Carbon sinks are becoming Carbon sinks are becoming more relevantmore relevant
- challenges for forest research and university training- challenges for forest research and university training
Veli PohjonenVeli PohjonenTana-Beles WME projectTana-Beles WME project
University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki
Discussion in Discussion in
Debre Birhan UniversityDebre Birhan University
8 December 20128 December 2012
COCO22 in our air in our air
Despite climate conventions in Kyoto, Despite climate conventions in Kyoto, Copenhagen and Doha (Qatar):Copenhagen and Doha (Qatar):
COCO22 concentration of the air is rising concentration of the air is rising
12 per cent in Kyoto period 1990 – 201212 per cent in Kyoto period 1990 – 2012
No effect from CONo effect from CO22 emission reductions emission reductions
Carbon dioxide in accelerating increaseCarbon dioxide in accelerating increase
Two ways to combatTwo ways to combat
Through the Through the sourcessources: reduce CO: reduce CO22 emissions. Tried during Kyoto periodemissions. Tried during Kyoto period
Through the Through the sinkssinks: increase Carbon : increase Carbon
Offsets to trees and soils. Largely Offsets to trees and soils. Largely unexplored.unexplored.
Carbon Offsets via treesCarbon Offsets via trees
Conserve and manage the existing Conserve and manage the existing natural forestsnatural forests
Establish (large) block plantationsEstablish (large) block plantations
Agroforests , forest farmsAgroforests , forest farms
Average Amhara smallholder farm: Average Amhara smallholder farm: assume 1500 agroforestry trees (stems); how much carbon is assume 1500 agroforestry trees (stems); how much carbon is
Offsetted in a year, how many Birr is it worth of?Offsetted in a year, how many Birr is it worth of?
Tana-Beles average farms (8): Tana-Beles average farms (8): Birr value of Offsetted Carbon Birr value of Offsetted Carbon
Carbon Offset in one year B-A = Carbon Offset in one year B-A = 0.672 tn C/farm/yr0.672 tn C/farm/yr
Price of Carbon 556 Birr/tn CPrice of Carbon 556 Birr/tn C
Value of Offsetted Carbon: 373 Value of Offsetted Carbon: 373 Birr/yr/farm Birr/yr/farm
How potential Carbon trading 373 Birr/yr/farm How potential Carbon trading 373 Birr/yr/farm compares to smallholder farm annual sales? compares to smallholder farm annual sales?
University research & training University research & training challenges 1challenges 1
Improved agroforestry in Ethiopian Improved agroforestry in Ethiopian farmsfarms
Forest inventory and managementForest inventory and management
Carbon inventory and managementCarbon inventory and management
Carbon tradingCarbon trading
More tradable carbon into soilsMore tradable carbon into soils
Tree planting immediate way to Tree planting immediate way to increase carbon in smallholder farms increase carbon in smallholder farms (above ground)(above ground)
How to increase and store carbon in How to increase and store carbon in smallholder farm soils (below ground)?smallholder farm soils (below ground)?
BiocharBiochar (developed charcoal) has (developed charcoal) has huge potential huge potential
Poor soil (left) transformed into Poor soil (left) transformed into fertile fertile Terra pretaTerra preta, using biochar, using biochar
(source Wikipedia : Biochar)(source Wikipedia : Biochar)
Biochar stores carbonBiochar stores carbon
Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians Biochar was invented by Amazonian indians 2000 years ago (2000 years ago (Terra preta Terra preta soils)soils)
Biochar is added to cultivated soils like limeBiochar is added to cultivated soils like lime Biochar remains in the soil without Biochar remains in the soil without
decomposing, similarly to coaldecomposing, similarly to coal Biochar makes permanent carbon sinkBiochar makes permanent carbon sink Made via pyrolysis from forest residuesMade via pyrolysis from forest residues Increment of biochar to smallholder farm Increment of biochar to smallholder farm
soils can be added to Carbon tradingsoils can be added to Carbon trading
Biochar – ultimate Watershed Biochar – ultimate Watershed management agentmanagement agent
Soil acidity decreasesSoil acidity decreases Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of Cation exchange capacity increases, leaching of
nutrients decreasesnutrients decreases Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen Soil microbial activity increases, more nitrogen
is retained in the soilis retained in the soil Fysical soil particle structure for crops improvesFysical soil particle structure for crops improves Soil water retention capacity improvesSoil water retention capacity improves
=> Crop yields are raised in sustained manner=> Crop yields are raised in sustained manner
University research & training University research & training challenges 2challenges 2
Biochar production, optimized forest Biochar production, optimized forest managementmanagement
Biochar production technologyBiochar production technology Biochar in Ethiopian soil & water Biochar in Ethiopian soil & water
conservationconservation Biochar in Carbon trading Biochar in Carbon trading
Environmental friendliness, eco-efficiencyEnvironmental friendliness, eco-efficiency
Biological sinks becoming more important in Biological sinks becoming more important in combat against climate changecombat against climate change
Carbon Offsets trade encourages farmers to Carbon Offsets trade encourages farmers to plant more treesplant more trees
Planting of trees on most eroded sites Planting of trees on most eroded sites increasesincreases
Biochar sustains and improves agricultural Biochar sustains and improves agricultural soil fertilitysoil fertility
Carbon sequestration and trading becoming Carbon sequestration and trading becoming essential component in Watershed essential component in Watershed managementmanagement
Building the Carbon TowersBuilding the Carbon Towers
Smallholder tree planting is on a good drive in Smallholder tree planting is on a good drive in Ethiopia, especially in Amhara regionEthiopia, especially in Amhara region
Farmers are motivated especially after Farmers are motivated especially after successful steps in land tenure and certificationsuccessful steps in land tenure and certification
Ethiopia is already converting into Carbon Tower Ethiopia is already converting into Carbon Tower of African Horn. This accelerates with Carbon of African Horn. This accelerates with Carbon tradingtrading
Trees – Biochar - Carbon towers – Sinks are Trees – Biochar - Carbon towers – Sinks are becoming more important in the coming UN becoming more important in the coming UN climate conventions.climate conventions.
International climate-based funding obviousInternational climate-based funding obvious
Carbon Tower gets greenerCarbon Tower gets greener