Dryland Soil Carbon Sequestration in Central Asia and Beyond

CARECProject Concept

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Carbon Sequestration Potential

3. Sustainable Agricultural Practices

4. Emission Trading Scheme

5. Core Activities

6. Budget Indication

Introduction

• Size of Central Asia: 4 mio km²

• Dryland in CA: 3,7 mio km² → 92,5 %

• Carbon Balance of Dryland Soil on Average: 50 t/ha

Carbon Sequestration Potential

• CA soil has lost 3-4% of its Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) → 725 mio. t CO

2

• Reason: Conversion of „virgin land“ and excessive monoculture

• Other sources, not included in estimation:o Soil Salinityo Overgrazingo Wind/Water erosion

→ Future threat for food security, health and main income source of rural population

Source:http://www.undp-adaptation.org/projects/websites/images/stories/Projects/Kazakhstan/Lepsy/2002_0314_181305AA.JPG

Source:http://www.undp-adaptation.org/projects/websites/images/stories/Projects/Kazakhstan/Sauxal/DSC04100.JPG

Source:http://www.undp-adaptation.org/projects/websites/images/stories/Projects/Kazakhstan/Akmola/Autumn%20water%20supply%20of%20the%20degraded%20pastures.JPG

Sustainable Management Practices (SMP)

• Conservation Tilling, No-Till Techniques• Cover Crops (especially legumes)• Crop Rotation• Water Efficiency• Rotational Grazing• Enhanced Pasture Plants

→ Soil Organic Matter Increase: Enhanced Soil Fertility Combatting further Erosion Carbon Sequestration

Source:http://www.unwnrd.org/_img/for_projects/no-till/no_till_corn08.jpg

Source:http://www.noble.org/ag/Forage/GivePasturesRest/pasturesLR.jpg

Source:http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Medicago_sativa0.jpg&filetimestamp=20041028153352

Emission Trading

• Benefits from Emission Trading Scheme could provide necessary financial incentive to adopt SMPs

• Currently, Carbon Sequestration not eligible for CDMfunding → Problems in measurement & monitoring (M&M)

Goal

Enhanced soil quality in Central Asia due to widespread use of sustainable land management practice, backed up by a system for measuring

and monitoring carbon sequestration in order to profit from emission trading.

Core Activities

1. Phase: Scientific Workshop Series

→ Synthesized knowledge on CS in dryland, to be distributed within scientific/political community

2. Phase: 3 – 5 Pilot Projects

→ Knowledge (products) on SMP→ Assessment of M&M systems and first evaluation of CS potential

3. Phase: Projection of CS potential in CA

→ Advocacy of integration into Emission Trading

Thank youfor your attention