<tideeAbstracts><tideeAbs><RefNo>892</RefNo><PublishYear>2002</PublishYear><Contributors>Ringius L</Contributors><Affiliation>UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment,<break />POBox49, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark</Affiliation><Source><italic>Climatic Change</italic><bold>54</bold>(4):471–495</Source><Title>Soil carbon sequestration and the CDM: opportunities and challenges for Africa

TERI

TERI Information Digest on Energy and Environment

0972-6721

The Energy and Resources Institute

tidee-1-4-048

ABSTRACTS OF DISSERTATIONS OR ARTICLES

Climate change: Kyoto mechanisms

122002

14708708

<tideeAbstracts><tideeAbs><RefNo>892</RefNo><PublishYear>2002</PublishYear><Contributors>Ringius L</Contributors><Affiliation>UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment,<break />POBox49, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark</Affiliation><Source><italic>Climatic Change</italic><bold>54</bold>(4):471–495</Source><Title>Soil carbon sequestration and the CDM: opportunities and challenges for AfricaThis paper examines soil carbon sequestration in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa as part of regional and global attempts to mitigate GHG emissions and the possibility that the development of GHG mitigation projects will offer local ancillary benefits. The paper documents the improvements in agricultural practices and land-use management in sub-Saharan Africa that could increase agricultural productivity and sequester soil carbon. During the first five-year commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, only afforestation and reforestation projects will be eligible for crediting under the CDM (clean development mechanism), but soil carbon sequestration and broader sink activities could become eligible during subsequent commitment periods. However, very few cost estimates of soil carbon sequestration strategies exist, and available data are not readily comparable. It is uncertain how large amounts of carbon could be sequestered, and it is unclear how well site-specific studies represent wider areas. It is concluded that presently there is a need to launch long-term (>10 years) field experiments and demonstration and pilot projects for soil carbon sequestration in Africa. It will be important to monitor all environmental effects and carbon costs as well as estimate all economic benefits and costs of projects.(2 figures, 7 tables, 75 references)