Nouvelles

A global LADA workshop took place in Mendoza, Argentina, from 26 to 31 January 2009, with the purpose of finalizing the local assessment methodology of the LADA project. All six LADA pilot countries participated in the workshop with their delegations. Five international consultants, including representatives of WOCAT and UEA, attended the workshop. The workshop was organized by the LADA Coordination in Argentina with the local LADA team in Mendoza. During the workshop, all countries presented their experiences in implementing the local assessment methods. The workshop included two days of field activity and was characterized by a friendly and constructive atmosphere. During the workshop, key indicators were identified for each section of the methodology. The results of the workshop were integrated in the revised English version early March. Further country experiences in applying the manual will be reviewed for a final version to be published by the end of LADA project in 2010.

The African part of the GlobalSoilMap.net was launched in Nairobi on 13th January 2009. This large collaborative effort, involving JRC, CSIRO, NRCS, ISSAS, CIAT and EMBRAPA, is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

The review highlights the significant untapped potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation associated with improved management of grazing lands in pastoral systems and rangelands. Grasslands and rangelands deserve greater attention, not only for their large extent, widespread degradation and limited resilience to drought and desertification, but also for their potential capacity to sequester and store carbon in soils. Degradation of the land base negatively affects the accumulation of carbon in the soils. Thus, reversing land degradation in extensive dryland areas through improved pasture and rangeland management would contribute to restoring the soil carbon sink while also improving livelihoods of pastoral and agropastoral peoples. The review also highlights the multiple benefits of enhancing ecosystem services and processes for improving livelihoods while contributing to adaptation to climate change impacts. Realizing this potential will require increased awareness and coordinated global efforts alongside interventions that address associated socio-political and economic barriers, such as land tenure constraints and inadequate services for, and political marginalization of, pastoral and agropastoral communities. The opportunity to support climate change mitigation in drylands that will simultaneously contribute to climate change adaptation and reduced vulnerability of pastoral societies should be a key area of focus in post-Kyoto mechanisms.