Theme 2: Main session outcomes and key messages

Theme 2: Main session outcomes and key messages

• 1.
  Theme 2: Maintainingand/or increasing SOC stocks for climate change mitigation and adaptation and Land Degradation Neutrality Main session outcomes and key messages Joris de Vente, UNCCD-SPI
• 2.
  KEY QUESTIONS Q2-1: Whatis the global potential to achieve SOC sequestration across land uses and what is the level of uncertainty associated with achieving this? Q2-2: What are the upper limits (potential saturation levels) to SOC sequestration potential? Q2-3: What is the long-term stability of SOC and its components and what is the long-term sustainability of SOC sequestration? Q2-4: Is there sufficient scientific evidence to establish whether SOC sequestration contributes to climate change adaptation, mitigation and achieving LDN? Q2-5: How can policies support the adoption of practices that foster SOC sequestration and how can scientific evidence be packaged to inform such policies?
• 4.
  Q2-2: What arethe upper limits (potential saturation levels) to SOC sequestration potential? • Saturation concept is based on native vegetation and soil physico-chemical properties. • Estimated saturation levels should not prevent fostering SOC stock enhancement • Upper limits to SOC sequestration potential are only relevant in regions with high SOC contents and less important to consider in SOC depleted systems. • Biochar can add additional carbon not limited by intrinsic SOC storage capacity