This presentation was presented during the 1 Parallel session on Theme 3.2, Managing SOC in: Grasslands and livestock production systems, of the Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon that took place in Rome 21-23 March 2017. The presentation was made by Mr. Rogier Schulte, from Wageningen University – The Netherlands, in FAO Hq, Rome

1. A policy framework for soil carbon management
in Atlantic grasslands
Rachel E. Creamer1, Gemma Torres-Sallan2,3, Lilian O’Sullivan2, Gary
Lanigan2, Iolanda Simo2, Ken Byrne3, and Rogier P. O. Schulte1*
1. Wageningen University and Research
2. Teagasc
3. University of Limerick

2. WHAT WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A WHILE
Source: European Commission

3. THE LOW HANGING FRUIT: EFFICIENCY

4. A NEW POLICY CLIMATE

5. A NEW POLICY CLIMATE

6. THE SEARCH FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES
1. Where are the
main carbon stores? 3. Can we plug
carbon hotspots?
2. Which areas are most
suitable for afforestation?
4. And prevent new ones?
5. Can we find
unsaturated carbon
sinks in grassland?

7. NEW OPPORTUNITIES 1: PEATS

8. NEW OPPORTUNITIES 2: FARM AFFORESTATION

9. NEW OPPORTUNITIES 3: CARBON HOTSPOTS
Land use
“Old emission
factor”
“New emission
factor” (IPCC,
2014)
[Mg CO2eq ha-1 yr-1]
Forest Land, drained, <50 yr. 2.16 9.53
Forest Land, drained, >50 yr. 0 9.53
Cropland, drained n.a. 28.97
Grassland, drained, nutrient-poor 0.92 19.43
Grassland, deep-drained, nutrient-rich 0.92 22.37
Grassland, shallow-drained, nutrient-rich 0.92 13.20
Peat extraction 0.73 10.27

10. NEW OPPORTUNITIES 4: EMISSION SENSITIVE SOILS
More trafficable days Loss of carbon
Carbon price

11. NEW OPPORTUNITIES 5: LONG-TERM CARBON STORAGE

12. A FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE SMART LAND MANAGEMENT
Main carbon store
Plug
carbon
hotspots
Most suitable for
afforestation
Optimise efficiency
(Carbon Navigator)
Emission sensitive soils: reward
non-drainage
Potential unsaturated
long-term carbon
sink?