FAO-IFAD Collaborative Project on "Prevention of Land degradation, Enhancement of Soil and Plant Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration through Sustainable Land Management and Land Use change"

PROGRESS REPORT, Period 1 Jan -30 June 2000

A. INTRODUCTION

The project objectives are two folds:
a) Development of methodologies for estimation of organic carbon stocks by agro-ecological zones and by land use systems and;
b) Contribution to the elaboration of policy options and tools to provide incentives for better land use and land management and win-win options for small farmers to prevent land degradation, enhancing soil fertility land productivity and carbon sequestration (with regard to GEF, CDM and other financial and development institutions).

The project activities consist mainly of desk and pilot studies in selected areas of Latin American countries.

The main outputs are:

• Technical meetings, expert consultations and technical reports describing baseline carbon related data and information on land, land use, processes and time scales and land management technologies and practices;

• Methods to assess the stocks of carbon pools; role of various land use systems as sinks of carbon and of improved land management practices in soil carbon sequestration;

• Implications of expanding the use of better land management on productivity, soil bio-diversity, soil carbon pools and soil conservation.

A brief summary of the project is given in Annex 1.

Several internal and external meetings were organised or attended to discuss carbon related issues. An expert consultation was organised in April 1999 and the proceedings of the consultation was published and disseminated largely. The development of methodologies for estimation of carbon sequestration is well under way and a prototype model was conceived by Prof. Poncé Hernandez, from Trent University, Canada and a comprehensive desk study was prepared by CIAT for the Amazon Basin. Some other desk studies are also under preparation and Letters of Agreements have been signed with Trent University and the Ministry of Agriculture of Costa Rica for calibration of models and pilot field studies in Mexico, Cuba and Costa Rica.

1) Publication of the proceedings of the expert consultation held on 15 April 1999, at IFAD Headquarters, in Rome with the participation of around 25 international experts to discuss the state-of-the art in carbon sequestration related to soil, land use and land management and in the economics of carbon sequestration and work out practical recommendations for implementation of the project in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This document is available as World Soil Resources Report (WSRR 86).

2) Publication of the results of a desk study on Carbon Sequestration in the Amazon basin carried out in collaboration with CIAT though a letter of agreement. The publication is called "Sistemas de Uso de la Tierra en los Trópicos Húmedos y la Emisión y Secuestro de CO2". It is available as World Soil Resources Report (WSRR 88).

In this study an attempt is made to evaluate the carbon sequestration potential of various production systems in humid tropics of the Amazon Basin.

3) Implementation of Letter of Agreement with Trent University, Canada, signed in December 1999.

This is one of the core activity of the project. It concerns two case studies in Mexico and Cuba (see Annex 2).

First progress report received in June (see details in Annex 3)

First draft report on pilot studies in Mexico (Yucatan) received in June.

4) Implementation of Letter of Agreement with Ministry of Agriculture Costa Rica, was signed in March 2000. Data collection activities on pilot sites started only in May 2000.

5) Preparation of a report on the potential for use of carbon sequestration projects under the Clean Development Mechanism to address land degradation, desertification and food insecurity, by Legal Consultant Allen Keiser, under author’s contract.

This report discuss the outcome of the various proceedings of the international meetings in which Carbon Sequestration and CDM have been discussed. Using the available sources in the United States, including relevant NGOs and international organisations, the consultant examined the attitude and the position of the key countries and the Group 77 involved in international environmental treaties. The consultant also studied and summarised the various initiatives that have been taken in response to the above-mentioned ideas, including the recent initiative by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank. The analysis includes the exploration of the legal base for such initiatives and a review of the ongoing programme of collaboration between IFAD and FAO on Carbon Sequestration in relation to existing international environmental treaties, as well as the recent GEF and World Bank initiative.

This report is being reviewed and edited for publication as a World Soil Resources Report.

6) Formulation of a draft project proposal on "Options and methods for enhancing carbon sequestration and combating desertification in drylands" for financing by Global Mechanism/FAO. The draft proposal was submitted to GM at IFAD.

7) Arrangement of an academic exchange programme for M. Robert, a French national, to work as visiting scientist at FAO AGL for a period of three months (15 June-15 September 00) to conduct a desk study, involving research, compilation of information and preparation of a report on soils and carbon sequestration: propositions for land management in tropical and arid areas.

The proposed document will focus on the specific role that tropical and arid soils can play in the sequestration of carbon and on the new management strategies involved. This will include

a) new strategies and practices for agriculture pastures and forestry. Such practices (conservation agriculture and minimum tillage, agro-forestry, etc..) are more sustainable and will allow to sequestrate carbon, to reverse the actual process of soil and biodiversity degradation and to prevent erosion and desertification. The application of Kyoto protocol and especially of the Article 3.4 to the developing countries could give a decisive impulse in promoting this positive evolution.

b) A method of verification of the changes both in C sequestration and state of degradation based on a soil-monitoring network. 

D. MAIN PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED

Delay in the implementation of the Costa Rica LOA. AGLL is following up with the Costa Rica Ministry of agriculture to speed up work.

E. STATUS OF BUDGET EXPENDITURE

Total IFAD Contribution : $ 80,000
Amount spent : $ 45, 562
Amount committed: $ 21,650
Total (committed and spent) : $ 67,212
Total FAO Contribution : $ 80,000
Staff time : $ 22,000
Consultants : $ 15,000
Publications : $ 10,000
Equipment, Supplies etc... : $ 5,000
Total spent : $ 52,000

Project title: Prevention of land degradation, enhancement of carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation through land use change and sustainable land management in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Project duration: 2 years
Starting date: 1 April 1999

In continuation of a collaborative programme on the implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) FAO, IFAD have signed a letter of agreement to develop methodologies, models and a programme framework for "The prevention of Land degradation, Enhancement of land productivity and Carbon Sequestration in Rural Poor Areas", initially in Latin America and the Caribbean. These will be used in the formulation of technical and policy options for sustaining production systems which can improve livelihood of poor farmers through land conservation, enhancement of agro-biodiversity and increased carbon sequestration in the region. The project will contribute to the development of regional and national programmes linking the Convention on Climate Change (CCC)-Kyoto Protocol, the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) and the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), focusing on synergies among the three Conventions.

B. Project objectives

In essence the project has two main objectives:

1. To develop a comprehensive method/model to:

estimate present and potential land productivity (in term of bio-mass and agricultural outputs) and organic carbon stock by agro-ecological zones and by land use systems in selected countries,

Estimate quantity of bio-mass and carbon budget as well as fertility/productivity loss in " no action" scenario by agro-ecological zone and at national level in view of present trends in land use changes and land degradation

Simulate productivity gain and carbon sequestration possibilities at national level by conservation / land use planning and land management options.

2. To provide policy options and negotiating tools (with CDM, GEF, and other financial and development institutions) to member countries for win-win options of preventing land degradation, enhancing soil fertility, land productivity and carbon sequestration.

Four Latin American countries has been selected for data collection and model calibration, including Cuba, Brazil, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Mexico (data and good will are available in these countries).

The selected Land use systems are hillside agriculture, primary and secondary tropical forests, traditional and improved pasture, dryland forest plantation, and selected land management options include conventional tillage and zero tillage technologies, maize mono-culture and mixed cropping with soybean, agro-forestry in drylands, effects of fertilizer application for crop and cover cropping and weed management;

an element of biodiversity assessment in each of the land use and land management systems has been incorporated in the model.

Model will be tested and calibrated based on country information and will be extended on other countries, regions, land uses and land management systems.

FAO-AGLL has a number of comparative advantages in undertaking this work with IFAD, GM and other partners:

FAO-AGLL has developed and is managing with other partners global data basis on : Global Agro-Ecological Zones (FAO-IIASA); Global Land Degradation (GLASOD with ISRIC and UNEP), Global Soil/Terrain Database(FAO, ISRIC and national institutions); Forest Resources Assessment data base; Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Inventory and Monitoring System studies(FIVIMS), World Conservation Approaches and Technologies(WOCAT, with University of Bern, UNEP and others) as well as a number of country studies on land use, soil fertility status and land productivity potentials on the basis of which we prepare periodic reports on food production projections (e.g. Agriculture 2010). AGL is also promoting Zero tillage technologies in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia and FAO is the Task manager of Chapter 10 of Agenda 21 (Integrated Planning and Management of Land Resources).

The project activities are as follows:

1) Pilot studies

Using representative pilot areas in selected economic-ecological zones with high incidence of poverty in selected LA countries to:
- identify major land use systems and their characteristics, conditions and dynamics in space and time;
- evaluate the current land use systems under different land management alternatives in terms of land productivity, potential for soil carbon sequestration and soil biodiversity improvement and prevention of land degradation;
- evaluate various scenarios of enhanced food security through improved land management packages using multi-criteria analysis (modelling) taking into consideration the socio–economic opportunities and resources constraints prevailing in poor areas.
- compile materials for a manual of methods and procedures for soil carbon sequestration and soil biodiversity assessment and measurement based on benchmark sites.
- identify strategies, that are required for the adoption by farmers and land-use planners, of land use and management as well as the alternative production systems which enhance carbon sequestration.
- prepare reports on the above activities presenting baseline data and information, methods, and strategy/policy guidance.

2) desk studies on the origin and background of the Carbon Sequestration options and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

3) formulation of follow up CS proposals.

4) workshops

WORK PROGRAMME (LOA with Trent University)

December 1999- March 2000
Collection of information and desk studies

December 1999
Identification of the 2 pilot areas (in two countries) and delineation of representative ecologic-economic zones within the pilot areas: characterization of the environment in terms of climate, terrain, soils and socio-economic conditions.

Selection of pilot sites in representative ecologic-economic zones

December 1999 -February 2000
Inventory and characterization of major land use systems in the pilot areas and their dynamics in space and time

February- April 2000
Implementation of participatory diagnoses for the identification of problems that effect production and productivity of the current systems.

March - June 2000
Assessment and calculation of present carbon stock balance per land unit and per land use in pilot sites.

September- December 2000
Estimation of degradation and effects under the present land uses in various units in pilot sites.

January-May 2000
Estimation of yields, potential of carbon sequestration/biodiversity conservation, prevention of land degradation by better land management in pilot sites. Management practices should include (i) Conservation tillage in combination with planting of cover crops, green manure and hedgerows (ii) organic residue management (iii) water management including in-situ water conservation in the root zone (iv) soil fertility management including the use of mineral fertilizers and organic wastes, rhizobium inoculation, liming and acidity management (v) agroforestry (vi) adapting crop rotations and crop/farming systems with avoidance of bare fallow and (vii) stabilization of slopes and terraces.

April- June 2000
Optimization analysis (modelling) to evaluate various scenarios of enhanced food security through improved land management packages using multi-criteria analysis (modelling) taking into consideration the socio–economic opportunities and resources constraints prevailing in poor areas.

May-July 2000
Realization of participatory workshops to assemble materials on alternative land use plans and land management technologies that increase carbon sequestration.

July – August 2000
Prepare materials for a draft manal of methodologies including soil carbon assessment and measurement.

August- September 2000
Finalization of Technical reports
Main Outputs to be produced
Technical reports describing
a) Baseline data and information on land, land use, processes and time scales and land management technologies and practices
b) Methods
Verified methods to assess the stocks of carbon pools; Role of various land use systems as sinks of carbon and of improved land management practices in soil carbon sequestration.
c) Strategy/policy guidance
Implications of expanding the use of better land management on productivity, soil bio-diversity, soil carbon pools and soil conservation.

SUMMARY OF PROGRESS (LOA with Trent University)

According to project objectives, three sites for the case studies have been selected: 2 in Mexico (Texcoco and Yucatan) that correspond to a dry highland poverty-stricken degraded area in central Mexico with high population pressures on resources and a Tropical semi-deciduous forest, with very low population pressures and high incidence of poverty, but lower levels of environmental degradation, respectively. The third site is in the Province of Holguin in Cuba, in the Cauto river watershed, dry tropical area with incidence of various levels of resource degradation and high incidence of poverty. Contacts were established with organizations, NGOs and researchers in each of those sites (see appendix). Data and information gathering has been conducted in each of the three sites. Where necessary, inventories of natural resources have been completed (specially in the Cauto and in the Bacalar sites). Spatial and attribute database development has been undertaken and completed for the Texcoco (100%) and Yucatan (80%), Mexican sites and will be completed soon for the Cauto site (Cuba) after a field visit. Data and models have been tested, particularly Carbon simulation models (i.e. Roth-C 26, and CENTURY. Tests for DNDC and SQUAF are still in progress). A complete study on Carbon dynamics and its effect on alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture in two locations in Yucatan, Mexico, has been completed (attached separately). This study used the model Roth-C 26. Scenarios of land use changes were generated and management of soil organic matter and carbon dynamics necessary for stabilizing slash-and-burn agriculture were identified. Full integration of the CENTURY model to GIS via customization (i.e. software development with MapObjects Visual Basic and scripts) is almost completed to provide VISUAL CENTURY-GIS with map visualization capabilities to run the Carbon dynamics simulation model by non-expert users. Comparisons of models listed above is being undertaken. Comprehensive research on landscape metrics and other measurements of biodiversity has been undertaken and completed in order to define procedures for biodiversity assessment from landscape fragmentation metrics. Biomass and Carbon stock estimation methodology has also been researched and procedures defined for field and remote sensing (i.e. multi-spectral and radar imagery) estimation of bio-mass and carbon stock of relatively large areas. This activities are still in progress.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

Completion of the activities already undertaken as described above, including:

Total completion of inventories, digital database development and preparation of data sets for bio-diversity assessment, above-ground bio-mass and carbon stock estimation, carbon dynamics simulation modelling in all three sites.

Comparison of carbon simulation models and automation of the visual CENTURY-GIS model.

Testing of field forms and protocols and remote sensing procedures for the assessment of bio-diversity and the estimation of above-ground bio-mass and carbon stock in the three sites selected for the case studies.

Generation of scenarios of land use change and suitability assessment of proposed land use types in each of the areas selected for the case studies using the automated land evaluation system (ALES).

Development of standard field forms and protocols for the assessment of land degradation for all three sites.

Development of models for participatory stake-holder articulation of preferences and aspirations regarding the proposed land use changes, using the Analytical Hierarchy Process. One model for each of the three sites selected for the case studies.

Invite participation by local farmers and stake-holders to workshops consisting of electronic round tables for gathering data on their preferences and aspirations regarding land use changes, in view of possible incentives implicit in the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism.

Derivation of consensus and land use change priorities in each of the three sites.

Completion of data sets on economic variables relevant for the identification of the decision variables and real constraints, as part of the formulation of a multi-objective optimization model in each of the three sites.

Formulation of multi-objective optimization models where each objective represents one of the following:

Maximize Carbon Sequestration

Maximize biodiversity conservation

Minimize land degradation

Maximize food security

Model processing and linking to GIS spatial databases for formulation of optimal land use scenarios that include the priorities derived from participatory consensus as in point 5 above.

Detail documentation case studies in terms of methods, forms, protocols and procedures used and results obtained.

EXPECTED RESULTS

The expected results from the completion of the activities listed above are as follows:

Complete digital spatial and attribute thematic databases of the areas of concern in the case studies.

For each case study, a set of scenarios of land use and land use changes derived from the biodiversity, carbon sequestration, land degradation and physical suitability assessments, that include a component of food security. These scenarios are to be presented in map and tabular form with corresponding narrative.

Land use scenarios that simultaneously optimize the criteria of carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, land degradation and food security.

Detail report of methods, procedures, field forms and protocols used in each of the sites.

Detail report on the findings of the experiences with the implementation of land use changes in the region with particular emphasis on the cases where attempts have been made at implementing the Clean Development Mechanism.

RESEARCH TEAM

Dr. Raul Ponce-Hernandez Carbon Modelling /GIS /Remote Sensing/ Land degradation (team leader),

Dr. Tom Hutchinson Biodiversity and bio-mass assessment,

Dr. John Marsh Biodiversity conservation/protected areas

Dr. Don McKay Director of the Modelling Centre

Mr. Jose Luis Hernandez Biodiversity assessment

Ms. Jessica Galarza Biomass and carbon stock estimation

Mr. David Bremont Research assistant

PARTNERS IN CASE STUDY SITES IN LAC

Yucatan, Mexico site:

Bacalar: Dr. Celestino Chargoy Zamora, Head, Campo Ecotecnologico Chapingo, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Mexico.

Yaxcaba: Dr. Heriberto Cuanalo de la Cerda, CINVESTAV, Instito Politecnico Nacional, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

Texcoco, Mexico site:

Dr. Jesus David Gomez Diaz, Chair, Soils Department, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Mexico

Dr. Pedro Ponce Hernandez, Integrated Natural Resources Management Program, Soils Department, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Mexico

Dr. Juan Estrada Berg, Soils Department, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo

Mr. Ricardo Gomez Rodriguez, Integrated Natural Resources Management Program, Soils Department, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Mexico.

Rio Cauto, Cuba site:

Mr. Osvaldo Lafita, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, Holguin Province, Cuba.

Dr. Rafael Villegas, INICA, Habana, Cuba.

Mr. Daniel Ponce de Leon, INICA, Habana, Cuba.

Ms Saddys Segrera