Pastoral landscapes in the Sahel: a carbon balance with unexpected potential for climate change mitigation - CIRAD - Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement Access content directly
Journal Articles Perspective (English edition) Year : 2019

Pastoral landscapes in the Sahel: a carbon balance with unexpected potential for climate change mitigation

Abstract

In the Sahel, pastoralism capitalises on an extreme environment. Although it is accused of emitting excessive amounts of greenhouse gases per kilogram of milk or meat produced, a research study conducted in Senegal shows that pastoral landscapes can actually have a neutral carbon balance: emissions from animals are offset by carbon sequestration in soils and plants. These findings were obtained using an original evaluation method, known as ecosystem assessment, which integrates the use of the pastoral landscape as a whole, according to the seasons and the areas grazed by herds. These findings indicate that current standards for calculating feeding behaviour and methane emissions from ruminant digestion need to be revised downwards. Other implications are possible, such as improving the carbon balance through specific local practices and promoting these areas on the carbon market. Preserving this livestock system is also one way of fostering development and ensuring greater security in these regions.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
Perspective52_Assouma_ENG.pdf (2.48 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origin : Explicit agreement for this submission
Loading...

Dates and versions

cirad-02384064 , version 1 (28-11-2019)

Licence

Attribution

Identifiers

Cite

Mohamed Habibou Assouma, Philippe Lecomte, Christian Corniaux, Pierre Hiernaux, Alexandre Ickowicz, et al.. Pastoral landscapes in the Sahel: a carbon balance with unexpected potential for climate change mitigation. Perspective (English edition), 2019, 52, pp.1-4. ⟨10.19182/agritrop/00083⟩. ⟨cirad-02384064⟩
331 View
373 Download

Altmetric

Share

Gmail Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More