Considérations sur le carbone dans la planification de la gestion des terres

Forests are the most significant carbon pools on Earth, and biomass accumulation in the woody parts of trees is particularly sensitive. Consequently, ecologists are interested in the spatial patterns of forest biomass. For example, in temperate deciduous forests, aboveground biomass is the lowest component, while belowground biomass is the highest. 

Managing lands for maximum productivity involves recognizing trade-offs. Trade-offs can include invasions and climate feedback. In some regions, increased fire risk and decreased water availability adversely affect regional forests. In the other areas, productivity constraints may not be as severe. However, a sustainable approach requires consideration of trade-offs and balancing multiple goals. In addition, the economic benefits of forest management should be weighed against the adverse effects of climate change.

A standard solution to deforestation and forest degradation is assigning individual property rights to forests. While this does not solve the problem of global or local public goods, it is a first step in establishing systems to reward forest services. This will also encourage sustainable forest management and increase carbon fluxes, which are vital for food security and environmental protection. These policies can also reduce deforestation by enhancing forest rents.

The biomass accumulation in a forest is more significant than that in any other biome. This means forest trees have to lift their leaves over their neighbors to compete for sunlight. In addition to providing structural material for tall plants, biomass in forests is also necessary for all organisms to grow. If trees cannot compete for light, they cannot grow. This is why forests are essential to the ecosystem.

Agricultural systems are low-carbon high-productivity systems.

Numerous factors influence CO₂ emissions in agriculture. Many studies have examined the scale of global emissions in agriculture and the factors that influence CO2 emissions. Agricultural carbon intensity, energy efficiency, and fertilizer use may play essential roles in promoting low-carbon agriculture. Agricultural carbon intensity may also be low if agricultural development is relatively low.

Agroecosystems are an excellent example of such systems. Agricultural systems are defined as ecosystems with positive relationships between living and non-living elements of the environment. They are also referred to as ecozones. These ecosystems are geographically extensive and have distinctive patterns of landscape and climate. Agricultural systems are an integral part of the food system, which comprises agroecosystems and the systems used for their production, distribution, and consumption.

Agricultural systems are a prime candidate for net harmful emissions. By using new technologies to increase the rate of soil carbon storage, they can reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. By utilizing sustainable and organic farming methods, the production of carbon-neutral crops can even become net-negative for the environment. In addition, they can also provide a significant societal function: food, feed, fiber, and fuel.

Soil carbon management is cost-effective.

Soil carbon plays a fundamental role in land processes and functions, including the maintenance of biodiversity. The sequestration of soil carbon is an essential part of farming and can lead to additional revenue from carbon credits. The Australian Government’s technology-led emissions reduction policy and the National Soil Strategy promote the need for improved land management, including soil carbon.

Soil carbon management is one of the most effective methods of addressing climate change. Rangelands hold approximately a third of the world’s carbon reserves. Consequently, improving rangeland management can sequestration up to 1,300 million metric tons of carbon in the atmosphere by 2030. This is a substantial amount of carbon, and improved rangeland management can contribute to global CO2 sequestration efforts.

Depending on the climate and soil type, soil organic carbon stocks will vary greatly. The rate of decomposition and turnover of organic matter is dependent on soil temperature, moisture, and the composition of the soil organisms. Soil organic carbon decomposition rates also depend on the speed of disturbance. Compared to the decomposition of lignified organic matter, vegetation will retain about half of the carbon in the soil in the first decade after conversion.

Soil carbon sequestration is one of the most critical aspects of sustainable agriculture. It can sequester between 2 to five GtCO2 annually by 2050 and 104 to 130 GtCO2 by the end of the century. These benefits would come at the cost of between $0 and $100 per ton of CO2 sequestered in soil. However, in practice, this technology is not yet widespread.

Wood products are a substitute for concrete and steel.

The U.S. West is heading toward a record-breaking fire season in 2021, and the Southwest is one of the few places on the planet where wood dominates. According to the Steel Framing Industry Association, about 1 million people work in the forestry industry, and about seven million are employed in the construction industry. Scientists have stressed the importance of trees in slowing climate change and capturing carbon.

While concrete and steel may be the most widely used materials in construction, wood offers many advantages. It is naturally renewable and has good thermal, sound, and fire resistance. And it tends to have lower environmental impacts than concrete and steel. This means that wood buildings can reduce overall construction costs and benefit the environment. These benefits make wood buildings a good substitute for concrete and steel. Wood buildings are also lighter, more durable, and flexible. In addition, they can be prefabricated, which can cut down on construction site assembly costs. Additionally, thick, cross-laminated timber and drywall are fire-resistant, reducing installation and transportation costs.

A high estimate of climate change mitigation opportunities for wood products has been published. These benefits reflect the long-lasting capacity of wood to replace non-renewable goods. These benefits are typically expressed in terms of displacement factors, which measure the efficiency of biomass in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The substitution benefit is calculated as a change in emissions from a baseline. So, if wood products are a substitute for steel and concrete in construction, they will reduce total greenhouse gas emissions.

Unlike concrete and steel, mass timber is more sustainable. Wood uses less energy and water in its manufacturing process, decreasing carbon emissions. In addition, mass timber does not degrade the land or soil. It has become one of the most popular materials for construction in the U.S., with many lumber companies using woody biomass for energy. Many timber companies in North America have already moved toward energy independence by using biomass.

Recycling frees land for long-term sustained carbon sequestration.

Several mechanisms can help the earth store CO2 for long-term sustainability. One of these is biochar mechanisms, also known as bio-energy with carbon storage. Biochar mechanisms can trap carbon in the soil, and these mechanisms are most commonly found in deep coal beds and underground reservoirs. However, there are also many risks associated with this method, including its impact on the environment, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.

In terms of saving energy, recycling is highly effective in reducing air and water pollution, and it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. Stanford University, for example, recycled 2303 tons of paper last year and saved 32,115 trees. Moreover, over 288 tons of ferrous scrap metal were recovered from landfills, reducing coal, limestone, and iron ore demand. Using recycled materials, the world can avoid the depletion of valuable natural resources and free up land for long-term C sequestration.

Soil carbon pools can store up to 66% of the carbon we release into the atmosphere. The capacity of soil carbon pools is determined by rainfall, temperature, farming system, and agroforestry practices. In addition, it can increase the crop yield by up to 40 kg per ha. It can offset about five to fifteen percent of global fossil fuel emissions. This is an incredible amount of carbon stored in soils.