carbon sinks Archives - Page 285 of 297 - Resilient Landscapes (RL)

Opportunities for a low-emission transformation of Ghana’s food systems

Key messages

Ghana’s food systems contribute significantly (54.1%) to total national anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – much above the global average (31%).
The three primary sources of food system emissions in Ghana, ranked by decreasing order of importance, are: (i) land-use change emissions from deforestation, accounting for 40.7% of total food system emissions; (ii) farm gate emissions from livestock management (21.8%); and (iii) beyond-farm gate emissions from wastewater treatment and discharge (17.2%).
While land-use change, livestock management, and waste dominate Ghana’s food system emissions, the most effective mitigation strategies emerge from considering both the origin and size of these emissions, as well as where Ghana can most rapidly and realistically implement change. The proposed priority measures therefore integrate emission magnitude with technical, economic, and institutional feasibility, consistent with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Ghana’s food security and development priorities.
Priority mitigation actions comprise intensifying cocoa production through agroforestry and strengthening preparedness for the EU Deforestation Regulation; improving fire management through controlled early burning and firebreak systems; reducing livestock emissions by boosting productivity and animal health; investing in urban (solid and water) waste management; diversifying into legumes and aquaculture to reduce dependence on meat for protein intake; actively integrating food system mitigation with improved market access and development; and increasing forest-related carbon sinks.

Field and laboratory manual for unsupported 210Pb analyses

This manual provides a general conceptual framework for collecting and analyzing radionuclides related to the ²¹⁰Pb dating method in mangrove ecosystems. The ²¹⁰Pb radionuclide dating method applies alpha and/or gamma spectrometry. This guide outlines procedures for field sample collection, laboratory analyses and data analyses relating to these approaches.

Field and laboratory manual for unsupported 210Pb analyses

This manual provides a general conceptual framework for collecting and analyzing radionuclides related to the 210Pb dating method in mangrove ecosystems. The 210Pb radionuclide dating method applies alpha and/or gamma spectrometry. This guide outlines procedures for field sample collection, laboratory analyses and data analyses relating to these approaches.

Mangrove-based carbon market projects: Current trends and future perspectives

Blue carbon ecosystems are among the largest carbon sinks in the world, with significant potential for carbon sequestration in their biomass, soils and sediments. Blue carbon credits offer companies the opportunity to offset their residual carbon emissions and achieve their carbon neutrality commitments. Mangrove-based carbon market projects (MbCMP) contribute greatly to the global supply of blue carbon credits in the voluntary carbon market (VCM). Thus, the current trends, challenges and opportunities intrinsic to MbCMP development, implementation and management need to be assessed on a global scale. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and retrieved 260 articles, including 84 peer-reviewed articles and 176 gray literature from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Google searches, from January 2010 to December 2024. In addition, we explored the databases of carbon certification standard registries to obtain up-to-date information of MbCMP. We present the results and discuss insights grouped into the following categories: (i) geographic distribution and current status of MbCMP, (ii) trends in development and growth, (iii) challenges faced, and (iv) proposed solutions to improve the quality and integrity of MbCMP. The recommendations include: (a) improving transparency and governance, (b) advancing risk management and adaptation, (c) building scientific and technical skills of stakeholders, (d) enhancing capacity building, community engagement and knowledge sharing, (e) strengthening policy support and institutions, (f) upscaling projects, (g) protecting complex and insecure land tenure systems, (h) safeguarding financial resources and equitable sharing of benefits, and (i) increasing accuracy of monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) data. Although significant challenges remain, the reduction in global mangrove loss, driven by recent improvements in conservation, protection and restoration initiatives, provides immense optimism for the growth and sustainability of the MbCMP sector with true benefits in terms of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

Modelling the Impact of Canal Blocking on Water Table Dynamics and Carbon Emissions in Drained Peatlands

Peatlands are significant carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of organic carbon in their waterlogged soils However, when they are drained for agricultural or other land-use purposes, the natural hydrological balance is disrupted. This disruption allows the soil organic carbon to decompose, leading to peat subsidence and the release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere and waterways. Extensive drainage systems exacerbate this process, transforming peatlands from globally significant carbon sinks into one of the leading contributors of greenhouse gas emissions from the land based sector.

Total ecosystem carbon stocks of tropical peat forests and greenhouse gas emissions from their disturbance

Because of their unique biodiversity and inordinately large carbon stocks, tropical peat forests are considered key wetland ecosystems for conservation and restoration. Despite this recognition continued deforestation and land cover change result in these ecosystems becoming significant sources of greenhouse gases. There is a strong need for accurate quantification of carbon stocks and emissions at scales relevant for participation in carbon markets and nationally determined contributions. Based upon analyses of 125 forests in 4 continents (Asia, Oceania, the Americas) there was a broad range in peat depths (19–1414 cm) with total ecosystem carbon stocks (TECS) ranging from 172 to 9379 Mg C ha−1 (mean of 2137 Mg C ha−1). Among the 47 sampled sites known to be tidally-influenced (i.e., blue carbon ecosystems), TECS ranged from 206 to 5591 Mg C ha−1 with a mean of 1979 Mg C ha−1. Those sites with deep peats (> 7 m depth) have a mean TECS of 4620 ± 395 Mg C ha−1 and we know of no ecosystems with an equivalent ecosystem carbon stock. Peat soils composed a mean of 86 % of TECS, and peat depths were strongly correlated with soil carbon stocks at continental and global scales (R2 > 0.80) suggesting inventories that include measurement of peat depth can accurately estimate carbon stocks. Degradation of peat landscapes comes with high ecological and social costs including the largest greenhouse gas emissions from any forest land use globally. The social carbon costs to future generations associated with the conversion of tropical peat forests to oil palm plantations is conservatively estimated to be nine times the value of the palm oil generated from the conversion. Such costs and values of the tropical peat forests underscore the importance of the conservation and restoration of these wetlands for future generations – an important element of sustainability.

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