GHG emissions & carbon sink in Eastern African rangelands

Livestock-husbandry activities such as grazing and deposition and storing of manure and urine on land contribute to emission of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane gases to the atmosphere. A better understanding of the extent of emission sources and carbon sequestration potential for the Eastern African rangelands is vital for developing mitigation strategies. The article “Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sink potential in Eastern Africa rangeland ecosystems: a review” by Michael Elias Mgalula et al, published in Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 11:19 (2021), reviews the sources of emission with a focus on livestock husbandry, land conversion to crop farming, burning and biotic processes in the ecosystem. Trade-offs of using rangeland with emphasis on enhancing carbon-sequestration potential are also addressed.

The review revealed that improving carbon sequestration in rangelands through appropriate land management is a promising cost-effective strategy to mitigate climate change. As rangeland resources are multi-faceted, transdisciplinary approaches are needed to allow analyses of co-benefits and trade-offs.

Posted on 15 May 2022 in Pastoralism & Climate Change, Pastoralism & Natural Resources