Mitigation The potential to use protected areas in carbon storage and capture

The challenge Vegetation loss is already responsible for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions …and furthermore… Many ecosystems that are currently sinks for CO 2 could soon “flip” and become net sources due to climate change and other human impacts

The opportunity Natural ecosystems offer two key functions Storing existing carbon in vegetation and soils and thus preventing further loss Capturing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus reducing net greenhouse gas levels

The opportunity Protected areas offer a management tool Existing borders, legislation and governance Supportive national and international policies Based on the idea of permanence Staff and management capacity Existing funding mechanisms

Carbon storage Major carbon stores exist in soil, forest, peat and inland waters, grassland, mangroves, coastal marshes and sea grass Estimates for the amount of carbon stored in tropical forests range from tonnes carbon/hectare

Carbon storage Temperate and boreal forests are also major sinks – the highest known carbon storage is in a Eucalyptus forest Lemmenjoki National Park, Finland, inset Australia

Peat is probably a larger store – an estimated 550 Gt stored globally. But 2008 emissions from degraded peat were estimated at 1,298 Mt, plus over 400 Mt from peat fires Carbon storage

Mangroves, sea grass beds and salt marshes all store substantial amounts of carbon although these sources have been largely ignored until now Carbon storage

Grasslands may hold more than 10% of the total carbon in the biosphere, but mismanagement and conversion is causing major losses in places – grassland remains one of the most un- protected biomes Carbon storage

Estimates of soil carbon vary widely but it is thought to be the largest terrestrial store. Agriculture is often a source rather than sink but changes in farming (less tillage, more organic methods etc) can reverse this and help to build carbon stocks Carbon storage

Carbon capture Most ecosystems can also continue to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Both young and old forests capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide, as do peatlands, grasslands and many marine ecosystems Recent research in the Amazon, Congo Basin and in boreal forests all show that old-growth forests continue to sequester carbon Carbon capture

The success of sequestration from commercial forests depends on what the timber is used for… Carbon capture

Knowledge of management needs for carbon sequestration in other habitats is also increasing fast Carbon capture

There is a huge potential to protect natural ecosystems to help store and capture carbon – and to supply many other important goods and services Carbon storage and capture

But on the other hand, many ecosystems risk switching from being sinks to sources of carbon due to degradation and climate change… Carbon storage and capture

Protected areas are the most effective tool yet found for maintaining carbon in natural vegetation Carbon storage and capture

The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre estimates that 15% of terrestrial carbon is stored in protected areas Carbon storage and capture

Implications New skills, tools and funding opportunities will be needed to make best use of available management options

Implications Gap analysis may need to start including carbon

Implications New staff skills will be required

Implications REDD…