Towards a modular, multi-ecosystem monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) framework for soil organic carbon stock change assessment

N.H. Batjes*, Eric Ceschia, G.B.M. Heuvelink, Julien Demenois, Guerric Le Maire, Rémi Cardinael, Cristina Arias-Navarro, F.M. van Egmond

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Soils are the largest terrestrial reservoir of organic carbon, yet they are easily degraded. Consistent and accurate monitoring of changes in soil organic carbon stocks and net greenhouse gas emissions, reporting, and their verification is key to facilitate investment in sustainable land use practices that maintain or increase soil organic carbon stocks, as well as to incorporate soil organic carbon sequestration in national greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Building up on an initial review of monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) schemes with a focus on croplands, grasslands, and forestlands we develop a framework for a modular, scalable MRV system. We then provide an inventory and classification of selected MRV methodologies and subsequently “score” them against a list of key characteristics. It appears that the main challenge in developing a unified MRV system concerns the monitoring component. Finally, we present a conceptual workflow that shows how a prototype for an operational, modular multi-ecosystem MRV tool could be systematically built.
Original languageEnglish
Article number2410812
Number of pages25
JournalCarbon Management
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Carbon sequestration
  • climate change mitigation
  • sustainable land management
  • Carbon accounting
  • Monitoring framework

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