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ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED JOINTLY(AIJ)
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Costa Rica - Norway
Report on Activities Implemented Jointly
Pursuant to Documents FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1 Decision 5/CP.1, para. 2 (b)
May 1997
List of
Projects
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Project Description:
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Title of Project: Costa Rica / Norway Reforestation and Forest Conservation AIJ Pilot
Project
The project will be developed in the Virilla river basin, in Costa Rica, where four thousand hectare (ha)
of reforestation and forest conservation/regeneration will take place. One thousand ha will be reforested
and 3,000 ha of existing forest area will be conserved, 2,000 ha in a natural primary forest area and 1,000
ha in a secondary forest area. The implementation period will be ten years in successive and overlapping
stages covering the micro-basins in the zone. A 25 year active life of the project is estimated.
The project will sequester or avoid emissions of carbon (C) through reforestation and forest conservation
activities. The "cumulative effect" or net benefit of this forestry project is 230,842 metric ton
of Carbon (mt C) In addition, it will displace fossil fuel emissions from the Costa Rican energy system,
due to increased output from the several hydroelectric projects located in the Virilla river basin.
This project is part of the "Private Forestry Project" (PFP), a national scope forestry project
designed to use AIJ's foreign investments to compensate farmers for their conservation and
reforestation efforts. The PFP will allow for the expansion of privately-held conservation areas, through
expanded and long-term use of the state's forestry incentives. Under PFP, such incentives would change
from governmental subsidy to a payment for environmental services.
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Participants :
The foreign investors are: a Norwegian Consortium (NC) of three companies, Eeg-Henriksen Anlegg A.S., one
of the Norway's leading construction companies, Kvaerner Energy A.S., a world leader in production of
turbines and ABB Kraft A.S, a Norwegian subsidiary of the multinational company ABB, producing generators
and electrical control systems, and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RNMFA), Department of
Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, responsible for Government financing of AIJ projects.
The host investor is the National Power and Light Company (CNFL), a private enterprise established to
produce and distribute electricity in the San José metropolitan area, both produced by CNFL and by
the Costa Rican Electrical Institute (ICE), the major national utility.
CNFL will have the responsibility for the execution of the project and the Costa Rican Office on Joint
Implementation (OCIC), a host participant, is the authorized office for the promotion of AIJ/JI policy and
activities. OCIC will be responsible to issue, certificate and guarantee the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
offsets, known as Certifiable Tradable Offset (CTO), to foreign parties who invest on AIJ projects in Costa
Rica, as proof of the CO2 emissions sequestered or avoided through their investment.
Foreign Contact :
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Name of organization
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Norwegian Consortium (NC)
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Function within activity
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Project foreign investor
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Country
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Norway
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Contact Person
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Bjorn Nordby
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Job title
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NC Representative
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Post Code
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Drammensveien 20A
0255 Oslo, Norway
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Telephone
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+47-22 54 04 00
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Fax
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+47-22 55 53 30
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Name of organization
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Royal Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (RNMFA)
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Function within activity
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Foreign investor - AIJ
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Country
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Norway
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Contact Person
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Jostein Leiro
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Job title
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Head of Division
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Post Code
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- JuniPlassen/Victoria Terrace
PO Box 8114 Dep., N-0032 Oslo
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Telephone
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+47-22 24 36 00
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Fax
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+47-22 24 95 80
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Host Contact:
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Name of organization
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National Power and Light Company (CNFL)
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Function within activity
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Local investor and developer
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Country
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Costa Rica
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Contact Person
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Pablo Cob
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Job title
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General manager
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Post Code
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Apartado 10026-1000
San José
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Telephone
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(506)223 44 33
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Fax
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(506)221 46 01
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Name of organization
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Costa Rican Office on Joint Implementation (OCIC)
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Function within activity
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Designated national authority on AIJ
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Country
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Costa Rica
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Contact Person
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Adalberto Gorbitz
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Job title
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Manager
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Post Code
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PO Box 7170-1000
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Telephone
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(506)290 12 83
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Fax
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(506)290 12 38
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E-mail
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crocic@sol.racsa.co.cr
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3) Activity :
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General description:
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The objective is to conserve and rehabilitate the forest in the upper Virilla river basin, to
produce among others environmental benefits, the reduction of atmospheric GHG emissions through
biomass growth and avoidance of future emissions.
The forestry activities will improve the existing hydrological resources of the watershed,
increasing the efficiency of the hydroelectric plants and enhancing the displacement of fossil fuel
use in the national electricity system. The Virilla river is location for several hydroelectric
projects.
The Virilla river basin was selected as priority at a national level, because it serves as an
aquifer recharge zone for the main aqueducts
from the Greater Metropolitan Area of San José, and due to its value and vulnerability as a
protected area in the midst of the most populated zone of the country.
In addition, the conservation of the forest area as a carbon sink, will provide payments to private
small and medium landholders for the environmental service of managing their lands, consistent with
the objectives of the new Costa Rican Forest Law Nº 7575.
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Type of project:
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Forest Preservation, Restoration and Reforestation
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Location:
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The project is located partially outside the Greater Metropolitan Area of San José, and will
be executed in the upper part of the Virilla river basin, which is located in the Central Plateau
of the country, covering from the source of the river to the point where it merges with the
Tibás river, an extension of 142 km2. Maximum elevation is 2,950 m above sea
level and minimum 1,100 m.
The area is located northeast of the city of San José. The northern boundary is the Central
Volcanic Range Forest Reserve, the eastern boundary the Braulio Carrillo National Park, the
southern boundary includes districts belonging to the Province of San José and the western
boundary is the city of Santo Domingo, in the Heredia Province. This location allows for the
potential to protect the watershed.
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Activity starting date:
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March, 1997
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Expected activity ending date:
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The year 2006
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Life time of activity if different from the ending date:
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Under the Forestry Environmental Services Payment (FESP) program, the legally binding contracts are
for 20 years. However the life horizon of the project has been set for 25 years for purposes of
quantification of benefits, costs and monitoring. Therefore, the project is expected to end by the
year 2022.
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Technical data:
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Approximately 1,000 ha of pasture will be dedicated to tree plantation, consisting of native high
altitude species to preserve the biological diversity of the area. Since a significant part of the
project is within the buffer zone of Braulio Carrillo National Park, it will be possible to
establish biological corridors along the rivers.
Furthermore, by using native species, it will also be possible to accumulate more information on
their reproduction in plantations.
The incorporation of farms within forest areas or lands to be reforested will take place along a
period of ten years, starting in 1997 with protection of 200 ha of primary forest, 100 ha of
secondary forest and 100 ha of commercial reforestation. According to 1992 data on land-use, in the
upper part of the basin there are 3,617 ha of primary forest and 1,961 ha of secondary forest. With
this project, at least 50% of this area will be protected.
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Institutional arrangements:
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The project will be developed within the Costa Rica legal and institutional framework of the
Forestry Environmental Services Payment (FESP) program. This program is based on the 1996 Forestry
Law, which determines one-third of the 15% sales tax revenue on fossil fuels will be used to
compensate private forest owners for the environmental services provided by forest protection and
plantations. The definition of environmental services includes: the reductions of GHG emissions,
the protection of biodiversity, the protection of aquifers and the scenic view for tourism
attraction. The Law authorizes the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) to find international
partners to the FESP program, so that the cost of producing global environmental services, like
CO2 reduction, can be shared with the international community.
To make use of external AIJ investments, the Specific Fund for the Conservation and Development of
Greenhouse Gas Sinks and Deposits, was established by the Executive Decree Nº 25067-MINAE of
April 22.
OCIC will be responsible to receive the contributions and disburse these funds to the National
Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), upon satisfactorily proof of successful sequestration or
avoidance of emissions of CO2 through the FESP program. In addition, OCIC will issue to
foreign AIJ investors the CTOs as proof of the offsets.
The proof of effective sequestration or emissions avoidance can be made anywhere in the country, as
long as it is part of the FESP program that began in October 1995. This mean that each CTO that is
issued will be guaranteed against CO2 offsets that have already taken place through the
FESP program. OCIC will document these facts. These CTOs will be transferred by OCIC to the
Norwegian investors in return for their financial contributions to the project.
FONAFIFO will execute the financial administration of the FESP Program by subscribing legally
binding contracts with individual farmers, by means of which they get yearly payments against proof
of effective conservation of forest or reforestation actions.
MINAE through FONAFIFO, committed itself to make available the necessary quota of FESP contracts
for up to 4,000 ha to farmers of the upper Virilla river basin willing to reforest or conserve
forest and to subscribe legally binding contracts with MINAE in this regard.
The CNFL executing unit and MINAE local authorities, will be responsible for the technical
promotion and implementation of the FESP program in the upper Virilla river basin for 1,000 ha of
reforestation and 2,000 ha of natural forest conservation and 1,000 ha of natural forest
regeneration.
The Costa Rica / Norway AIJ Pilot Project was the first international financing of the FESP
program. The FESP program is the financial mechanism of the PFP.
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4) Cost:
The project has a total cost of US$ 3,395,243. In accordance with the Costa Rican legal framework for AIJ
forestry projects, the investment capital contribution from the Norwegian partners, equivalent to 200,000
mt of carbon, is US$2 million, consisting of US$1.7 million from RNMFA and US$0.3 million from NC. While
the price of a CTO is determined by OCIC based on project development and implementation costs, the average
rate of Carbon for this project was US$ 10/mt of C or US$ 2.72/mt of CO2.
Implementation Cost and AIJ Investment
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Item
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1997
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1998
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1999
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2000
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2001
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2002
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Project cost (US$)
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2,137,092
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114,174
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114,174
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114,947
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117,625
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169,107
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AIJ investment (US$)
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2,000,000
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US$ / mt CO2:
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2.72
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2.72
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2.72
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2.72
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2.72
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2.72
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Item
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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Total
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Project cost (US$)
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157,262
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156,490
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157,880
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156,490
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3,395,243
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AIJ investment (US$)
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2,000,000
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US$ / mt CO2:
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2.72
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2.72
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2.72
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2.72
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Mutually Agreed Assessment Procedures:
As any project using the Costa Rican framework for FESP, FONAFIFO will be responsible for the monitoring of
the reforestation and forest conservation activities. This project has been designed and will be
implemented in a manner that guarantees maximum transparency and access for qualified analysts and project
verification entities during all stages of project implementation, including full access to project data,
methodology and verification of carbon sequestration and avoidance of emissions resulting from the
project.
A monitoring plan using satellite imagery for three year periods will be put in place. In addition, a model
will be used to analyze the satellite imageries, which compares actual land use with respect to previous
years. Besides remote imagery, ground-verification of the project's status will also take place, i.e.
to estimate the volume and the rate of growth of the trees, the height and diameter of random samples will
be measured. Monitoring will take place after 1998 to determine the deforestation rate for each period.
This rate should decrease as the project is implemented. OCIC will certify the amount of carbon sequestered
and avoided by the correct execution of the project.
RNMFA will have the right to monitor the execution of the project, and will have full access to project
data, methodology and verification of carbon sequestration and avoidance of emissions. Review missions
will, unless otherwise agreed, be organized every two years during the AIJ Pilot Phase to evaluate progress
made in the project implementation and experience gained of relevance to the AIJ Pilot Phase. The
participants in the review missions will be designated by MINAE, through OCIC, and RNMFA.
B) Governmental Acceptance, Approval or Endorsement:
(a) In the case of joint reporting, the report is submitted by the designated national authority of one
participating Party with the concurrence of all other participating Parties as evidenced by attached
letters issued by relevant national authorities;
1) For the activity:
First report and joint report: please add copies of letters of endorsement by each designated national
authority of Parties involved in the activity.
As evidenced by the attached letter, this integrated project has been endorsed by the following involved
participants: Costa Rican Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the National Power and Light Company of Costa Rica and the Norwegian Consortium, under an
agreement signed on October 26, 1996.
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This report is a joint report:
Please find enclosed a copy of the agreement/endorsement by the RNMFA, the Norwegian designated national
authority.
C) Compatibility with supportiveness of national economic development and socio-economic and
environment priorities and strategies:
This project is designed to be fully-integrated and are totally consistent with the goals of the government
of Costa Rica, that is to: augment the country's renewable energy supply, internalize costs of
environmental services, and sell nontraditional goods and services in which Costa Rica has a natural
comparative advantage, such as the service of cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
The Certifiable Tradable Offset (CTO) financing mechanism for the forestry component has been developed, as
the first worldwide of its kind, in order to gain practical experience with such a mechanism explicitly
designed with pilot phase objectives in mind, i.e. to contribute to the information base needed for
evaluations of the pilot phase without preempting its outcome. This mechanism will not only assure that
individual farmers receive compensation for the environmental services that their forest provides, but it
will also assure to AIJ investors that the farmers commitments are legally binding for at least 20 years.
Without AJI funding, it is certain that the FESP program, a component of the new Forestry Law, will not be
applied to this pilot project, along with the environmental, economic and social benefits associated with
it.
This project represents a full integration of public and private participation through the production of
environmental services, such as GHG emissions reductions. In addition, demonstrated that sustainable
development can be good business for all participants and that the CTOs are highly cost-effective and
economically viable in terms of real costs of emissions reduction when subject to mutually beneficial
incentive structures.
D) Benefits derived from the AIJ:
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Environmental Benefits (EB):
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The conservation and rehabilitation of the forest in the upper Virilla river basin will produce
global and local environmental benefits. Global benefits include mitigation of GHG and the
protection of the biodiversity. Among others local benefits include: the protection of the
aquifers, reduced erosion of soils, improvement of the water quality and the stabilization of
hydrological regime in the watershed.
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Do quantitative data exist for evaluation of EB:
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Yes. The reductions of carbon dioxide amounts a total of 230,842 mt C during the 25 years life time
of the forestry actions.
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Social Benefits (SB):
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The involvement of local small and medium size land owners in forestry activities, through
individuals legally biding contracts, will improve the income and the living conditions for the
residents in the watershed area.
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Do quantitative data exist for evaluation of SB:
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Yes. With the total US$2 million Norwegian AIJ additional investment, under the FESP program, an
expected additional minimum of 900 private AIJ local partners will be compensated, under the
framework of legally binding contracts, for the environmental services provided by their forestry
efforts, such as conservation and reforestation of a minimum of 10,000 ha of natural and secondary
forest in Costa Rica.
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Economical Benefits (EB):
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The CNFL's four hydroelectric plants in the Virilla river basin cascade are highly dependent
upon the hydrological conditions found in the upper river basin, precisely where the forestry
project will have its area of influence. Therefore, the reforestation and forest conservation of
the upper-river portion of the basin will improve the existing hydrological resources and the
quality of the water, increasing the efficiency of the hydroelectric generation. As a result, the
dependence on fossil fuels consumption for electricity generation in the national electric system
will be reduced and the cost of electricity generation will decrease. Furthermore, the provided
scenic beauty will promote ecological tourism attraction in the area.
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Do quantitative data exist for evaluation of EB:
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Yes. The hydrological regime in the Virilla basin has changed dramatically over the past 20 years,
specially regarding the volume of water and the mean and minimum flow during the dry season. During
the rainy season, the reservoirs experience almost instantaneous point rises in the volume carried
by the river and often leads to a plugging of the conduction systems when large quantities of
sediments are carried, which in turn diminishes the useful capacity of the reservoirs. The maximum
expected benefit of the project for the upper Virilla river basin's hydrological regime is a 2%
of improvement in the annual plant factor.
It can be demonstrated that an effective improvement in the quality of the water can also improve
the generation of power by prolonging the useful life of the equipment and reducing downtime for
maintenance and non-schedule shutdowns caused by excessive solid materials in the water. The
benefits of water quality can be quantified with aid of records which differentiate shut-downs by
type. It is estimated that a production capacity may be increased from 5 to 7% through the improved
water quality alone. This statistic is based upon the experience of plant administrators and
operators.
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E) Calculations of the Contributions of AIJ Projects to Mitigation of Climate Change
With this project, the CNFL's goal of GHG emissions reduction will be realized through the carbon
sequestration due to enhanced biomass growth and carbon storage through forest conservation. The project
will provide a total cumulative greenhouse gas reductions estimated at 230,842 mt C (see next Table). This
estimate was determined based upon the assumption of 25 years life for the project.
For this proposal, the project "cumulative effect" scenario is given by the accumulation of the
annual "project effect". For the primary forest conservation, it was assumed that in the absence
of the project, the current land-use pattern would continue along with decline in carbon stocks. Therefore,
the "project effect" estimation was based upon the emissions avoided by halting
deforestation.
The methodology used for the estimation of the biomass was based upon the "Life Zones System",
developed by Holdridge from the Scientific Tropical Centre, based in Costa Rica. It permits to map forest
types not only in terms of bioclimate or life zones, but also in terms of local forest and soil ecosystems
types or plant association, within each distinctive life zone.
The carbon was estimated considering a proportion of green biomass/dry biomass of 0.5 and the fraction of
carbon in the dry biomass used was 0.45. This calculation was done by the Life Zone System and an average
of 67 mt C/ha was obtained. On the other hand, the deforestation rate or risk of change in the use of the
land in the area was estimated in 7.5% weighted average. This value was obtained based on the Model of the
Critical Areas developed by FUNDECOR. Landsat images from 1986 and 1992 were used to validate the model.
Therefore, considering the area of 2,000 ha to be protected by the project, the avoided emission for the
first year, 1997, was 10,050 mt C (=2,000 ha * 0.075 * 67 mt C/ha) and for 1998 , 9,296 mt C (=1,850 ha *
0.075 * 67 mt C/ha). Thus, the "cumulative effect" of the project or the emissions avoided by the
net storage of Carbon in the protected primary forest during the project life span, 1997 trough 2021, was
estimated to be 41,000 mt C (see next Table).
To determine the "project effect" or the carbon sequestration in the secondary forest, the
estimation of biomass was based on studies done in Costa Rica by the " Centro Agronómico
Tropical" (CATIE), a worldwide recognized institution that for many years has developed forestry
investigations with native species of the tropics. For the carbon estimate, a proportion of green
biomass/dry biomass of 0.5 was used and the fraction of carbon in the dry biomass used was 0.45. This
calculation was done by using the Life Zone Systems and an average of 2 mt C/ha was obtained. The area to
be protected by the project is 1,000 ha and to accomplish this , the annual incorporation of 100 ha will
take place along a period of 10 years, starting in 1997. For 1997, the Carbon sequestered was estimated to
be 200 mt C (= 100 ha * 2 mt C/ha). Thus, the "cumulative effect" of the project or the amount of
Carbon sequestered in the secondary forest during the project's life, 1997 through 2021, was estimated
to be 114,917 mt C (see next Table).
For the reforestation component, the estimation of biomass was based on studies done by CATIE, the
"Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica" and the "Universidad Nacional". To
determine the Carbon sequestration, a green biomass/dry biomass proportion of 0.45 was used and the carbon
fraction in dry biomass used was 0.45. The annual increase rate for the species to be planted was estimated
to be 20 m3 /ha/year and the rotation for the species 25 years. The new plantation to be
established is 1,000 ha, and to accomplish this, an annual incorporation of 100 ha will take place along a
period of 10 years, starting in 1997. For 1999, the Carbon sequestered was estimated to be 405 mt C (= 100
ha * 20 m3 /ha/year * 0.45 * 0.45) and for the year 2000 810 mt C (= 200 ha * 20 m3
/ha-year * 0.45 * 0.45). Thus, the "cumulative effect" of the project or the amount of Carbon
sequestered in the plantations during the project's life, 1997 through 2021, was estimated to be 74,925
mt of C (see next Table).
AIJ Pilot Project
Estimated amount ( annual "effect" and "cumulative effect")
of Carbon stored in forest and fixed by plantations
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Primary Forest
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Secondary Forest
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Plantations
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"Cumulative Effect"
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Deforestation (ha)
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Emissions Avoided (mtC/year)
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Accumulate Hectares
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Carbon Sequestration (mt C/year)
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Accumulate Hectares
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Carbon Sequestration (mt C/year)
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Total Carbon with Project
(mt C/year)
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1996
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2,000
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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1997
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1,850
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10,050
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100
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200
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100
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0
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10,250
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1998
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1,711
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9,296
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200
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400
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200
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0
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9,696
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1999
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1,583
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8,599
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300
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600
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300
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405
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9,604
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2000
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1,464
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7,954
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400
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800
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400
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810
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9,564
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2001
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1,354
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7,358
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500
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1,000
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500
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1,215
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9,573
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2002
|
1,253
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6,806
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600
|
1,200
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600
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1,620
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9,626
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2003
|
1,159
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6,295
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700
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1,400
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700
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2,025
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9,720
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2004
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1,072
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5,823
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800
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1,600
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800
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2,430
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9,853
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2005
|
992
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5,386
|
900
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1,800
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900
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2,835
|
10,021
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2006
|
917
|
4,982
|
1,000
|
2,000
|
1,000
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3,240
|
10,222
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2007
|
848
|
4,609
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1,000
|
2,000
|
1,000
|
3,645
|
10,254
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2008
|
785
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4,263
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
|
10,313
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2009
|
726
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3,943
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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9,993
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2010
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671
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3,648
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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9,698
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2011
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621
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3,374
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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9,424
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2012
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575
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3,121
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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9,171
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2013
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531
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2,887
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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8,937
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2014
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492
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2,670
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1,000
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2,000
|
1,000
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4,050
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8,720
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2015
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455
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2,470
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1,000
|
2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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8,520
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2016
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421
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2,285
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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8,335
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2017
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389
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2,113
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000
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4,050
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8,163
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2018
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360
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1,955
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1,000
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2,000
|
1,000
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4,050
|
8,005
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2019
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333
|
1,808
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1,000
|
2,000
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1,000
|
4,050
|
7,858
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|
2020
|
308
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1,673
|
1,000
|
2,000
|
1,000
|
4,050
|
7,723
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|
2021
|
285
|
1,547
|
1,000
|
2,000
|
1,000
|
4,050
|
7,597
|
|
Total
|
|
114,917
|
|
41,000
|
|
74,925
|
230,842
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F)Additionality to the financial obligations of Parties included in Annex II to the
Convention,
within the framework of financial mechanism as well as to current Official Development Assistance
flows.
In this project, the AIJ additional funding for its implementation will be made available by the Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Consortium, a private sector participant. The contribution of
the RNMFA is provided from a separate budget line, the Norwegian Climate Fund, which has been established
in addition to the Norway's Development Assistance Budget and will not be reported as part of
Norway's Official Development Aid (ODA). This contribution is provided in addition to Norway's
financial commitments under UNFCCC. The contribution from the Norwegian Consortium is a private sector
contribution provided specifically as an AIJ investment. CNFL contribution is for the project development.
Sources of project funding.
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Category of funding
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Amount
(US$ million)
|
|
CNFL
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1.39
|
|
RNMFA
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1.7
|
|
NC
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0.3
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As above-mention, the forestry activities will take place under the FESP program. Among the incentives, it
provides an annual payment of about US$ 58/ha/year, against proof of effective conservation of forests or
US$ 48/ha/year for reforestation. These contracts will be legally binding for at least 20 years. On the
other hand, as proof of the CO2 emissions sequestered or avoided through the investment, the
foreign AIJ investors will receive CTOs in return for their financial contributions on AIJ. The rate at
which the CTO is issued to the investors is US$ 10/mt C or US$ 2.72/mt CO2 Although the
Norwegian AIJ additional investment is part of the project, consistent with Decision 5/CP/1 of the
Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, no GHG emissions reductions credits will be claimed by Norway
during the pilot phase. Without the AIJ additional funding, it is certain that the FESP program will not be
applied to this project, along with the environmental, economic and social benefits associated with
it.
G) Contribution to capacity building, transfer of environmentally sound technologies, and know-how to
other Parties, particularly developing country Parties, to enable them to implement the provisions of the
Convention. In this process, the developed country Parties shall support the development and enhancement of
endogenous capacities and technologies of developing country Parties.
Because the forestry component involves education and outreach activities, information about proper
silviculture techniques will be passed on to individual farmers and community organizations, contributing
in this way to local know-how capacity building. Furthermore, the implementation of the financial structure
of the AIJ component, as one of the first application of this new legal procedure, will contribute to
develop endogenous capacity in this field. In this way, the CTO will function as the financial instrument
through which Costa Rica may fulfill its national priorities of biodiversity conservation, mitigation of
climate change, production of local environmental services, such as protection of aquifers and low-impact
ecotourism, and direct participation of small landholders in all these activities.
H) Additional comments, if any, including any practical experience gained or technical difficulties,
effects, negative impacts or other obstacles encountered
Norwegian comment:
The Government of Norway and the Norwegian Consortium, the investors, found the cooperation with the Costa
Rican side to benefit significantly from the fact that know-how and capacity for AIJ cooperation is in
place, through OCIC.
Costa Rican comment :
The financial structure of the Costa Rica/Norway AIJ Pilot Project is the first application of this new
legal procedure officially established to democratize AIJ initiatives in Costa Rica. On the basis of the
FESP program, in February 1997, the Government of Costa Rica, through OCIC, issued CTOs to the Norwegian
AIJ investors regarding the first disbursement of US$1 million to compensate the first 100,000 mt of C.
This fund was channeled to FONAFIFO to continue the FESP program.
Under the FESP program, the above-mention emission was guaranteed against an equivalent amount of 137,775
mt of C "not emitted", during 1995, by forestry conservation actions financed by the Government
of Costa Rica. This action comprises a total of 20,856 ha, corresponding to 382 legally binding contracts,
in different regions of the country.
During the second half of 1997, the final disbursement of US$1 million will be channeled to FONAFIFO to
continue funding the FESP program. With the total US$2 million fund, an expected additional minimum of 900
private AIJ local partners will be compensated, under the framework of legally binding contracts, for the
environmental services provided by their forestry activities, such as conservation and reforestation of a
minimu
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