Greenhouse Gas Accounting for Sustainable Land Management

Abstract

Agriculture, and the patterns of land use change that are associated with it, have a high environmental footprint and contribute to climate change, as the sector accounts for about one-quarter of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. However, improved land management practices can play an important role in mitigating GHG emissions by removing substantial volumes of carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering them in soils and plant tissues. We can't fix what we do not measure, which is why quantifying greenhouse gas emissions is a necessary step for climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land management. Greenhouse gas accounting can provide the numbers and data that are important to decision making in adopting less carbon-intensive practices, guiding low-emissions development, assessing product supply chains, certifying sustainable agriculture practices, and informing consumers on the carbon footprint of their choices. This Quick Guidance on Greenhouse Gas Accounting for Sustainable Land Management provides an overview of SLM activities subject to greenhouse gas appraisal, guidance in the selection of tools, data needs for the application and final use of the greenhouse gas accounting tools It complements the more comprehensive Carbon Accounting Tools for Sustainable Land Management report, and it is targeted at leading resource managers and project developers to proficiency in the independent use of greenhouse gas accounting tools.

Soil Organic Carbon MRV Sourcebook for Agricultural Landscapes

“…These management practices interact and are often most effective when paired. 19 Because soil carbon sequestration occurs non-linearly, the effects of these management practices on soil health may only be visible over a medium or long term (e.g., ten to a hundred years). For example, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines assume that soil carbon levels reach an equilibrium over a default period of 20 years, explained further in Chapter 2.…”

“…Different payment systems to conserve soil carbon through agriculture have emerged, promoting the generation of sustainable livelihoods through positive and conditional incentives that are intended to preserve or improve the environment while also contributing to the alleviation of poverty. 19,26 intermediate and passive These approaches can therefore facilitate the adoption of practices that contribute to enhancing soil health and soil organic carbon and can be a form of payment for environmental services (PES). Payment models could focus on conserving soil carbon, reducing emissions from soil carbon, or increasing sequestration of carbon into soils.…”

“…The applicability and comparison of these four options for projects sequestering soil carbon in agricultural settings are described in Table 2, with details on how to develop a carbon project for the voluntary market provided in Annex 1.Attributes of successful soil carbon-based payment schemes include: 19,26,27 intermediate and passive…”