Forests are the key to matching the carbon budget

Forests have a crucial role in carbon sequestration, serving as important CO2 sinks and contributing to global mitigation efforts. However, their tree cover is constantly reduced by human activities. The development of food systems is highly land-intensive, creating mounting pressures on natural forests, which are also affected by the escalating impacts of climate change. While researchers are still investigating the contribution of regional forests to the global carbon budget, studies on innovative land management, such as balanced agroforestry, can contribute to preserving these natural sinks and the local livelihoods. 

African forests absorb the most carbon

The academic discourse on forests' carbon absorption has mainly focused on the Amazon and its influence on the global carbon budget, which has attracted significant media attention due to large-scale deforestation and illegal lodging. Recent CMCC research on the role of traditionally overlooked African forests reveals their major significance in the global carbon cycle. West Africa’s rainforests have been found to absorb more CO2 than the Amazon rainforest, placing this region at the center of academic discussions. Higher efficiency in carbon storage might be explained by greater aridity, slowing the biomass decomposition process and, thus, retaining more carbon. Additionally, African tropical forests are semi-deciduous, losing only part of the tree canopy due to seasonal changes, which enhances their carbon fixation capability. The region is affected by intense land grabbing caused by growing demographic and economic pressures. Agriculture encroaches on the natural forest, similar to what occurs in the Amazon, leading to deforestation which seriously impacts the function of forests as carbon sinks. The African continent is a hotspot for climate change research, and the climatic function of its forests should gain prominence in impact assessments and policy discussions.

Mountain agroforestry: Combining carbon storage and adaptation

Agricultural practices can be innovated to mitigate their impacts, improve the sector’s resilience, and protect the natural environment. Mountain forests are valuable carbon sinks, storing over 29% of the global irrecoverable carbon. These habitats host a high level of functional biodiversity organized in globally significant ecosystems. Agricultural production in mountain regions significantly contributes to the local livelihoods, inevitably impacting the natural landscape. However, mountain agroforestry—an alternative land management system that incorporates tree cover in cropland—can help mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions by combining agricultural activities with additional carbon sequestration. CMCC research found that even a 1% increase in tree cover in mountain agricultural fields can provide significant mitigation benefits within a decade. Growing recognition and implementation of sustainable land-use practices have positive implications not only on their potential for carbon sequestration but also on the resilience of mountain livelihoods, bridging adaptation and mitigation efforts. Frameworks and policies supporting resilient agroforestry can contribute to the sustainable transitions of food systems. 

The EU forest carbon sequestration goals

In 2023, the European Union revised its land use regulation (LULUCF), setting ambitious targets for the contribution of forests to its carbon sequestration goals. By 2030, Europe is set to absorb an additional 42 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents compared to the period 2016-2018, through forest carbon sinks. To reach such demanding targets, considering the current pressures faced by European forests, a change in land management systems is required. The European-wide greenhouse gas research infrastructure ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System), can support this transition by estimating the effects of different land management practices, such as cover crops, and determining possible side-effects, as well as the impacts of extreme events and seasonal variability on the land and forest carbon absorption capacity. The CMCC Foundation coordinates the ICOS Ecosystem Thematic Center, which is responsible for data management, processing, and network coordination of the ecosystem stations monitoring greenhouse gas fluxes.

More information: 

• African forests: world-leading in CO2 capture
• Irrecoverable carbon in the mountains: embracing the opportunity of agroforestry
• Forests and soil: carbon sinks under pressure
• Forest carbon sinks under pressure (ICOS Fluxes, Vol. n.2)
• Carbon farming – a path to more sustainable agriculture (ICOS Fluxes, Vol. n.2)