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Carbon Sequestration:

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Carbon Sequestration: A recent concern of Nepal

By: Gandhiv Kafle, Institute of Forestry, pokhara, Nepal

 

The level of CO2 in the atmosphere is determined by a continuous flow among the stores of carbon in the atmosphere, the ocean, the earth’s biological systems, and its geological materials (Stavins and Richards, 2005). Human activities have increased the atmospheric concentrations of Green House Gases (GHG) such as Carbondioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and Ozone (O3) since the pre-industrial era (IPCC, 2001). Human activities—particularly the extraction and burning of fossil fuels and the depletion of forests—are causing the level of GHGs (primarily CO2) in the atmosphere to rise.

 

One way to manage carbon is to use energy more efficiently to reduce our need for a major energy and carbon source—fossil fuel combustion.' Another way is to increase our use of low-carbon and carbon-free fuels and technologies (nuclear power and renewable sources such as solar energy, wind power, and biomass fuels). 'The third and newest way to manage carbon is through carbon sequestration.

 

Carbon sequestration has attracted the interest of researchers, energy industry participants, policy makers, forest producers, and farmers. Forest and farm producers have a special interest in whether such actions will increase their income. In 1992, over 180 countries joined in signing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, agreeing in principle to stabilize GHG levels in the atmosphere. Since that time, attention has been given to ways to decrease—or at least decelerate—the flow of carbon from fossil fuels to the atmosphere. There has also been research on mechanisms to increase the rate at which oceans extract and store carbon from the atmosphere.

 

Forest, agricultural land and other terrestrial ecosystems offer significant potential for storing carbon. Forestry is most important means of offsetting carbon emission thereby sequestrating carbon in biomass and giving positive effect on livelihood of the rural farmer because of its cost effectiveness and associated environmental and social benefits. Forestry system has more biodiversity and density of biomass than agro forestry and annual cropping system.

 

Community Forests (CFs) of Nepal serve as a carbon bank, evenif threats and issues exist in their management. The capacity of CFs to sequester carbon will be increased since the handing over process of forest to local people is increasing day by day in Nepal. Moreover, proper land-use practices conserve soil, improve ecosystem, support more vegetation and ultimately enhance carbon sequestration.

 

(This article is based on a term paper submitted by the author in M. Sc. Watershed Management, First Year, First Semester in Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal)

 

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Although the Community Forsstry concept came some year back,It has been best practiced in Nepal and parts of india.People warn their Livllihoods through it,

Nepal should get a Huge sum of Money as our Community Forestry is Serving as a carbon Block

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