The global carbon cycle is under the impacts of LULUCF activities

“Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF)” is defined by the UN Climate Change Secretariat as “A greenhouse gas inventory sector that covers emissions and removals of greenhouse gases resulting from direct human-induced land use, land-use change and forestry activities.”

The global carbon cycle is under the impacts of LULUCF activities. These activities can add or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere contributing to climate change.  LULUCF sector can provide low cost GHG mitigation measures as compare to other sectors. By planting trees or reducing deforestation contributes to carbon sequestration leads to carbon sink. However it is not a complete solution that it may often be difficult to estimate GHG removal and reduction resulting from the LULUCF activities. In addition, there is always a risk of releasing sequestered carbon due to unintentional activities like forest fire.

Several Articles of the Kyoto Protocol make provisions for the inclusion of land use, land-use change and forestry activities for mitigation of climate change. Under Article 3.3 of the Kyoto Protocol, it is decided that greenhouse gas removals and emissions through activities confined to Afforestation and Reforestation since 1990 can be accounted in meeting the Kyoto Protocol’s emission targets. However emissions from deforestation activities will not be considered for the emission reduction targets in first commitment period.  Under Article 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol, other activities related to LULUCF, specifically, forest management, cropland management, grazing land management and re-vegetation, can be included in its accounting for the first commitment period.

For more info about the A/R CDM project development : Click here

Potential of A/R CDM projects in Paper and pulp industry: Click here

Reference

UNFCCC Web Site

Image Credit