  

Setting the Reference Region and Leakage Belt Once the baseline forest inventories were completed, GMT coordinated with our verification partner, Kumi Analytics, and with YAGASU, to gather additional data for registration with the OxCarbon Standard. In June and July 2022, GMT and YAGASU define the proposed “Reference Region” and “Leakage Belt” boundaries for the project area. These boundaries were then registered with the Indonesian National Registry (SRN) and the OxCarbon Standard. Let’s take a closer look at what these terms mean. The “Reference Region” serves as the basis for determining historical deforestation levels in the area. This information is then used to project where deforestation is likely to occur in the future. On the other hand, the “Leakage Belt” refers to areas where deforestation exceeds the baseline projections, and is therefore considered as leakage. In order to define the leakage belt, GMT and YAGASU performed a survey by consulting local experts and authorities about future planned and unplanned deforestation activities. They also conducted field assessments to gather a better understanding of the local livelihoods. 70 experts were interviewed, with 20 in Pulau Kampai, 20 in Halaban, 15 in Salahaji, and 15 in Pangkalan Siata. It’s important to note that the project area must exclude areas where planned deforestation is taking place. The methodology for quantifying leakage varies based on whether the project is an Ex-ante or Ex-post activity, as well as the geographical factors involved. For example, in Ex-ante activity-shifting leakage, a combination of rural appraisals and expert knowledge is used to define the leakage. On the other hand, in the case of Ex-post leakage, drivers of leakage in the leakage area are identified using remotely sensed data on deforestation and degradation rates. Overall, GMT’s process for defining the “Reference Region” and “Leakage Belt” within the registered project constitute crucial parts of the project baselining, and directly serve GMT and YAGASU to effectively anticipate, mitigate, and monitor potential impacts of deforestation on the project area and its immediate environs.  – The Global Mangrove Trust team

001-OxC Field Inventories GMT, together with YAGASU officers and local teams, next completed a comprehensive field inventory in two phases. During the first phase, which took place from August to December 2021, we conducted mangrove tree surveys and collected soil samples from 118 forest plots in four villages. GMT and YAGASU worked together to coordinate the surveys and analyzed the collected 354 soil samples at the Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit (PPKS) laboratory in Medan, North Sumatera. The plot coordinates were established using stratified random sampling protocols within the KACSAT baselining engine, which were delivered to GMT by their verification partner, Kumi Analytics. In the second phase, which took place in March 2022, the focus was on re-evaluating the carbon sequestration levels in 25 selected plots in the Pulau Kampai village. These plots were again established based on the KACSAT strata and land classification systems. All in all, the field inventory and soil sample analysis constituted a comprehensive and collaborative effort between GMT and YAGASU, aimed at providing valuable insights into the mangrove forests in the region and providing a robust baseline profile of the mangrove forest to our verification partner and OxCarbon Standard. – The Global Mangrove Trust team

An Update on 001-OxC Dear friends!  As many of you are aware, we started our marque mangrove conservation and regeneration project, the 001-OxC mangrove project, in early 2021 in partnership with Yayasan Gajah Sumatera (YAGASU). From July to September 2021, we organized village meetings with the communities in the Pulau Kampai Island area in North Sumatra and worked hard to realize the first important step of establishing local governance. Our work culminated in the co-creation and signing of a series of memorandums of understanding with the leaders of four villages in Pulau Kampai, Pangkalan Siata, Salahaji, and Halaban – in which the villages committed to protect the local mangrove forests, support a research program to investigate the mangroves’ carbon sequestration potential, and baseline the conservation and restoration zone for a long term blue carbon regeneration project.  Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to hold virtual meetings over the past two years with our local NGO partner Yagasu. But with the help of Hogan Lovells International in Hong Kong and Jakarta, we were able to ensure a coordinated engagement with a high level of sustained input and alignment with the local community leaders. We appreciate HGL’s support particularly in conducting a comprehensive review of Indonesian forest and maritime laws and analyzing dynamics in Indonesian regulations.  Together with YAGASU and HGL, we drafted the essential frameworks for Community Benefits Sharing, Land Management, and Carbon Financing, to ensure that all stakeholders were aligned with the long term conservation and regeneration of the forests. And we’re still working with Hogan Lovells Jakarta today to make sure that our project complies with the evolving regulatory framework set by the Indonesian government. – The Global Mangrove Trust team