21 July 2010: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as part of the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme), is developing a project to systematically analyze literature on methods used to measure and assess terrestrial carbon stocks, using an evidence-based approach.

An updated draft protocol for the review, written by Gill Petrokofsky, FAO/UN-REDD Programme and external experts, has been posted for review on the website of the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence, until 10 August 2010. According to the draft protocol, this evidence-based review will principally address the question: How do current methodologies compare in their ability to measure and assess terrestrial carbon stocks and changes in carbon stocks with accuracy, precision and repeatability? It will aim to address the accuracy, precision and repeatability of methodologies used for conversion of in situ measurements into carbon stock estimates at the site level, and used for generating carbon stock estimates for larger geographical areas from site-level data, as well as the accuracy of direct remote sensing methodologies for estimating carbon stocks. A team of experts will be put together for the full review. [UN-REDD Press Release] [Draft Protocol]