5.11 Intermittent Conclusion
The foregoing analysis demonstrates that African countries have an inbuilt consciousness on the proximate relationship between land management, and soil management with their climate change action. Some of the NDCs reviewed above
demonstrated a focus on soil, such as the case of Rwanda. Other NDCs focused
only on land management, but listed out actions that will directly impact soil, such as
biodiversity corridors. In several instances, countries listed out soil management
actions as mitigation measures, while other countries listed them as adaptation
measures. A number of instances directly correlated the co-benefits of either adaptation or mitigation actions that touched on agriculture or soil management. Regardless of the approach, this demonstrates that African countries are conscious of the
link between climate change and soil management and have put forward their
planned actions through NDCs.
6 Conclusion and Recommendations
Although African countries could be implementing soil and sustainable land management measures related to other conventions, such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, or the Convention on Biological Diversity, there is no
cross-reference of this in the NDCs. More explicitly, the NDCs do not cross- refer to
the actions African countries are taking through National Biodiversity Strategies and
Action Plans (NBSAPs), which many countries are preparing a second version, at the
time when they are unbundling implementation of NDCs.
Additionally, the NDCs do not cross-refer to treaty obligations of African countries either under the 1968 African Convention on Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources, or the 2003 revised version. As discussed earlier, both of these
African Conventions very specifically provide for the management of soil. The
concept of sustainable soil management, and its goal of maintaining soil functionality to provide ecological services that include carbon capture is not addressed
directly in the NDC, although elements of it are evident. The 2003 Revised African
Convention is now in force, but with 17 ratifications out of 54 African Countries.
Nonetheless, implementation should commence so that Africa-specific soil actions
can be integrated, with a link to commitments by African countries under the Paris
Agreement, through the NDCs.
The chapter reviewed the NDCs as submitted the UNFCCC in 2015, as the only
versions publicly available. It is possible that many countries have taken further
steps nationally to implement specific soil management steps for enhancement of
carbon stocks, with the co-benefits of improved soil health and productivity. Kenya,
for instance, has taken additional action through its Climate Smart Agriculture
In Salvation of African Soils: Exploring the Window of Opportunity. . .
31
The foregoing analysis demonstrates that African countries have an inbuilt consciousness on the proximate relationship between land management, and soil management with their climate change action. Some of the NDCs reviewed above
demonstrated a focus on soil, such as the case of Rwanda. Other NDCs focused
only on land management, but listed out actions that will directly impact soil, such as
biodiversity corridors. In several instances, countries listed out soil management
actions as mitigation measures, while other countries listed them as adaptation
measures. A number of instances directly correlated the co-benefits of either adaptation or mitigation actions that touched on agriculture or soil management. Regardless of the approach, this demonstrates that African countries are conscious of the
link between climate change and soil management and have put forward their
planned actions through NDCs.
6 Conclusion and Recommendations
Although African countries could be implementing soil and sustainable land management measures related to other conventions, such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, or the Convention on Biological Diversity, there is no
cross-reference of this in the NDCs. More explicitly, the NDCs do not cross- refer to
the actions African countries are taking through National Biodiversity Strategies and
Action Plans (NBSAPs), which many countries are preparing a second version, at the
time when they are unbundling implementation of NDCs.
Additionally, the NDCs do not cross-refer to treaty obligations of African countries either under the 1968 African Convention on Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources, or the 2003 revised version. As discussed earlier, both of these
African Conventions very specifically provide for the management of soil. The
concept of sustainable soil management, and its goal of maintaining soil functionality to provide ecological services that include carbon capture is not addressed
directly in the NDC, although elements of it are evident. The 2003 Revised African
Convention is now in force, but with 17 ratifications out of 54 African Countries.
Nonetheless, implementation should commence so that Africa-specific soil actions
can be integrated, with a link to commitments by African countries under the Paris
Agreement, through the NDCs.
The chapter reviewed the NDCs as submitted the UNFCCC in 2015, as the only
versions publicly available. It is possible that many countries have taken further
steps nationally to implement specific soil management steps for enhancement of
carbon stocks, with the co-benefits of improved soil health and productivity. Kenya,
for instance, has taken additional action through its Climate Smart Agriculture
In Salvation of African Soils: Exploring the Window of Opportunity. . .
31