In an effort to limit rising temperatures caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Kyoto Protocol requests participating nations to account for the carbon sequestered, or stored, in afforestation as one of the many options to meet targets for emissions reduction in the period 2008-2012.

Reafforestation converts non-forested land, such as cropland, grassland or degraded land, to forests. Trees absorb and store carbon from the air as they grow and can therefore mitigate the global warming. However, other factors significantly influence the impact of reafforestation on climate change, such as carbon emissions due to direct and indirect land use change. This study focused on the effect of the albedo of land surfaces, which is not accounted for in the Kyoto Protocol. Highly reflective land cover, such as snow, can reflect back most of the sun’s radiation and therefore has a high albedo. In contrast, forests absorb most of the incoming radiation and have a low albedo. This could have a comparative warming effect on surface air temperatures, depending on the age of the forest.

The researchers used high resolution satellite observations to investigate the effects on climate change of planting forests on croplands across the globe. The projected cooling achieved from increased carbon storage was calculated after taking into account the warming caused by a decrease in surface albedo as cropland was changed to forest cover at the time of forest maturation. This effect is especially important at higher latitudes where snow-covered crop or grass land has a significantly higher albedo than snow-covered trees.

Only individual afforestation projects on a local scale (10-100 hectares) were considered: it is suggested that this represents a more realistic representation of how afforestation might actually occur. Previous modelling studies at much coarser scales than this study have included large bands of afforestation on land that was not cropland and have therefore overestimated the decrease in albedo at higher latitudes.

Previous large-scale modelling studies have suggested that afforestation in tropical latitudes causes a cooling effect on the climate and that afforestation schemes at mid latitudes have little effect. These studies suggest that at high latitudes, afforestation would contribute a warming effect on the climate, due to the darkening of the earth’s surface. The results of this study differ: it is suggested that the net effect of albedo in small-scale afforestation, anywhere on crops between latitudes 40 degrees South and 60 degrees North, does not cause warming. In addition, the results suggest the impact of afforestation schemes on the climate does not fall into clear latitudinal bands.

There are significant variations in the albedo effects across the zones, although the albedo effect tends to be greater at higher latitudes. Nevertheless, albedo-linked warming in these temperate latitudes is not high enough to overcome the cooling effect caused by carbon sequestration at the time of forest maturation.

The study also determined that the scale of change in land use for the afforestation schemes considered in this study were too small to influence cloud cover changes, and therefore albedo, over the forested areas. In comparison, other studies suggest large scale reafforestation schemes do affect cloud cover over forests. In addition, the authors caution that the study was not designed to determine the impact on climate of regional or continental scale land use change through afforestation.

Source: Montenegro, A., Eby, M., Mu, Q. et al. (2009). The net carbon drawdown of small scale afforestation from satellite observations. Global and Planetary Change. 69: 195-204

Source of report: DG Environment News Alert Service, 5 February, 2010
Issue 183

The breakdown and controversial ending of the Copenhagen climate talks was predictable from the outset in a conference which was marked by secret texts, closed door meetings and walk-outs. Negotiations were halted several times over the rumoured plans to introduce a ‘Danish text’ which was outside of, and did not build upon, the official negotiation process of the ad-hoc working groups of the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) and long-term cooperative action (AWG-LCA). The Danish Presidency of the conference led to further confusion and increased levels of hostility, due to an overall lack of both clarity on the process and consultation with countries. In the end, the most cited outcome of the Conference, the Copenhagen Accord,¹ was a document drawn up in the final days by a select group of countries, and only ‘noted’ by the Conference of the Parties to the UN climate convention (COP) due to the lack of consensus to adopt it as a UN document. The Accord was strongly rejected by several parties, including Tuvalu, Bolivia, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, both for the lack of substance and the undemocratic nature in which it was drawn up. This raises concerns about the long term implications for multi-lateral negotiations under the UN process.

A team of UK scientists led by Dr. Karen Anderson (University of Exeter) has developed a new technique for monitoring the condition of peatlands. The team used a combination of images captured from Earth and space to measure spatial patterning in peatland surfaces as an indicator of their condition. This new method uses a novel coupled approach, using satellite images from space and airborne laser scanning data, and has resulted in improved peatland mapping products. For full details click here.

Dr. Anderson, who led the study, noted,

“This work is the first to demonstrate that peatland structures, which are linked to hydrological status and condition, can be measured using remote sensing techniques. Our approach enabled us to draw out the differences in surface pattern across the peatland and resulted in an improved mapping product which is useful for scientists, peatland managers, statutory conservation agencies, and for policy makers”

 CCSN has championed the idea of using remote sensing techniques such as LiDAR for  monitoring habitats and has included a section on these techniques in its first annual report.

On the Occasion of World Wetland Day 2010 events are taking place all over the world– see Ramsar Convention website
In Trinity College, a seminar with guest speakers and discussion workgroups will focus on concrete action for better protection of wetlands and wetland functions, especially wetland value for flood control and biodiversity.

The event is being organised by Coastwatch in cooperation with Civil and Environmental Engineering TCD. The proceedings are to be published and used towards wise management of wetlands.

For more information click here

The revised Programme, which provides for spending of additional funds for rural development arising under the Health Check and the European Economic Recovery Package, includes the new agri-environment scheme as well as a number of new on-farm investment schemes.

The new agri-environment scheme will benefit up to 10,000 participants and will provide a maximum payment of €5,000, as Minister Smith had previously stated at the time of Budget 2010 last month. It is focused on the priority areas of biodiversity, climate change and water management. It offers a menu of measures addressing these priorities and farmers may choose measures which complement the environmental profile of their farms. Details of the operation of the new agri-environment scheme will be finalised over the next few weeks.

The investment schemes include measures for dairy and sheep farmers, pig and poultry welfare measures and a water conservation scheme. In addition, provision has also been made for funding of establishment grants for bio-energy crops.

The revised Programme must now be formally approved by the European Commission and this is expected by the end of February. The roll-out of the various investment schemes will be phased over the lifetime of the Programme.

Link to article

Many ozone-depleting substances (ODS) have been phased out as a result of the Montreal Protocol and are regulated by EU legislation. N₂O is emitted from natural and anthropogenic sources, the latter including as a byproduct of agricultural fertiliser use and from fossil fuel combustion. Its role in ozone depletion has been known for some years and it is similar to CFCs in that it is stable when it is near the earth’s surface but releases ozone-destroying active chemicals when transported into the stratosphere (between 10 and 50km from the surface). However, N₂O is not defined as an ODS under the Montreal Protocol and, although it is a greenhouse gas (GHG) included in the basket of gases under the Kyoto Protocol, its emissions remain unregulated.

The study was the first to calculate the ozone-depleting potential (ODP) of N₂O. Current global emissions of anthropogenic N₂O are approximately 10 million metric tonnes per year, in comparison with annual emissions of one million metric tonnes of CFCs at the peak of their production in the 1980s.

These emissions of N₂O also have a significant impact on the climate. Of all the non-CO₂ GHGs included under the Kyoto Protocol, N₂O emissions have the second most powerful impact on the climate (after methane). Ozone plays a role in breaking down methane so N2O emissions continue to increase, this will lead to increase levels of methane in the atmosphere as there is less ozone around to break it down.

Click here for link to full article from Science Mag 

Feasta Lecture 2009

Allan Savory argued that while livestock may be part of the problem, they can also be an important part of the solution. He has demonstrated time and again in Africa, Australia and North and South America that, properly managed, they are essential to land restoration. With the right techniques, plant growth is lusher, the water table is higher, wildlife thrives, soil carbon increases and, surprisingly, perhaps four times as many cattle can be kept.

Extracts from Allan Savory’s lecture including 2 segments that focused on the process of using livestock to improve land.

Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has indicated that Ireland fully supports the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.
Ireland has consistently raised the urgent need to address the parallel challenges of increasing food output to meet the growing worldwide demand and at the same time dealing effectively with climate change both in terms of adaptation and mitigation. World food production must be increased by 70% by 2050 while at the same time there is a need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Dealing with climate change in the agriculture sector and at the same time achieving food security, is the great twin-challenge facing the world.

The Minister said

“We also recognise the importance of research aimed at meeting these twin challenges. Ireland has a long track record of research to increase efficiency in the sector. In recent years we have refocused the programme on greenhouse gas mitigation. We are aware of the problem that has to be solved and of how difficult it is to achieve progress – our experts have indicated that the currently available technical mitigation options will mitigate emissions in Ireland by less than 4% compared to business as usual. Co-operation in focused research and sharing of information will be essential to achieve progress. This Global Research Alliance is an important initiative is important for agriculture and food security. We are committing our knowledge, research and expertise to the Alliance”.

Click here for press release from DAFF