E. Non-CO₂ Gas Emissions from Biomass Burning

1. Prescribed Burning of Savannas
The Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines propose one estimation methodology for greenhouse gas emissions from savanna burning. This method is based on activity data (area of savanna, the fraction of savanna burned annually, aboveground biomass density, fraction of aboveground biomass that burns and is oxidized, and carbon content of biomass) and emission ratios for CH₄ and N₂O, relating the carbon released to emissions of these gases. Default activity data and emission factors are available in the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines. Note that the IPCC good practice guidance presents another method, in an annex. However, this method is not considered as good practice
 
The decision tree for estimating emissions from savanna burning outlines the steps Parties should follow (see Figure 4.5 in the IPCC Good Practice Guidance). The main features of this decision tree are:

• If savanna burning does not occur in the country, Parties should report “not occurring” (NO);
• If savanna burning is not a key category emissions can be estimated using IPCC default factor values;
• If savanna burning is a key category Parties should make every effort to use country-specific factors, and should only use defaults if data are not available.