The main purpose of this Soil Carbon Sequestration website is to provide information on the activities of the Land Service of the Land and Water Development Division (AGLL) of FAO on soil carbon sequestration within the framework of its programme on the integrated planning and management of land resources for sustainable rural development.

The objective is to reverse land degradation due to deforestation and inadequate land use/management in the tropics and sub-tropics through the promotion of improved land use systems and land management practices which provide win-win effects in terms of economic gains and environmental benefits, greater agro-bio-diversity, improved conservation and environmental management and increased carbon sequestration. The main output of the programme consists of factual information on soil carbon sequestration potential, in particular in arid and semi-arid areas. The information is intended for use by CDM and funding agencies, planners and administrators in their decisions to undertake research, development and investment programmes in the agricultural/rural land use sector aimed at improving land management, checking land degradation and deforestation. The programme should also contribute to the emerging debates on sustainable land use and climate change mitigation.