Soil carbon sequestration in US rangelands

A new report commissioned by Environmental Defense Fund is available on the issues associated with developing a soil carbon sequestration emissions reductions protocol for rangelands. With a U.S. focus, this discussion is also relevant to other regions. The report can be viewed here. 
 
Rangelands are non-intensively-managed systems including grasslands, savanna, steppe and scrubland. Rangelands cover 31% of the U.S. and a similar proportion in other regions. The main activity focus on rangelands is grazing livestock, on which 70% of the world’s poorest people depend.
 
U.S. grazing lands have the potential to remove the equivalent of 3.3% of national CO2 emissions every year for 30 years, through a change to more sustainable practices. This mitigation potential will be comparable for regions with a similar proportion of rangelands and grazing lands, and/or lower GHG emissions than the U.S.