The technological advance of the human being is quite conditioning when it comes to managing and changing land uses. From industrial to agricultural use, through forestry and urban, there are numerous land uses.
However, the main CO2 emission rates in our economic activities They are causing changes in land use in agricultural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. What do emissions have to do with land use?
Land uses in Sub-Saharan Africa
Traditionally "slash and burn" is practiced on agricultural land in this area. An international study has been carried out with the participation of researchers from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) in which they analyze the relationship between CO2 emissions and changes in land use.
They have collected data on greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere that occur in agricultural areas and natural ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The research has analyzed in detail 75 studies conducted in 22 African countries in order to determine the factors that give rise to these emissions and the management strategies that determine them, as well as the possible ways to reduce them.
Although the Paris Agreement, very little is known about greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere of sub-Saharan Africa. The factors that cause these emissions are also unknown.
There is also little known about how to reduce these emissions to the atmosphere, despite the importance it has for the agricultural systems that maintain production in these places. 60% of all work goes to agriculture, and what makes it more important and object of study, is that these areas are very vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Gas emissions analyzed
To analyze the greenhouse gas emissions discharged into the atmosphere, the most important ones have been chosen: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. CO2 emissions have been associated with the various changes in land use that these areas have suffereds. This is typical in agricultural areas where techniques such as "slash and burn" are used. This stubble burning traditionally used due to lack of knowledge or other production alternatives generates additional CO2 emissions. Furthermore, these techniques are still used due to deficiencies in the energy supply and distribution system.
Another stream of gas emissions into the atmosphere comes from the incorporation of crop residues and the use of manures and synthetic fertilizers. Methane emissions are produced, for the most part, in flooded crops such as rice and in termite mounds typical of the African landscape.
As for nitrous oxide, it is emitted into the atmosphere in practice linked to fertilization.
Cases that have been analyzed
The African palm crops in Benin have been analyzed and it has been seen that CO2 emissions come from 30% of the root zone. But it has been observed that the tendency to increase gas emissions occurs when the soil is dry or with very little humidity. When this happens, CO2 emissions amount to 80%.
Carry out agroecological practices
To alleviate these emissions problems, there are areas of Africa in which those that are carried out agroecological practices. They have been shown to be very efficient in the use of existing resources (especially manure) and have made it possible for families to survive on not very large surfaces and reusing manure, crop residues and efficiently and with low emissions. .
With the use of these resources, the cycle of matter and energy is closed while the animal eats, produces some manure and they are reintroduced into the food production system that has few losses.