What is debundling?
Debundling of small-scale afforestation and reforestation (SSC A/R) projects is defined in 6/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix C (Criteria for the occurrence of debundling) as follows:
Debundling is defined as the fragmentation of a large project activity into smaller parts (6/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix C, paragraph 1).
As with non-A/R small-scale projects, the debundling rules provide that where a project activity is properly characterised as a small part of a large project activity (rather than a separate small-scale project activity), the project activity shall not be entitled to use the simplified modalities and procedures for small-scale A/R projects.
A small-scale project activity that is part of a large project activity is not eligible to use the simplified modalities and procedures for small-scale afforestation and reforestation project activities under the clean development mechanism (CDM). A large project activity or any of its components shall follow the regular modalities and procedures for afforestation and reforestation project activities under the CDM (6/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix C, paragraph 1).
An attempt to register this type of project as a small-scale A/R project and thereby take advantage of the simplified modalities and procedures will be considered "illegal debundling".
Identification of illegal debundling
Such projects are identified according to the following rule:
A proposed small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM shall be deemed to be a debundled component of a large project activity if there is a registered small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM or an application to register another afforestation or reforestation small-scale project activity under the CDM:
- With the same project participants;
- Registered within the previous two years;
- Whose project boundary is within 1 km of the project boundary of the proposed small-scale afforestation or reforestation activity under the CDM at the closest point (6/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix C, paragraph 2).
However, if the combined size of proposed small-scale A/R project activity that is deemed to be a debundled component and the previously registered small-scale A/R project activity does not exceed the limits for that type of small-scale A/R project, the proposed A/R project activity will be eligible to use the simplified modalities and procedures:
If a proposed small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM is deemed to be a debundled component in accordance with paragraph 2 above, but the total size of such an activity combined with the previously registered small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM does not exceed the limits for small-scale afforestation or reforestation project activities under the CDM as set out in paragraph 1 (i) of the annex to decision 19/CP.9, the project activity can qualify to use simplified modalities and procedures for small-scale afforestation and reforestation project activities under the CDM (6/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix C paragraph 3).