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Climate - Mitigation of the climate change in the Caribbean

New approaches to agriculture and forestry

Forestry and agriculture are important sources of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Forests contain vast quantities of carbon. Some forests act as "sinks" by absorbing carbon from the air, while forests whose carbon flows are in balance act as "reservoirs". Deforestation and changes in land use make the world's forests a net source of carbon dioxide. As for agriculture, it accounts for over 20% of the human-enhanced greenhouse effect. Intensive agricultural practices such as livestock rearing, wet rice cultivation, and fertilizer use emit 58% of human-related methane and much of our nitrous oxide. Fortunately, measures and technologies that are currently available could significantly reduce net emissions from both forests and agriculture - and in many cases cut production costs, increase yields, or offer other socio-economic benefits:

Other routes include enhancement, maintenance and management of biological carbon reservoirs, e.g.:

• Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica

• Rio Bravo Carbon Sequestration Pilot Project, Belize

• Commercial Reforestation in the Chiriquí Province, Panama

• Klinki Forestry Project, Costa Rica

Geo-engineering has been suggested as well (e.g. Success for carbon dioxide burial, NewScientist, 10 Sep 02).

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