FAO releases its first report on soil carbon in grasslands

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The “Global Assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands” is the first research study of this magnitude published by the FAO.

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) conducted the “Global Assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands,” unveiling several critical factors regarding the state of soil carbon in grasslands. The study’s objective is to share this information to facilitate future actions contributing to sustainability in the agricultural sector.

“Most of the world’s grasslands have a positive carbon balance, indicating stable or well-maintained land. However, a negative carbon balance was found in East Asia, Central and South America, and in Africa south of the equator, suggesting that these reserves are likely declining due to anthropogenic stress combined with climatic conditions,” states FAO.

pastizales carbono suelos

In this regard, the study identifies specific locations where soil carbon storage capacity must be preserved or enhanced. FAO states:

“… it is necessary to balance the benefits of animal-derived food and livestock farming for nutrition, health, livelihoods, and well-being with the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address the climate crisis, which also threatens food security.”

The “Global Assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands” outlines that its approach primarily centered on evaluating organic soil carbon up to a depth of 30 cm. Furthermore, it notes that this substance “may also be retained in deeper strata, emphasizing the need for future efforts in enhancing existing estimations and devising novel methods to forecast SOC in deeper soil strata.”

Source:

Dondini, M., Martin, M., De Camillis, C., Uwizeye, A., Soussana, J.-F., Robinson, T. & Steinfeld, H. 2023. Global assessment of soil carbon in grasslands – From current stock estimates to sequestration potential. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No. 187. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3981en

FAO (2023). “FAO publishes its first Global Assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands“.