Mitigation of agricultural emissions in the tropics: comparing forest land-sparing options at the national level
Emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation are of global concern, but forest land-sparing interventions such as agricultural intensification and utilization of available non-forest land offer opportunities for mitigation. In many tropical countries, where agriculture is the major driver of defo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-08-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/12/4809/2015/bg-12-4809-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | Emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation are of global concern, but
forest land-sparing interventions such as agricultural intensification and
utilization of available non-forest land offer opportunities for mitigation.
In many tropical countries, where agriculture is the major driver of
deforestation, interventions in the agriculture sector could reduce
deforestation emissions as well as reduce emissions in the agriculture
sector. Our study uses a novel approach to quantify agriculture-driven
deforestation and associated emissions in the tropics between 2000 and 2010.
Emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation in the tropics (97
countries) are 4.3 GtCO<sub>2</sub>e yr<sup>−1</sup>. We investigate the national
potential to mitigate these emissions through forest land-sparing
interventions, which can potentially be implemented under REDD+.
We
consider intensification and utilization of available non-forested land as
forest land-sparing opportunities since they avoid the expansion of
agriculture into forested land. In addition, we assess the potential to
reduce agricultural emissions on existing agriculture land. The use of a
systematic framework demonstrates the selection of mitigation interventions
by considering sequentially the level of emissions, mitigation potential of
various interventions, enabling environment and associated risks to
livelihoods at the national level. Our results show that considering only
countries with high emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation, with
potential for forest-sparing interventions and a good enabling environment
(e.g. effective governance or engagement in REDD+), there is a potential
to mitigate 1.3 GtCO<sub>2</sub>e yr<sup>−1</sup> (20 countries of 78 with sufficient
data). For countries where we identify agricultural emissions as a priority
for mitigation, up to 1 GtCO<sub>2</sub>e yr<sup>−1</sup> could be reduced from the
agriculture sector including livestock. Risks to livelihoods from
implementing interventions based on national level data call for detailed
investigation at the local level to inform decisions on mitigation
interventions. Three case studies demonstrate the use of the analytical
framework. The inherent link between the agriculture and forestry sectors
due to competition for land suggests that these sectors cannot be considered
independently. Our findings highlight the need to include the forest and the
agricultural sectors in the decision-making process to mitigate
deforestation. |
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| ISSN: | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |