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Africa Biocarbon Initiative

 

Agroforestry as a climate change solution: This small timber farm in Uganda can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change by storing carbon, while also providing income and other benefits to farmers. Photo: V. Meadu, ASB.Agroforestry as a climate change solution: This small timber farm in Uganda can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change by storing carbon, while also providing income and other benefits to farmers. Photo: V. Meadu, ASB.

World Agroforestry Centre are helping develop the scientific and technical evidence base for the Africa Biocarbon Initiative, led by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). COMESA is promoting climate change strategies that take into account the key role African agriculture can play in reducing emissions and increasing carbon stocks across the whole continent. It is estimated that 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from land-use with agriculture accounting for 14% of these. The biocarbon approach, which includes carbon stored in trees and vegetation, soil, dead leaves, and other organic matter, would reward countries that adopt agricultural systems that store carbon, are climate-resilient and increase productivity.

Objective

To support COMESA in its efforts to have African agriculture recognized as an activity that can help store carbon and reduce emissions, while benefitting hundreds and thousands of small farmers across the continent.

Activities

The World Agroforestry Centre is working with a consortium of national, regional and international research institutions in Africa to

  • Assess the distribution of current bio-carbon stocks in eastern and southern Africa, as well as the potential for further bio-carbon sequestration
  • Develop a system of monitoring, measuring, verifying and reporting land degradation and deforestation;
  • Create a data base of all forestry and agricultural carbon projects in eastern and southern Africa and document the best practices in community-based programmes
  • Quantify the impact of conservation agriculture on food productivity and carbon sequestration in eastern and southern Africa
  • Identify viable non timber forestry products and their suitable locations; productivity and value enhancement
  • Disseminate these research findings within the consortium, and as recommendations to COMESA, as well to support COMESA in its efforts to put Africa’s biocarbon on the international agenda

Donor credits

This initiative is led by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), with funding from NORAD – the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation.

Related initiatives

The Africa-wide Civil Society Climate Change Initiative for Policy Dialogues (ACCID) - Africa Climate Solution

 

 

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