Agricultural expansion and land use in sub-Saharan Africa are complex and highly relevant issues today. While the region has maintained traditional practices for centuries, such as slash-and-burn farming, external pressures related to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions are changing the way these lands are managed. Over the past few years, several studies have revealed how agricultural practices in this region are contributing to the release of harmful gases such as CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, which generates profound effects on the global ecosystem.
What does this have to do with climate change? The answer lies in the direct relationship between human activities and the deterioration of natural resources. Land uses are changing as carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates increase due to traditional agricultural activities, such as the aforementioned burning of stubble, and new management practices.
Land uses in Sub-Saharan Africa
In many areas, “slash and burn” is practiced as an agricultural technique. This technique, used for generations, consists of deforesting areas and then burning the vegetation, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This method has been studied by an international team that includes the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), in which the relationship between the land use changes and CO2 emissions.
The research has analyzed in detail 75 studies carried out in 22 African countries. These studies focused on identifying the factors that cause emissions and developing management strategies that can help mitigate these emissions. However, it is important to note that, according to experts, Sub-Saharan Africa remains a territory where little is known about the exact flows of GHG (Greenhouse Gases).
The Paris Agreement, which came into force in 2016, underlines the global importance of reducing GHG emissions, but in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa the exact drivers of these emissions are unknown. Poor supply regimes and a lack of robust data are persistent problems. Although agriculture accounts for XNUMX% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, it is not clear how much greenhouse gas emissions are generated. 60% of the workforce, ancestral land management practices, such as burning, have not adapted to the realities of climate change, which puts at risk not only the local ecosystem, but the global climate balance.
Gas emissions analyzed
The research carried out has focused its analysis on three key greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), the methane (CH4) and the nitrous oxide (N2O)Each of these components has particular characteristics that aggravate the greenhouse effect in different ways.
emissions from carbon dioxide They are mainly associated with changes in land use, especially in areas where slash-and-burn is practiced. This method releases CO2 both at the time of the combustion of the plants and later, when the soil loses its capacity to retain carbon.
El methane methane is another gas emitted in agricultural areas, particularly in flooded crops such as rice. In addition, termite mounds, very common in the African landscape, also emit methane. This phenomenon is characteristic of the ecosystems of sub-Saharan Africa, where natural and anthropogenic factors combine.
Furthermore, the nitrous oxide It is generated mainly in areas where nitrogen fertilizers, manure and other organic matter are used in crops. This gas is particularly serious, as it has a global warming power much greater than that of CO2, making it one of the main long-term threats to the sustainability of agricultural systems.
Cases that have been analyzed
One of the most detailed cases has been the cultivation of African palm in BeninIn this case, it was identified that 30% of CO2 emissions come from the root area, but when the soil is extremely dry, this percentage increases to 80%This emissions pattern highlights the importance of soil moisture in gas emission processes, as well as the need to improve agricultural techniques to conserve moisture and reduce climatic impacts.
The relationship between soil moisture conditions and CO2 emissions has been demonstrated in different studies, and this pattern is repeated in several locations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, the local weather conditions are particularly important, as periods of drought such as those affecting the region can increase emissions dramatically.
However, it is not all bad. Improved agricultural strategies, such as employing more efficient irrigation techniques, can make a significant difference in managing emissions. Improved irrigation systems help not only maintain moisture, but also optimize the efficiency of water use, a critical resource in the region.
Carry out agroecological practices
To mitigate the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions, several areas in Africa have begun to implement agroecological practicesThis approach aims to use available resources efficiently, minimizing emissions and promoting sustainability.
The use of manure and crop residues, as well as their reuse, has been shown to be a viable alternative to closing the cycle of matter and energy. Farms that follow this model can ensure the subsistence of local families while minimizing the loss of resources and reducing emissions of gases such as methane and nitrous oxide.
The underlying concept behind agroecological practices is that the system can be self-sustaining. That is, waste from animals and plants is reincorporated into the production cycle, which reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and, as a result, reduces emissions.
This type of approach has been promoted throughout Africa, and especially in the regions most vulnerable to climate change. The results have been promising, particularly in areas where climatic conditions and poverty limit access to advanced technologies. families that follow these practices They have managed to maintain sustainable production with low CO2 emissions.
Agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa is at a crossroads. On the one hand, the region needs to increase agricultural production to meet the growing demand for food, but on the other, these traditional practices contribute to global warming. Hence the importance of initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and the implementation of agroecological practices that allow for greater sustainability without compromising agricultural productivity.