Carbon sequestration opportunities in soils in Latin America and the Caribbean

The sequestration of organic carbon in soils (SOC) used in agriculture is a viable option for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing the climate change resilience of these systems.

Context of the story

“Carbon sequestration" is defined as the removal of (CO₂) from the atmosphere and its storage in ecological sinks, soil organic matter being the main reservoir of carbon in the biosphere. This carbon sequestration capacity is quantified as changes in soil organic carbon stock (COS) and can occur in response to both changes in land management, e.g. increased fertilizer use, and changes in land use. LAC soils have a relevant role in carbon sequestration, but we are limited by the scarcity of local information on the response to these changes (e.g. fertilisation or irrigation, conversion of cropland to forest land).

Organic carbon is the principal indicator of the quality and productive potential of the soil and, at the same time, is the largest carbon pool in the biosphere.

The Implemented Initiative

The objective of this project is to contribute to the design of land use and management strategies with high potential for SOC sequestration in the agricultural production systems of LAC, and to generate capacities in LAC for the quantification and monitoring of the SOC stock.

How can we increase SOC stocks? At what rate and for how long?
Where should SOC storage be prioritized?
How do we estimate potential carbon gains?
What agricultural practices should we implement?

Identification, and evaluation of strategies to intensify agricultural production systems in LAC with the potential for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The technological solution

Soil carbon stock change rate factors, developed from measured data, for relevant production strategies with climate change mitigation and adaptation potential for Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Uruguay.

"Optimizing productivity, producing more with less, protecting soil, water and carbon sequestration capacity is the best option for balancing the need to expand agricultural production with environmental conservation."

— Rattan Lal (2024)

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Type of project

Diagnostic Method

Adaptative

Technological

Cattle raising

Results

A database and reference framework on SOC change rates is now available, addressed to the agencies in charge of reporting the national GHG inventories in each country and for those agencies involved in the generation of NDCs and NAMAs.
A SOC sequestration opportunity with potential for implementation as a NAMA has been identified, including an assessment of its potential economic and environmental impact, for each of the five LAC countries participating in the project.
Staff from the five participating countries have been trained to update their SOC stock and stock-change reports with the quality and within the timeframes required according to international agreements, and the reference material developed throughout the three workshops is available for future consultations.

Relevant data