Management Strategies to Protect the Global Carbon Cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

What are some management strategies designed to protect the global carbon cycle?

A

Wetland restoration, afforestation, sustainable agricultural practices, and controls on greenhouse gas emissions.

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2
Q

What are the different types of wetlands?

A

Freshwater marshes, salt marshes, peatlands, floodplains, and mangroves.

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3
Q

What percentage of the Earth’s land surface do wetlands occupy?

A

6-9%.

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4
Q

What percentage of the terrestrial carbon pool do wetlands contain?

A

35%.

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5
Q

What factors have placed pressure on wetland environments?

A

Population growth, economic development, and urbanization.

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6
Q

How much has the wetland area in the lower 48 US states halved since 1600?

A

The wetland area has halved since 1600.

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7
Q

Apart from loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitats, what else does the destruction of wetlands result in?

A

Destruction of wetlands transfers huge amounts of stored CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere.

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8
Q

Why has there been a re-evaluation of the importance of wetlands as carbon sinks?

A

Climate change and the need to reduce CO2 emissions have led to a re-evaluation of the importance of wetlands as carbon sinks.

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9
Q

How much carbon can wetlands store on average per hectare per year?

A

Wetlands can store on average 3.25 tonnes C/ha/year.

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10
Q

How many hectares have been targeted for wetland restoration in the Canadian prairies?

A

112,000 hectares have been targeted for restoration in the Canadian prairies.

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11
Q

Which management initiatives reflect the need for protection of wetlands?

A

The International Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar) and European Union Habitats Directive reflect the need for protection of wetlands.

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12
Q

Where is a wetland restoration project currently taking place in the UK?

A

A wetland restoration project is currently taking place in east Cambridgeshire, where up to 400 hectares of grade 1 farmland are being converted back to wetland.

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13
Q

What does wetland restoration focus on?

A

Wetland restoration focuses on raising local water tables to re-create waterlogged conditions.

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14
Q

How can wetlands on floodplains be restored?

A

Wetlands on floodplains can be reconnected to rivers by the removal of flood embankments and controlled floods.

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15
Q

How can coastal areas of reclaimed marshland be restored?

A

Coastal areas of reclaimed marshland used for farming can be restored by breaching sea defenses.

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16
Q

How can water levels be maintained at artificially high levels in wetlands?

A

Water levels can be maintained at artificially high levels by diverting or blocking drainage ditches and installing sluice gates.

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17
Q

What is afforestation?

A

Afforestation involves planting trees in a previously treeless area or in areas that have never been forested.

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18
Q

What is the benefit of afforestation in relation to carbon levels and climate change?

A

Afforestation can help reduce atmospheric CO2 levels in the medium to long term and combat climate change as trees are carbon sinks.

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19
Q

Apart from reducing carbon levels, what other benefits does afforestation have?

A

Afforestation also reduces flood risks, soil erosion, and increases biodiversity.

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20
Q

What is the UN’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) scheme?

A

The UN’s REDD scheme incentivizes developing countries to conserve their rainforests by placing a monetary value on forest conservation.

21
Q

Where are some well-established afforestation projects?

A

Well-established afforestation projects include those in Amazonia (Puras, Russas, Valparaiso) and the Lower Mississippi.

22
Q

Which country has a massive government-sponsored afforestation project?

A

China has a massive government-sponsored afforestation project.

23
Q

When did the afforestation project in China begin?

A

The afforestation project in China began in 1978.

24
Q

What is the goal of the afforestation project in China?

A

The goal of the afforestation project in China is to afforest 400,000 km² (an area roughly the size of Spain) by 2050.

25
Q

Which decade saw the successful planting of 30,000 km² in China’s afforestation project?

A

The decade 2000-2009 saw the successful planting of 30,000 km² in China’s afforestation project.

26
Q

What types of non-native, fast-growing species were planted in the afforestation project in China?

A

Non-native, fast-growing species such as poplar and birch were planted in the afforestation project in China.

27
Q

Besides combating climate change, what is another purpose of the afforestation project in China?

A

The afforestation project in China aims to combat desertification and land degradation in the vast semi-arid expanses of northern China.

28
Q

What are some unsustainable agricultural practices that result in soil erosion and carbon release?

A

Overcultivation, overgrazing, and excessive intensification are unsustainable agricultural practices that result in soil erosion and carbon release.

29
Q

How much CH4 (methane) does intensive livestock farming produce per year?

A

Intensive livestock farming produces 100 million tonnes/year of CH4.

30
Q

What are significant sources of CH4 emissions in agriculture?

A

Significant sources of CH4 emissions in agriculture are flooded (pad) rice fields and the uncontrolled decomposition of manure.

31
Q

What are some agricultural practices that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

A

Zero tillage, polyculture, leaving crop residues, avoiding heavy farm machinery on wet soils, contour ploughing, terracing, introducing new strains of rice, applying chemicals to inhibit CH4 production, improving animal feed quality, mixing methane inhibitors with livestock feed, and controlling manure decomposition.

32
Q

What is zero tillage?

A

Zero tillage is the practice of growing crops without ploughing the soil, which conserves the soil’s organic content, reduces oxidation, and minimizes the risk of erosion by wind and water.

33
Q

How does polyculture help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

A

Polyculture involves growing annual crops interspersed with trees, which provide year-round ground cover and protect soils from erosion.

34
Q

What is the purpose of leaving crop residues on fields after harvest?

A

Leaving crop residues (stems, leaves, etc.) on fields after harvest provides ground cover and protection against soil erosion and drying out.

35
Q

Why should heavy farm machinery be avoided on wet soils?

A

Using heavy farm machinery on wet soils leads to compaction and increases the risk of erosion by surface run-off.

36
Q

How do contour ploughing and terracing help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

A

Contour ploughing and terracing on slopes help reduce run-off and erosion, thereby minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

37
Q

What is the significance of introducing new strains of rice?

A

Introducing new strains of rice that grow in drier conditions can reduce CH4 emissions because they produce less CH4.

38
Q

What chemicals can be applied to inhibit microbial activities that produce CH4?

A

Chemicals such as ammonium sulphate can be applied to inhibit microbial activities that produce CH4.

39
Q

How can the quality of animal feed be improved to reduce enteric fermentation?

A

Improving the quality of animal feed can reduce enteric fermentation, resulting in lower CH4 emissions.

40
Q

What is an effective method of managing manure to reduce CH4 emissions?

A

Storing manure in anaerobic containers and capturing CH4 as a source of renewable energy is an effective method of managing manure to reduce CH4 emissions.

41
Q

What is cap and trade?

A

Cap and trade is an international market-based approach to limit CO2 emissions.

42
Q

How does cap and trade work?

A

Under cap and trade, businesses are allocated an annual quota for their CO2 emissions.

43
Q

What happens if a business emits less than its allocated quota under cap and trade?

A

If a business emits less than its allocated quota under cap and trade, it receives carbon credits.

44
Q

What can businesses do with the carbon credits they receive under cap and trade?

A

Businesses can trade the carbon credits they receive on international markets.

45
Q

What is the consequence for businesses that exceed their quotas under cap and trade?

A

Businesses that exceed their quotas under cap and trade must either purchase additional credits or incur financial penalties.

46
Q

What are carbon offsets in the context of cap and trade?

A

Carbon offsets are credits awarded to countries and companies for implementing schemes such as afforestation, renewable energy, and wetland restoration.

47
Q

How can carbon offsets be used in cap and trade?

A

Carbon offsets can be bought to compensate for excessive emissions elsewhere.

48
Q

What are some examples of schemes that can earn carbon offsets?

A

Some examples of schemes that can earn carbon offsets include afforestation (planting trees), renewable energy projects, and wetland restoration initiatives.