4. Global management strategies for carbon cycle

Question 1

What are the main global management strategies to protect the carbon cycle?

Answer 1

• Afforestation
• Wetland restoration
• Improved agricultural practices
• Reducing emissions

Question 2

Describe afforestation:

Answer 2

Planting of trees in areas where deforestation has occurred or in new areas
Important carbon sink and reduce soil erosion
UN’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) schemes
Eg In Amazonia, Puras
Encourage developing countries to conserve their forests by placing a monetary value on them
Eg Massive state-sponsored afforestation programme in China started in 1978 and aims to afforest 400,000 km2

Question 3

Describe wetland restoration:

Answer 3

Wetlands = 35% of the terrestrial carbon pool eg marshes, peatlands, mangroves
In the US wetland areas have halved since 1600
Schemes include International Convention on Wetlands
At a local level, water tables are raised to create waterlogged environment
Eg Canadian prairies lost 70% of their wetlands in 20th century but not restoration programmes have meant they will eventually sequester 365,000 tonnes of carbon
Eg UK government target to restore 500ha of wetland by 2020

Question 4

Describe agricultural practices:

Answer 4

Intensive livestock farming produces 100 million tonnes of methane per year

• Mulching adds organic matter and prevents carbon losses
• Zero tillage to conserve soils organic content by not ploughing
• Avoiding use of heavy machinery on wet soils to reduce soil compaction
• New strains of rice that grow in drier conditions to prevent methane
• Improve quality of animal feed to prevent methane production from enteric fermentation
• Controlling manure decomposition to reduce methane emissions
• Rotation of cash crops with cover crops can increase biomass returned to soil
• Improved crop varieties

Question 5

Describe reducing emissions

Answer 5

1. Carbon trading – businesses can be allocated a quota for CO2 emission and receives carbon credits for not exceeding quota, or penalties for exceeding the quote
   Carbon offsets are credits to businesses for schemes eg afforestation projects
2. International agreements – Kyoto Protocol 1997 where most countries agreed legally binding restrictions in CO2 emissions (India and China exempt and USA didn’t ratify)
   Expired in 2012 and replaced by Paris Climate Convention 2015: aims to reduce global CO2 emissions below 60% of 2010 levels by 2050 BUT not legally binding
3. Transport innovations – sustainable transport schemes, congestion charges eg London, park and ride schemes eg Cambridge, cruising at lower speeds for planes