Main sharad activities and results. Marco Meggiolaro LT Terra&Acqua Tech/ University of Ferrara

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1 Main sharad activities and results Marco Meggiolaro LT Terra&Acqua Tech/ University of Ferrara

2 1. background Forests and soils have a large influence on atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) the most important global warming gas emitted by human activities Agricultural GHG emissions come from: agricultural soil management (60% of GHG emissions) enteric fermentation from livestock manure management fossil fuel consumption What is the challenge? Making farmers aware of carbon sequestration potential by bringing research into agric. models Introducing sustainable practices such as organic farming reduction of tillage and conservation of grassland store carbon, able to capture CO2

3 1. background Forests and soils have a large influence on atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) the most important global warming gas emitted by human activities Forest ecosystems and forest-based economies capture and store carbon dioxide Growing trees sequester large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere As long as the wood does not decompose / burned /destroyed, the carbon is maintained in the wood, which continues to be a carbon sink. Trees harvested for building materials maintain the carbon in the new structure (houses, etc.) for decades. What is the challenge? Fully exploiting forestall-based opportunitities towards wood-chain and CO2 free local economy Enhancing optimal forest management practices and shakeing up inactive forest owners to invest in forest-based economies

4 1. background Forests, agriculture land and climate change are mutually linked. Climate change and global warming could negatively change agriculture and forest ecosystems and their production patterns: these would change the capacity of forests and soil to provide above mentioned products and environmental service Projections show that in Southern Europe climate change would reduce crop productivity and in Central and Eastern Europe, forest productivity could decline

5 2. objectives of CARBON.CARE compare different management alternatives, both in the agriculture and in forest-based economies, to show that agricultural GHG mitigation practices and the optimal forestall management represent a "win-win" approach, since there are important side benefits (in addition to CO2 mitigation) that could be achieved TRANSPOSING INNOVATION INTO PRIMARY SECTOR PRACTICES a combined effort between scientific agencies and public authorities could definitely contribute at integrating new environmental-friendly patterns in the primary sector productive chain, thus addressing multiplier effect across the territory in line with the overall EU strategy of reducing CO2 emissions of 20% by 2020.

6 3. Partnership 1. Laboratory of Tecnopole Land&WaterTech, Univ. Ferrara (IT) - lead partner 2. CETEMAS Centro Tecnológico Forestal de la Madera (ESP) 3. Centre for Sustainable Rural Development Kranj (SI)

7 4. Integrated pool of actions mutual knowledge benchmarking technical assessments scenarios and recommendations communication Evaluation of 6 very representatives best practices experienced in partners regions in carbon sequestration and carbon storage sector and the analysis of their potential contribution and adaptation at local scale in line with EU environmental and sustainable energy legislation

8 4. Integrated pool of actions mutual knowledge benchmarking technical assessments scenarios and recommendations communication Elaboration of 1 common benchmark report of CARBON.CARE project that consists in an in-depth analysis of the different strategies adopted by the Emilia-Romagna/Province of Ferrara (Italy), Asturias Principality (Spain) and Gorenjska region (Slovenia) to promote new approaches to the carbon sequestration in agricultural and forestry sector

9 4. Integrated pool of actions mutual knowledge benchmarking technical assessments scenarios and recommendations communication Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna Region (ITALY) LCA in 5 farms and 2 food processing industries to assess the impact of GHG emissions on the principal agricultural practice, packaging, transportations, sowing, tillage, harvesting, fertilization and identify alternatives Oviedo, Asturias Region (SPAIN) Determination of the carbon sink activity in chestnut forests in Asturias. Case study implemented with Maderas Siero, company (covering every stage of the processing of the wood) to calculate the carbon footprint of a wood beam, taking into account the total amount of CO2 emissions caused directly & indirectly by its production Kranj, Gorenjska Region (SLOVENIA) Increase the carbon capture and sink culture in the region by (a) convincing inactive forest owner over the benefit of a forest management (b) increasing the share of biomass energy resources in local heating (c) increasing share of wooden constructions for public investments.

10 4. Integrated pool of actions mutual knowledge benchmarking technical assessments scenarios and recommendations communication According to the results of the assessments, design of mitigation scenarios and elaboration of recommendations and strategies (including also legislative, technical, incentive-based initiatives) in the forest and agricultural local sequestrations to be included in the Rural Development Programmes of the concerned regions to incentive the switch towards lower CO2 management practices Phase 0 Final harvest Phase 1 (8-12 years) Selected tree Phase 4 (40-45 years) high quality wood m 3 /ha Phase 2 (10 years) Thinning Products Phase 3 (16 to 25 years) Thinnings Products

11 4. Integrated pool of actions mutual knowledge benchmarking technical assessments scenarios and recommendations communication facilitating agreements between public administrations and farmers / forestall operators and improving technical assistance to farmers and forest operators awareness campaign to advance public understandings of the CS: green-business is possible when farmers and forestall owners are adequately informed of cost/benefit scenarios

12 Thank you for your attention