Management Strategies to Protect the Global Carbon Cycle

Question 1

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

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What are the different types of wetlands?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

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

Answer 3

6-9%.

Question 4

What percentage of the terrestrial carbon pool do wetlands contain?

Answer 4

35%.

Question 5

What factors have placed pressure on wetland environments?

Answer 5

Population growth, economic development, and urbanization.

Question 6

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

Answer 6

The wetland area has halved since 1600.

Question 7

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

Answer 7

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

Question 8

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

Answer 8

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

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

Question 10

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

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Which management initiatives reflect the need for protection of wetlands?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

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

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What does wetland restoration focus on?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

How can wetlands on floodplains be restored?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

How can coastal areas of reclaimed marshland be restored?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

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

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is afforestation?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

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

Answer 18

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

Question 19

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

Answer 19

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

Question 20

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

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Where are some well-established afforestation projects?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Which country has a massive government-sponsored afforestation project?

Answer 22

China has a massive government-sponsored afforestation project.

Question 23

When did the afforestation project in China begin?

Answer 23

The afforestation project in China began in 1978.

Question 24

What is the goal of the afforestation project in China?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

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

Answer 25

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

Question 26

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

Answer 26

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

Question 27

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

Answer 27

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

Question 28

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

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What are significant sources of CH4 emissions in agriculture?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

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

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

What is zero tillage?

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

How does polyculture help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

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

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Why should heavy farm machinery be avoided on wet soils?

Answer 35

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

Question 36

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

Answer 36

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

Question 37

What is the significance of introducing new strains of rice?

Answer 37

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

Question 38

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

Answer 38

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

Question 39

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

Answer 39

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

Question 40

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

Answer 40

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.

Question 41

What is cap and trade?

Answer 41

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

Question 42

How does cap and trade work?

Answer 42

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

Question 43

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

Answer 43

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

Question 44

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

Answer 44

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

Question 45

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

Answer 45

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

Question 46

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

Answer 46

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

Question 47

How can carbon offsets be used in cap and trade?

Answer 47

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

Question 48

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

Answer 48

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