Map-based estimates of present carbon stocks of grazing lands in Sub-Sahara Africa

This report is a detailed review, synthesis, and analysis of the current “state of the science” concerning the potential for carbon sequestration in grazing lands through improved land management practices in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It aims to provide an up-to-date assessment of the science of C sequestration from improved land management, including the current levels of uncertainty, major gaps in knowledge and data, areas for near term research and development, major determinants of sequestration potential, and current and potential scientific monitoring tools. The report firstly gives an overview of current grazing lands in SSA (Chapter 1) and explores the major determinants of C sequestration in grass/rangeland systems (Chapter 2). It then considers current research work on C impacts of grazing land management systems (Chapter 3). Available measurement techniques are summarized in Chapter 4 and a map based approach is then used in Chapter 5 to estimate present C stocks in grazing lands in SSA. This is followed by Chapter 6 which looks at available modeling techniques and Chapter 7 which presents a model based estimate of C sequestration potential in grass/rangelands in SSA. The final chapter (Chapter 8) provides a synthesis of the report’s findings. > Authors of the respective chapters: Eleanor Milne · Stephen Williams · Andre Bationo · Robin Reid · David Swift · Rich Conant · Niall Hanan · Constance Neely · Ermias Aynekulu · Keith D. Shepherd · Niels Batjes · Randall Boone