As part of Russia’s implementation of the Paris agreement, original plans and strategies suggested targets for net absorption in managed forests between 620 – 2500 mln tonnes of CO₂e by 2030 (Romanovskaya, 2023). She suggests that 1.2bln tonnes CO₂e by 2050 is still possible but needs restructuring of forest management systems. Also identification and validation of projects that clearly meet the criteria so that the emissions reduction and carbon absorption are achieved. These include a baseline for emissions and carbon sinks, as well as the role of financial incentives and technology development in climate change mitigation.

Her assessment of risks is set against the IPCC ‘100 year’ atmospheric carbon reduction period. So projects that need to provide this 100 year data have risks including carbon capture storage and emissions reduction outside of the project area, ecosystem disturbance (e.g. wildfires, land use change), a disconnect between project expenses and timescales, and change of land use after a project affecting future results.

She recommends investment in the initial stage for projects that reforest and afforest mixed species, improved forest management including wildfire and felling impact, restoration of wetlands and degraded grass and shrubland, conservation and improvement of soil health and carbon e.g. application of damaged residues into biochar and biofuels.

Alongside other international research, she notes the ecosystem and overall forest health reduction through monoculture plantation, and recommends mixed species plantation and excluding use of modified hybrids. This approach should also be used when planting mixed species trees on land which has not had forest for over 50 years.

Romanovskaya recommends

The main requirement for admission to the implementation of climate projects should be the condition not to harm local natural ecosystems. The rules should provide for progressive incentives for project ambitiousness through shorter credit periods, more conservative baselines, and strict additionality rules.

She recommends applying ISO standard GOST-ISO-14064-2 to Russian carbon credit standards, use of Russian accredited expertise and use of periodic review to ensure emerging project methodological practices and documentation accumulate based on project application.

Romanovskaya, A.A. Approaches to Implementing Ecosystem Climate Projects in Russia. Reg. Res. Russ. 13, 609–621 (2023). https://doi-org.surrey.idm.oclc.org/10.1134/S2079970523700922