Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Project of Forests to Generate Carbon Credits, in Southern of Paraná State, Brazil

This research aimed at evaluating the feasibility of a project of forests to generate carbon credits, in the municipalities of General Carneiro and Bituruna, located in southern Paraná State, Brazil, in accordance with criteria and indicators of the Kyoto Protocol. Firstly, it was necessary to identify potential areas (eligible) to establish such a project. To do so, land use maps with emphasis on the forest resources corresponding to 1993 and 2000, were elaborated, following the criteria and indicators of the Kyoto Protocol and subsequent conventions (baseline), identifying those areas. Secondly, estimates of the stock and dynamics of carbon were generated for those areas, taking into consideration natural forests and plantation forests. Thirdly, the technical and economical feasibility of the establishment of a forestry project was carried out taking into account the regional conditions. Regarding the land use changes, its was noticed an increase in the land cover in the period, totaling ca. 5,900 and 2,750 hectares in both municipalities, for plantation and natural forests, respectively. This represented an increase in the carbon stock in the vegetation of ca. 384.800 Mg during of the period of analysis, corresponding to ca. 1,411,000 Mg of CO2 equivalent. There were identified in the two municipalities approximately 48,000 hectares of potentially suitable for establishment of plantation forests able to generate carbon credits. The results of the analysis showed that, from the financial point of view, the revenues coming from the sale of carbon credits do not overcome the investment needed to establish plantations with native and exotic fast-growing species; taking into account the current carbon prices. However, the revenue becomes highly improved if the income from wood sale is taken into consideration in the business. It was concluded that the establishment of plantations forests is technically possible, but it is only economically feasible if wood besides carbon is included in the analysis. (PDF 4,65 Mb)

Dissertação Rafaelo Balbinot PPGEF 2004.pdf — PDF document, 4679Kb