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The global potential for carbon removal through biochar in shifting cultivation systems

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  • Anders Henrik Sirén

    (Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi)

Abstract

In the Special Report on Climate Change and Land, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global potential for removal of carbon from the atmosphere by making biochar and amending it to soils in shifting cultivation systems was estimated to approximately 0.21 – 0.35 Gt C/year, corresponding to 2.1 – 3.6% of current global CO2 emissions. Here we review these estimates and present experiences from pilot field trials making biochar in shifting cultivation fields. Making use of some more recent data, we calculated a revised estimate of 0.17 Gt C/yr as the minimum feasible potential, and 0.32, Gt C/yr for the technical potential. The difference between these is that in order to realize the former, production costs as well as negative environmental impacts are minimal, whereas realizing the latter, on the other hand implies significant, potentially prohibitive, production cost and might also imply significant negative environmental impacts, including the emission of GHGs that in the worst case might offset the climate benefits provided by the biochar it. Taking into account that the addition of biochar to the soil increases tree growth rates, these estimates increase to 0.22 and 0.42 Gt C/yr, respectively. Remaining key challenges are to 1) identify production methods that ensure that emissions of GHGs and other environmental pollutants from biochar production are minimized, 2) reduce production costs, and 3) design procedures for monitoring the storage of biochar in soils under shifting cultivation and mechanisms for payments to shifting cultivators who carry out this work.

Suggested Citation

  • Anders Henrik Sirén, 2024. "The global potential for carbon removal through biochar in shifting cultivation systems," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 29(7), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:29:y:2024:i:7:d:10.1007_s11027-024-10170-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-024-10170-0
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    1. Johannes Lehmann & John Gaunt & Marco Rondon, 2006. "Bio-char Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems – A Review," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 395-419, March.
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