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Vote Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Output Class: Carbon Monitoring Programme
This output class involves the implementation of the New Zealand Land Use and Carbon Analysis System (formerly the New Zealand Carbon Accounting System). The system to ensure that a comprehensive reporting system, which meets international rules for reporting under the Kyoto Protocol and enables New Zealand to claim the maximum number of sink credits, is provided. It is also required to be appropriate to New Zealand’s national greenhouse gas inventory, support New Zealand climate change forest policy development through to 2012 and beyond, and deliver further benefits including an all-of-government purchase of satellite imagery suitable for land use mapping.
Performance measures
Outputs in this class were provided within the appropriated sum and within the timeframes as specified in the Estimates (unless otherwise stated). Performance measures were specified for each output as appropriate.
Drafting instructions were completed subject to timeframes set in the Government’s Legislative Programme.
All outputs were delivered to the Ministers’ specifications. Orders in Council and regulations were intra vires and in accordance with principal statutes.
Resources employed
Actual |
|
Actual |
Main estimates |
Supplementary estimates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Revenue: |
|
|
|
4,759 |
Crown |
4,731 |
9,976 |
5,445 |
4,759 |
Total revenue |
4,731 |
9,976 |
5,445 |
4,610 |
Total expenses |
4,731 |
9,976 |
5,445 |
149 |
Net surplus |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Review of output achievements
Collect data on indigenous forests, regenerating scrub forests and the soils beneath
Achieved. The Ministry completed a five-year data collection programme and transferred plot-sheet information on measurements in 1,372 indigenous forest plots to a database. Ongoing work has now begun to quality-assure the data in preparation for analysing carbon stocks.
Collect data on soils to estimate carbon stocks and stock change
Achieved. The Ministry collected data and completed lab analysis for 420 natural forest soils plots during a five-year data collection programme. The data is currently being collated electronically, together with historical data, in preparation for quality assurance and analysis.
Collect data on soils undergoing land use change (eg, from pasture to forestry and vice versa)
This work programme is planned for 2007/08.
Collect data on planted production forestry growth
Achieved. A data collection programme was initiated for planted forests. Field plot measurements started in winter 2007. These will be supplemented by the use of LiDAR (laser heighting) for airborne remote sensing of tree heights where physical access is not possible. LiDAR measurements will start in summer 2008.
Progress work into land use, land use change and the forestry underpinning science and science capability
Achieved. Research studies confirmed that it is feasible to estimate carbon stocks directly from airborne LiDAR measurements. This has been validated by international experts.
Analyse data for tracking the land use change from 1990
Achieved. The programme to map land use at 1990 started in February 2007. Land cover for the first two regions has been mapped, with the full programme scheduled to be completed in September 2008.
Develop and manage the coordination of the carbon accounting and monitoring system
Achieved. A project management methodology was developed and implemented. The associated project planning included an analysis of the benefits to be delivered and a plan for their realisation. A comprehensive set of business requirements for the project was documented.
The database development was reviewed, and a decision was made to delay the workstream until appropriate documentation of business and system requirements have been undertaken. The first phase of the database is now planned to be implemented in early 2009. This will support thorough testing of the system prior to the first Kyoto report due in April 2010.
Analysis, allometric model development and provision to other science related to data collected
Achieved. A five-year research contract with SCION is satisfactorily providing the underpinning model development for the carbon accounting project.
