Papers by Carbon Footprints
Carbon Footprints, 2024
All levels of government must prepare for an increase in adverse weather events related to climat... more All levels of government must prepare for an increase in adverse weather events related to climate change. Developing resilient transportation infrastructure is critical to minimizing disruptions, economic loss, and human health impacts. A challenge for national and regional governments, however, is understanding how to prioritize investments given risk levels and limited resources. This study proposes a framework, using the Region of Peel, Canada as a case study to identify and prioritize key risks in a critical economic sector for the region: intermodal goods movement. The framework integrates projected changes in weather patterns, estimating the damage to infrastructure, interruption of economic activity, and adverse impacts on the workforce, accounting also for impacts on communities, for sound policy formulation. The framework will underpin a data collection plan to inform future policy and investment in strengthening adaptation and resilience to the most likely hazards affecting goods movement. The framework was designed with a view to being easily adapted to other sectors and regions.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2024
Distributed photovoltaic systems (distributed PV) enable rural households to replace traditional ... more Distributed photovoltaic systems (distributed PV) enable rural households to replace traditional energy sources, reduce their household carbon footprint, and generate additional income. Due to the multiple benefits, China increasingly prioritizes developing distributed PV in its rural areas. However, the overall status, primary challenges of distributed PV in rural China, and how regional social and economic factors contribute to adoption choices of distributed PV remain largely uninvestigated. Here, we aim to provide insights into the above issues and offer a basis for policy recommendations that can facilitate the adoption of distributed PV, drawing from Shandong Province’s experience. This study is based on a survey conducted in 2023, encompassing a total of 169 households across 36 villages in Shandong Province. Our results show that 43% of the households have embraced distributed PV with various system standards employed. We also find that rural households in Shandong Province encounter challenges engaging in distributed PV systems, such as inadequate policy support, significant heterogeneity of policy promotion among villages, a predominant emphasis on construction rather than management, and an extended payback period. We suggest that future attention should be paid to households that have not experienced extreme weather events and those that have not yet engaged in related low-carbon environmental activities. Local village officials should take the lead in spearheading policy promotion activities to enhance villagers’ awareness and enthusiasm. Besides, efforts should be directed towards guaranteeing the availability of high-quality distributed PV systems with consistent standards.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2024
Electric vehicles play a crucial role in the carbon neutrality transformation of urban transporta... more Electric vehicles play a crucial role in the carbon neutrality transformation of urban transportation, provided that they are powered by electricity generated from renewable (rather than fossil-based) generation sources. However, the substantial indirect emissions from electric vehicle air conditioning energy consumption and the significant direct emissions from HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) refrigerants pose considerable challenges. In order to identify low-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants-such as R1234yf, R744, and R290-that can effectively minimize carbon emissions while maintaining certain cost-effectiveness, this paper establishes the relevant life-cycle analysis and life-cycle cost analysis models for electric vehicle air conditioning. The results obtained show that, in 2022, the total carbon emissions of China's automotive air conditioning fleet were approximately 162 million tons CO 2-eq. The nationwide average carbon emissions ranking of various refrigerant heat pumps is R290 < R1234yf < R744 < R134a. The Net Present Value (NPV) of the life cycle cost for R134a electric vehicle heat pump is estimated to be around 11,500 yuan. Among the three low-GWP refrigerants, the life cycle cost of R290 is significantly lower than that of R134a under nationwide average conditions, while R744 exhibits the best life cycle performance in certain cold cities/regions.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2024
Vehicle automation and smartphone app-based ride-splitting are commonly discussed topics in the t... more Vehicle automation and smartphone app-based ride-splitting are commonly discussed topics in the transportation literature. While these technologies have been examined for their role in transportation decarbonization through simulation study, the motivation for such work is rarely made explicit. In this commentary, we provide a motivation for research in this area based on our own simulation research, as well as land use and vehicle operational factors. Specifically, land use factors such as density and the speed of its adjustment make traditional transit operations using large vehicles cost-prohibitive in most U.S. communities (and many other communities around the world). Automation and ride-splitting technologies may offer digitized transportation solutions that can match vehicle size to local land development density and passenger demand. In addition, we highlight a difference in the supplydemand relationship for freight transportation that causes additional challenges for decarbonizing that sector. Finally, we emphasize that fleet ownership is key to ensuring timely vehicle fleet turnover as safer and more efficient technologies enter the market.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2024
The demand for resources and energy increases as the global population grows, leading to increase... more The demand for resources and energy increases as the global population grows, leading to increased ecological and carbon footprints. This study aims to contribute to the global sustainability agenda by assessing the impact of green energy projects, green energy finance, and green governance on reducing ecological and carbon footprints in G7 countries from 1990 to 2020. The findings reveal that there is a noteworthy negative association between ecological footprint, green governance, geothermal energy consumption, hydro-power consumption, and green energy finance. However, a significant positive correlation exists between ecological footprint and biofuels. Additionally, the outcomes lend support to the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory in G7 nations. Carbon footprints are evaluated in this study as an alternate measure, and the results are similarly robust. These insights hold the potential to guide policy decisions and investment strategies, and promote the shift to a low-carbon economy by highlighting the connections between the adoption of green energies, green energy finance, green governance, and carbon and ecological footprint reduction, thus paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2024
comprehensive information for stakeholders interested in the CF-related field.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Vehicle electrification stands as a pivotal catalyst for effecting a low-carbon transition within... more Vehicle electrification stands as a pivotal catalyst for effecting a low-carbon transition within the transportation sector. End-of-life (EoL) battery treatment, which is mainly aimed at facilitating material recycling, provides considerable co-benefit in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study assesses the life-cycle GHG emissions from battery production, and examines the impact of three EoL battery treatment strategies: second use, regeneration, and recycling. Prospective scenarios of GHG emissions from electric vehicle battery production in China are further provided. The results show that under the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario, GHG emissions peak at 36 million tons in 2030, with 18 million tons for LFP and 18 million tons for NCM, and decrease to 11 million tons in 2060, with 4 million tons for LFP and 7 million tons for NCM. GHG emissions have more reduction potential as the collection rate increases and the proportion of different strategies applied changes. In a scenario with improved collection rates, GHG emissions would be reduced by 21% in 2060 compared to BAU. In a prioritized regeneration scenario, GHG emissions can be reduced by 32% in 2060, with 64% of lithium resources being supplied by regenerated batteries. In a prioritized second use scenario, GHG emissions can be reduced by 104% in 2060, which involves replacing 27 kilotons of lithium input and mitigating 13 million tons of GHG emissions related to the energy storage system. In light of these findings, we advocate for policy recommendations aimed at fostering the advancement of EoL battery treatment technologies and expediting the transformation of battery manufacturing processes towards carbon neutrality.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
The zero-carbon transition of the coal power industry comes with substantial economic costs, both... more The zero-carbon transition of the coal power industry comes with substantial economic costs, both in terms of the cost of stranded assets and the innovation and application of carbon reduction, zero-carbon, and decarbonization technologies. Mobilizing social capital through transition finance is crucial to support companies in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The lack of high-quality data and consistent, comparable disclosure frameworks hinders proper due diligence and strategic planning, presenting a major obstacle to financing the transition. To identify the mismatches between existing disclosure frameworks for transition plans and the needs of transition finance, we conducted a systematic review of various transition disclosure frameworks, such as TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures), CA100+ (Climate Action 100+) and TPT (Transition Plan Taskforce), and compared them with the information requirements of financial institutions for assessing coal phase-out plans of production entities. The results indicate that the ex-ante assessment of transition finance requires disclosure frameworks to be further expanded and aligned in areas such as technological distinctions and data quality to meet the demands of pricing, risk management, new product innovation, and disclosure of financial institutions' carbon footprints in their asset portfolios. Moreover, the implementation of the current disclosure standards by coal power enterprises may encounter dual constraints from soft regulatory practices and the external business environment, resulting in the emergence of the "green silence" phenomenon. The inconsistency between disclosure frameworks may also give rise to regulatory arbitrage, leading to a distorted evaluation of the transition process of coal power enterprises by the capital market, resulting in potential price distortions and credit risks.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Seagrasses take up carbon dioxide and transform it into organic carbon, some of which is buried i... more Seagrasses take up carbon dioxide and transform it into organic carbon, some of which is buried in meadow sediments. Very high carbon burial rates have been claimed for seagrass meadows globally, and international protocols have been developed with a view to awarding carbon offset credits. However, recent geochemical work has shown that a misunderstanding of how marine sediment buries and processes organic carbon has led to overestimates of at least an order of magnitude. Common blue carbon methodology does not adequately account for bioturbation or remineralization in surface sediment, and there is often a conflation of standing stock with ongoing burial. To determine accurate seagrass carbon burial rates requires the following steps: (1) Determine the sediment accumulation rate below the surface mixed layer, using 210 Pb and porosity; (2) Determine the burial concentration of organic carbon; (3) Multiply the sediment accumulation rate by the buried % organic carbon; (4) If excluding allochthonous carbon burial, use biomarkers to determine the proportion of seagrass-derived organic carbon; and (5) Account for the offset due to the burial of carbonate formed inside the meadow. Seagrass meadows provide valuable habitat and protect coastlines from erosion. They can also play a role in short-term carbon sequestration. However, if carbon credits are awarded based on inflated estimates and used to offset emissions elsewhere, the net effect could be an increase in carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Remote sensing offers an effective and efficient solution to provide information on the biodivers... more Remote sensing offers an effective and efficient solution to provide information on the biodiversity of seagrass ecosystems, which is currently lacking in most parts of the world. Therefore, this study aimed to map the biodiversity of seagrass ecosystems in parts of Rote Island, which is one of the seagrass biodiversity hotspots, using multi-generation PlanetScope magery to see how they compare. The most frequently used biodiversity indicators were identified, including the major benthic habitat (coral, seagrass, macroalgae, bare substrate) and the composition of seagrass species based on life forms. We also aim to understand the actual biodiversity indicators of seagrass ecosystems captured by PlanetScope imagery. To achieve this, field data was integrated with the resulting ISODATA classification results to assess what ISODATA class clusters represent in the field, and new classification schemes are developed accordingly. The random forest algorithm was used to carry out the classification, with seagrass field data serving as training data. Independent field data was subsequently used to assess the accuracy. The results showed that the accuracy of benthic habitat and seagrass mapping ranged from 60%-70%. However, through the use of a classification scheme built on ISODATA clustering, the spatial distribution of classes and accuracy of all PlanetScope images was significantly improved to > 90%. This highlighted the importance of understanding which indicators of seagrass biodiversity were effectively captured by PlanetScope images to achieve higher mapping accuracy. Overall, this approach optimized the ability of PlanetScope images to map seagrass biodiversity while obtaining a higher number of biodiversity indicator classes and mapping accuracy than the commonly used biodiversity indicator classification scheme.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Urban centers are places with a high human population concentration, and they can pose social, ec... more Urban centers are places with a high human population concentration, and they can pose social, economic, and environmental challenges. These challenges are accentuated by the increased use of available open space for housing and industrial expansion, leading to elevated energy consumption, increased pollution, higher carbon emissions, and, consequently, adverse effects on human health. Many of these issues also contribute to the acceleration of climate change. There are several ways to decrease these problems through the expansion of greenspaces that conserve biodiversity, decrease air pollution, improve human well-being, and reduce human health risks, while also allowing people to enjoy the benefits of ecosystem services. This review is aimed at professionals who can manage urban landscapes-including adjacent forests, urban parks, tree beds, or home gardens that produce biomass that, together with other non-chemically treated wood waste, could be used to produce and use biochar. Biochar-amended soils provide the benefits of increased carbon sequestration, water retention, and soil productivity and can also decrease stormwater runoff. In addition, a small number of cities around the world have adopted biochar as a nature-based solution to decrease the impacts of climate change. We point out the opportunities and benefits of converting urban wood waste into biochar, how cities can improve their green environments, and, at the same time, produce energy from waste that would otherwise end in landfills with no use or value. Finally, based on previous assessments of wood waste in the United States of America, we estimate the biochar potential to sequester CO 2 .
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
The ending of mangrove concessions for charcoal production in 1998 gave new impetus to mangrove c... more The ending of mangrove concessions for charcoal production in 1998 gave new impetus to mangrove conservation and rehabilitation in Thailand, including the designation of the Ranong Biosphere Reserve (RBR) to protect Thailand's largest single mangrove ecosystem. Four of the dominant tree species in the RBR were planted as seedlings in single species blocks on a former concession site in 1994: Rhizophora apiculata (Ra) and R. mucronata (Rm); and 1995: Bruguiera cylindrica (Bc) and Ceriops tagal (Ct). Tree growth and natural recruitment of seedlings and saplings were recorded in 100 m 2 sampled quadrats in each species block in 1999, 2008, 2019 and 2023. All four species exceeded 10 m mean height by 2019 (range 12.1 ± 3.8 m to 19.6 ± 2.3 m), while mean DBH was 7.5 ± 3.4 cm to 9.1 ± 6.9 cm. There was evidence of self-thinning mortality by 2023, especially in the Ra and Bc blocks. Some illegal cutting of Bc trees between 2019 and 2023 further impacted the growth performance of this species, which exhibited a compensatory strategy of self-planting many seedlings. The height and DBH of the four planted species in 2023 were still less than in a mature Rhizophora-and Ceriops-dominated conservation forest area (mean tree height 17.4 ± 6.7 m; DBH 15.1 ± 7.3 cm). However, soil organic carbon (SOC) was high and not significantly different between the monoculture species blocks (525 ± 107 Mg C ha-1 to 743 ± 31 Mg C ha-1) and the conservation forest (616 ± 91 Mg C ha-1). SOC accounted for 74%-90% of the total ecosystem C, which was 650 to 829 Mg C ha-1 in the planted species blocks and 828 Mg C ha-1 in the conservation forest. The estimates for plant, soil and ecosystem C are compared with those reported from other natural and planted mangrove sites in Southeast Asia, especially along the Andaman Sea coast. The findings confirm the importance of conserving the few remaining areas of near-primary mangrove forest in this region.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
As the climate problem becomes more serious, controlling greenhouse gas emissions has become an o... more As the climate problem becomes more serious, controlling greenhouse gas emissions has become an overarching issue facing all countries. The agriculture sector is one of the main sources of carbon emissions. The measurement of its carbon footprint not only can quantitatively evaluate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions but also provide technical support for low-carbon agricultural construction. However, most reviews focus on the carbon footprint of manufacturing or international trade. Thus, this study selects the agriculture sector and summarizes the literature associated with the carbon footprint. First, this paper analyzes the different definitions of carbon footprint at macroscopic and microscopic levels. Then, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis is used to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of two main accounting methods, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Input-Output Analysis (IOA). Third, the research on carbon footprint in the agricultural sector is concluded and quantified using CiteSpace. Therefore, this paper gives the implications and prospects of carbon footprint in the agriculture sector. It is necessary to further agree on the definition of carbon footprint and consider other pollutants, water, and energy footprints to optimize agricultural management. Additionally, establishing a carbon footprint accounting model in line with local realities will provide scientific support for developing low-carbon agriculture.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Blue carbon ecosystems require conservation and restoration to maximize organic carbon (C ORG) se... more Blue carbon ecosystems require conservation and restoration to maximize organic carbon (C ORG) sequestration to ameliorate greenhouse gas emissions. Salt marshes, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows are all autotrophic and are considered blue carbon ecosystems. Macroalgae and tidal flats are currently not considered blue carbon habitats. Blue carbon ecosystems contribute globally to climate change mitigation and at local and national scales, especially in the provision of other ecosystem goods and services. Financial investment is constrained by large uncertainties in C ORG dynamics and best practices in restoration, rehabilitation and conservation. Several key emerging perspectives include (1) the fact that groundwater discharge of dissolved carbon is a major pathway of blue carbon loss; (2) allochthonous C ORG inputs are required to achieve ecosystem carbon mass balance; (3) blue carbon dynamics are enhanced by habitat connectivity and biotic activities; (4) CH 4 and N 2 O emissions reduce blue carbon potential; (5) habitat destruction causes blue carbon stock losses, but variable gas emissions; (6) sediment blue carbon stocks are increasing at the poles; and (7) land-use and land-cover changes (LULCC) drive changes in blue carbon stocks and emissions. Further research is needed to clarify the applicability of these emerging perspectives.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Shifting cultivation, a rotational land use system widely practiced in tropical regions, is often... more Shifting cultivation, a rotational land use system widely practiced in tropical regions, is often blamed for contributing to climate change due to the perceived association with deforestation and resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from slash and burn activities. This concern is often used to justify the implementation of national land use policies aiming at restricting or eradicating shifting cultivation while encouraging alternative land use systems. However, the contribution of shifting cultivation to global climate change is questionable. This study summarizes the available - and unavailable - data and knowledge required to calculate the carbon footprint (CFP) of shifting cultivation and highlights the methodological challenges and problematic assumptions that lie therein. Data on carbon stocks of fallows are found to be incomplete with large unexplained variation in the relationship between fallow age and carbon stocks of above- and belowground vegetation, and studies from Africa are under-represented. Knowledge of GHG emissions during burning is limited and associated with unsubstantiated assumptions on combustion completeness and emissions factors that represent important sources of uncertainty. Data on the global extent of shifting cultivation is coarse, and spatially explicit data on the rotation intensity of these systems is unavailable, thus hindering any upscaling of CFP calculations. Finally, it is concluded that the contribution of shifting cultivation to deforestation remains unclear, with remote sensing-based studies likely overestimating the scale of this due to methodological flaws. This review calls for caution when interpreting data on GHG emissions from shifting cultivation and suggests ways of addressing the identified data gaps.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Carbon storage processes in mangrove ecosystems are summarized and future research directions are... more Carbon storage processes in mangrove ecosystems are summarized and future research directions are discussed based on findings from our long-term monitoring studies on Pohnpei Island in the Federated States of Micronesia. On Pohnpei, where coral reef-type mangrove forests dominate, Rhizophora communities maintain their habitat by accumulating mangrove peat at over 5 mm year-1 in response to rapid sea-level rise, but surface erosion is progressing in communities where the tree density of Rhizophora spp. has declined through succession. However, high-resolution aerial photographs taken by drones have identified trees with reduced vigor even in Rhizophora forests, and if sea-level rise occurs at a rate close to the IPCC's maximum prediction, then Rhizophora forests, which are valuable carbon storage sites due to mangrove peat accumulation, are likely to disappear. The impact of relative sea-level rise is determined by the sum of the rate of ground-level change by the external sediment budget and the rate of ground-level rise with mangrove peat accumulation. In the future, each region will need to conduct its own quantitative evaluation.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Meaningful protection of global oceans lags far behind that of land and has taken little consider... more Meaningful protection of global oceans lags far behind that of land and has taken little consideration of climate mitigation potential to date (such as through assessment of blue carbon stocks and change). With the new emphasis on synergistic approaches to the identification and conservation of both carbon- and species- rich habitats, we need much better knowledge of the geography and status of blue carbon habitats beyond coastal wetlands. In subpolar and polar regions, some blue carbon habitats are still emerging and work as negative (mitigating) feedback on climate change, yet remain unprotected despite strong evidence of threat overlap. Scientific research expeditions are gradually increasing our understanding, but appropriate vessels are a limiting factor due to high costs and carbon footprints. Even when available such vessels cannot access all areas (e.g., remote fjords with sills) and may struggle to measure certain aspects of habitats (e.g., steep or vertical surfaces). New technologies and opportunities have advanced to aid some of these problems, and here, two of them are considered, mini-manned submersibles and autonomous underwater vehicles. These two platforms have both become much more available and affordable (through novel partnerships) while also being much more scientifically capable. This technology has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of science and particularly aid in assessing biology and environment status and change on steep sides, such as fjord walls.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
This study aims to assess the additional Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions affected by straw removal... more This study aims to assess the additional Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions affected by straw removal from the soil surface in sugarcane areas, including measurement of short-term soil CO2-C emissions plus emissions associated with the recovery and transport operations of straw bales until to the industry gate (diesel emissions) and estimated soil N2O emission, comparing with leaving all straw on the soil surface. Taking into account the main sources evaluated (soil CO2, diesel and N2O from straw), the total additional GHG emissions from the recovery of 6.9 Mg Dry Matter ha-1 (27%) was estimated at 1423 kg CO2eq ha-1, resulting in a carbon footprint of 206.2 kg CO2eq per megagram (Mg) of straw recovered. Applying the parameters cited in this study for electricity generation (GHG emission and offset potential), our results showed an additional GHG emission of (+) 860 kg CO2eq ha-1. Applying the same parameters for second generation (2G) ethanol production replacing gasoline, an avoided GHG emission of (-) 2316 kg CO2eq ha-1 could be achieved. The route of recovering 27% of sugarcane straw from the soil surface through bale system for bioelectricity production using the technical parameters and industrial efficiency rate of this case study resulted in a C footprint of 347 kg CO2eq MWh-1. Improving the efficiency rate for straw conversion in bioelectricity based on its lower heating value could reduce its C footprint to 62.26 kg CO2eq MWh-1 produced. For sugarcane straw recovery at the first cutting cycle in clay soil, the option of producing ethanol 2G could offset GHG emissions once replacing fossil gasoline, resulting in a C footprint of 0.86 kg CO2eq L-1 of 2G ethanol in the agricultural phase, an option to contribute to better sustainability of sugarcane straw recovery, supporting renewable and sustainable bioenergy systems, and reducing the impacts of Global Climate Change.
Keywords
Biomass, renewable energy, soil management, harvest systems, climate change
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Grasslands in the Southeast United States (SE US) cover 15.8 million ha and most of this area is ... more Grasslands in the Southeast United States (SE US) cover 15.8 million ha and most of this area is dedicated to beef production systems. This region holds 6.3 million beef cows and 12.1 million cattle, including calves. Beef cattle systems in the SE US are mostly cow-calf based, and most of the greenhouse gas emission from cattle occurs during this phase (cow-calf) because of their forage-based diet. This review assessed the carbon footprint (C footprint) of beef cattle systems in the SE US and indicates possible ways to reduce it. Major emissions in beef cattle systems come from livestock enteric fermentation and greenhouse gases from excreta. Cow-calf systems in the SE US are typically low input, although they use some industrial fertilizers, machinery, and fossil fuel, which adds to the C footprint of the sector. There are opportunities to reduce the beef C footprint in the SE US by adopting climate-smart practices, including preservation of natural ecosystems that have potentially high carbon sequestration, afforestation, integration of forage legumes (and reduction of nitrogen fertilizer), use of slow-release fertilizers, and dietary interventions. In fact, depending on the level of adoption of some of these practices, it is possible to establish climate-neutral beef at the farm gate in the SE US. Beef is a key food for humans and has large economic effects. Development of climate-smart beef could create opportunities for a niche market that recognizes the environmental footprint of agricultural production and could incentivize producers to pursue those systems.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Carbon Footprints, 2023
Farming systems in Southern Africa are mostly maize mixed cropping, with some tree and/or root cr... more Farming systems in Southern Africa are mostly maize mixed cropping, with some tree and/or root crop-based systems. Agroforestry systems (AFS), in particular, represent a model for ecological sustainability, with the potential of sequestering carbon (C) within soils and biomass. This review reveals that rotational woodlots sequester more C than other AFS types in the region. Additionally, C levels above and below ground range from 0.29 to 15.21 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and 30 to 300 Mg C ha-1 in the first 100 cm soil depth, respectively. To measure C belowand aboveground biomass in different AFS, variable-and not easily adoptable-methodologies are being used in Southern Africa, which limits the standardization of C stock accounting. Since the magnitude of C sequestered in AFS is dependent on the species used, AF and farm management, and environmental conditions, we recommend the adoption of rigorous and replicable methodologies to account for C stocks in different AFS over time in Southern Africa.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Uploads
Papers by Carbon Footprints
Keywords
Biomass, renewable energy, soil management, harvest systems, climate change
Keywords
Biomass, renewable energy, soil management, harvest systems, climate change