Toute l'actualitéCarole Renner, the head of the Innovation Impact Hub, has developed the Reforest’Action carbon projection method and tool. She explains the requirements for which the tool was designed as well as what it effectively changes in our way of conceptualising the design of our forestry and agroforestry projects, and to add value for our contributors.
What was the need which gave rise to the development of the Reforest’Action carbon simulation tool?
Carole Renner : From the outset we worked on an internal carbon calculator to estimate in advance the reduction of emissions associated with our projects that are labelled “Bas-Carbone”. Starting from this first tool, we wanted to go further to better understand and add value to the sequestration of carbon in our forestry and agroforestry projects. Official certification implied an administrative and financial charge which could not be incorporated in the case of small-scale projects. In spite of everything, we wished to add value to our projects, not only as regards their carbon aspect, but also as regards the other advantages which they provide. Our carbon projection tool can thus be integrated into a panel of tools concerning the four multi functionality pillars defined by Reforest'Action on which the stability of ecosystems depends: climate, biodiversity, the soil-water system and of course, human well-being. Our carbon tool will soon be joined by a biodiversity tool which is currently at the prototype stage.
What is the purpose of the carbon tool, its added value?
Carole Renner : The added value of our carbon tool lies first and foremost in its capacity to facilitate the evaluation of climate impact as part of the daily work of our teams. Easy to use, our tool allows information to be gathered from our projects. The tool was not conceived in isolation and is actually the first milestone in the development of the panel of impact projection tools which I mentioned previously. This impact measurement process, conceived holistically, encourages us to collect more data, and thus to improve our understanding of projects. In summary, the use of our impact projection tools allows us to conceptualise project designs which are ever more appropriate, multi-functional and thus stable over time. This project stability is a major objective in the current climate change context and taking into consideration the risks of societal upheaval. They include ecosystem resistance in the events of disruptions, and resilience, as well as the ability to re-establish themselves after degradation. This stability also relies on a healthy soil-water system, rich and functional biodiversity, climate improvement and mitigation of its impact, as well as the value which an ecosystem represents for humans who influence it.
In reality, how will the carbon projection tool work in daily life?
Carole Renner : In identifying a project, our teams gather complementary information together with the project implementer to be able to carry out a carbon simulation. The results of this simulation will allow us to adjust and improve the design and management of a project to optimise its impact. Once the design has been validated with the project implementer, it is put into operation. Carbon sequestration must be monitored, on the ground and through remote sensing, and progressively as the project grows to adjust the projection carried out at the outset. These data coming from the field - today relative to carbon, tomorrow relative to the full suite of our impact indicators - will allow us to supplement our projection tools, with a view to conceiving future projects. With continued improvement, we have also continued to gain forestry experience and expertise.
What does this tool provide for the companies that finance Reforest'Action projects?
Carole Renner : Thanks to this carbon tool and the other impact projection tools (biodiversity, socio-economic…), we wish to fully involve those enterprises financing projects for the regeneration of ecosystems. In providing them with quantitative data, assessed using a methodology validated by third parties, and monitored over time, we move our projects forward with them transparently, and enable them to better understand the real impact of their contribution. Our contributors are not only funders: they are involved in understanding the projects which they finance, and their influence on the environment and the communities with which they are connected. These impact projection tools are therefore not just a modelling tool to help in decision making. They provide a better understanding of what it means to work with nature and ecosystems.