Soil organic matter plays a central role in maintaining soil functions and
preventing soil degradation and is strategic for climate change adaptation and
mitigation.
17
Consequently, a loss of soil organic carbon due to inappropriate land use or the
use of poor soil management or cropping practices can cause a decline in soil quality
and soil structure, and increase soil erosion, potentially leading to emissions of
carbon into the atmosphere.
18 On the other hand, appropriate land use and soil
management can lead to increased soil organic carbon and improved soil quality
that can partially mitigate the rise of atmospheric CO 2 . There are limitations of soil
as a carbon sink, based on soil type, or selected land use (e.g. intensive mechanized
land tilling, or slash and burn) with a risk of leakage thus focus on permanence
would be needed. This is important because sustainable soil management focuses on
the complete set of ecosystem services provided by soils. Where optimally undertaken, sustainable soil management contributes towards achievement of SDG 13, to
combat climate change, and SDG 15.3 to combat desertification, restore degraded
land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and
strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
According to the Sixth Global Environmental Outlook Report (GEO-6) Regional
Assessment for Africa, the continent has 60% of the world’s unconverted arable
land, but land productivity remains low in the region as a result of mineral poor soils
and land degradation caused by inappropriate farming practices, deforestation,
mining activities, and desertification.
19 In terms of farming, Geo-6 noted that
cultivation in much of Africa encroaches on environmentally fragile areas such as
steep slopes, riverbanks, shallow soils and wetlands, often without appropriate
conservation measures in place, leading to increased soil erosion.
20 Small holder
farmers use their land continuously with no rotation, resulting in declining crop
yields and the loosening and washing away of soil exposed to natural forces such as
wind and water.
21 Indeed, Agriculture production in Africa is hampered by the
predominance of inherently low soil fertility, and fragile ecosystem, which is
exacerbated by the fact that over 60% of the soil types in Africa represent hot, arid
or immature assemblages.
22
There is also a high prevalence of dry lands that are more susceptible to land
degradation and desertification, in addition to extensive coverage of land with low
soil resilience, which refers to soil that is permanently damaged from degradation.
23
This suggests that African soil, and land are inherently vulnerable to experience
more severe consequences of climate change. The Geo-6 report for African endorses
17 FAO (2017) Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management, p. 8.
18 FAO (2017) Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management, p. 8.
19 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 37.
20 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 47.
21 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 47.
22 Ginzky et al. (2017), p. 390.
23 Ginzky et al. (2017), p. 390.
18
R. Kibugi
preventing soil degradation and is strategic for climate change adaptation and
mitigation.
17
Consequently, a loss of soil organic carbon due to inappropriate land use or the
use of poor soil management or cropping practices can cause a decline in soil quality
and soil structure, and increase soil erosion, potentially leading to emissions of
carbon into the atmosphere.
18 On the other hand, appropriate land use and soil
management can lead to increased soil organic carbon and improved soil quality
that can partially mitigate the rise of atmospheric CO 2 . There are limitations of soil
as a carbon sink, based on soil type, or selected land use (e.g. intensive mechanized
land tilling, or slash and burn) with a risk of leakage thus focus on permanence
would be needed. This is important because sustainable soil management focuses on
the complete set of ecosystem services provided by soils. Where optimally undertaken, sustainable soil management contributes towards achievement of SDG 13, to
combat climate change, and SDG 15.3 to combat desertification, restore degraded
land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and
strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
According to the Sixth Global Environmental Outlook Report (GEO-6) Regional
Assessment for Africa, the continent has 60% of the world’s unconverted arable
land, but land productivity remains low in the region as a result of mineral poor soils
and land degradation caused by inappropriate farming practices, deforestation,
mining activities, and desertification.
19 In terms of farming, Geo-6 noted that
cultivation in much of Africa encroaches on environmentally fragile areas such as
steep slopes, riverbanks, shallow soils and wetlands, often without appropriate
conservation measures in place, leading to increased soil erosion.
20 Small holder
farmers use their land continuously with no rotation, resulting in declining crop
yields and the loosening and washing away of soil exposed to natural forces such as
wind and water.
21 Indeed, Agriculture production in Africa is hampered by the
predominance of inherently low soil fertility, and fragile ecosystem, which is
exacerbated by the fact that over 60% of the soil types in Africa represent hot, arid
or immature assemblages.
22
There is also a high prevalence of dry lands that are more susceptible to land
degradation and desertification, in addition to extensive coverage of land with low
soil resilience, which refers to soil that is permanently damaged from degradation.
23
This suggests that African soil, and land are inherently vulnerable to experience
more severe consequences of climate change. The Geo-6 report for African endorses
17 FAO (2017) Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management, p. 8.
18 FAO (2017) Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management, p. 8.
19 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 37.
20 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 47.
21 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 47.
22 Ginzky et al. (2017), p. 390.
23 Ginzky et al. (2017), p. 390.
18
R. Kibugi