Billions of tons of GHGs per year could be offset or avoided by natural climate solutions such as responsible management of cropland, peatlands, and forests.
Governments should apply forest carbon accounting principles to quantify the potential of the forest sector to contribute to climate change mitigation and demonstrate the importance of sustainable forest management.
Indigenous Guardian programs for land and marine areas, which increase stewardship by Indigenous communities of their territories using traditional knowledge can also play key roles in improving the management of carbon-rich natural areas.
Better management of land in urban areas is critical as populations grow and development infringes on already degraded ecosystems.
Expanding regenerative agricultural practices is key to reducing CO2. In fact, increasing the carbon content of the world’s soil by 0.4% could remove as much CO2 from the atmosphere as was emitted globally in 2015.
However, the carbon content of farmland has been decreasing since 2006 in Canada due to increased conversion from perennial to annual crops that require more fertilizer and pesticides, the intensity of tilling practices, expansion of intensive livestock operations, and conversion of wetlands to agricultural lands.
Proper management of forests is critical for climate change mitigation.
Farmers must improve agricultural land management and fertilizer management on agricultural lands.
Learn more by visiting our Urban Areas and Community section.
Examples
Check out these examples of ways that management is used as a nature-based climate solution, from local neighbourhood level to nation-wide initiatives. They might help you to think of projects for your community!
Here are organizations that you can contact to learn more about management as a nature-based climate solution.
Canada’s wilderness is the world’s envy. It’s our duty to keep our true north strong and green.
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