International initiative on peat and climate change mitigation

Peatlands store tremendous amounts of carbon. However, when they are drained and used – mainly for agriculture, grazing and forestry – peatlands become significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Peatlands drainage and peat fires are responsible for almost one-quarter of carbon emissions from the land use sector. 

To address this situation, FAO and Wetlands International have launched the global 'Organic soils and peatlands climate change mitigation initiative'.  The Initiative is an informal network of organizations and people committed to reducing emissions from peatlands and safeguarding the other vital ecosystem services peatlands provide. Institutions currently involved in the initiative include FAO, Wetlands International, Greifswald University, IUCN UK, Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, the Center for International Forestry Research(CIFOR), Global Environment Centre (GEC), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the University of Helsinki.  

The Initiative was launched on 17 May in Bonn Germany at a side event at the thirty-sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) held during the United Nations Framework Convention Climate Change Conference. At the launch, the Initiative‘s first publication was released, ‘Peatlands – guidance for climate change mitigation by conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use’. To download the publication, click here.

- Are you interested in peatlands and climate change mitigation? - Join our peatland community by sending an introductory email to micca@fao.org!

Training Guide for Gender and Climate Change Research in Agriculture and Food Security for Rural Development

On March 8, International Women's Day, MICCA and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) launch the Training Guide for Gender and Climate Change Research in Agriculture and Food Security for Rural Development. The Training Guide, intended for agricultural development professionals, provides users with resources and participatory action research tools for collecting, analysing and sharing gender-sensitive information about agricultural communities, households and individuals who are facing climate changes

For more information, click here

Towards Policies for Climate Change Mitigation: Incentives and benefits for smallholder farmers

A new report by Climate Focus for CCAFS, Towards Policies for Climate Change Mitigation: Incentives and benefits for smallholder farmers, provides an overview of climate finance instruments that can be used to support changes in smallholding practices and an assessment of how these instruments can be linked to mitigation actions. The MICCA Programme provide significant inputs in the preparation of the report.
To access the report, go to the CCAFS resources page.

Two MICCA background reports now on line

The MICCA Programme carried out capacity needs assessments in Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. The assessments were done in partnership with the FAO country offices and the project partners collaborating on MICCA pilot projects.

The assessments identified entry points and recommendations for capacity development activities and for the promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices and their implementation under the pilot projects. 

• Capacity Needs Assessment in Kenya
• Capacity Needs Assessment in the United Republic of Tanzania

New publications in the MICCA series

MICCA Series 3 Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Synthesis of Empirical Evidence of Food Security and Mitigation Benefits from Improved Cropland Management	MICCA Series 4 Climate-Smart Agriculture: Smallholder Adoption and Implications for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Land Tenure and Climate Change

The current issue of the Land Tenure Journal addresses land tenure and climate change. The latest issue is a follow-up to an expert meeting on land tenure issues and requirements for implementing climate change mitigation policies in the forestry and agriculture sectors. The meeting, held in November 2010, was co-oganized by MICCA, the UN-REDD programme, and the Land Tenure team developing the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land and other Natural Resources.

• Go to the latest issue of the Land Tenure Journal.
• Go to the web page on the Expert meeting on land tenure issues and requirements for implementing climate change mitigation policies in the forestry and agriculture sectors.
• Read or download MICCA's Information brief on tenure and climate change.