My first blog would post would be on the UN article, land use, and land-use change and forestry. Lands and forests are an important aspect of the global carbon cycle. They contain a large amount of stored carbon and act as carbon stocks. It is estimated that the global forest vegetation stores 283 Gt of carbon in its biomass, 38 Gt in deadwood and 317 Gt in soils and litter. Altogether, it is estimated the total amount of carbon in forest ecosystems is 638 Gt which is higher than the total carbon in the atmosphere. This shows the importance of protecting these forest ecosystems from exploitation. Forests such as the Amazon are important carbon sink and oxygen producers. Lots of carbon is stored in above-ground biomass (leaves) and below-ground biomass ( roots).
Human interference and degradation of forest change this delicate carbon cycle. For example in the 1990s, deforestation in the tropics and forest re-growth in temperate and boreal zones remained the major factors contributing to emissions and removals of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide emission due to land-use changes was estimated at about 2 gt per year globally. This as a result of the conversion of forest lands by humans for urban development. However, on the brighter side, these emissions are reversible and not permanent. Carbon emissions can be reduced through the reduction and control of deforestation globally. Better and more environmentally friendly agricultural practices could also be adopted such as improved agronomic practices, nutrient use, tillage, residue management and restoration of damaged organic soils.
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 