Context: The first FAO Global assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands measured the baseline of stocks of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in both semi-natural and managed grasslands and estimated their potential for SOC sequestration.

• The Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership (FAO LEAP Partnership) funded this study.

Key Findings of the report

• Grasslands contain approximately 20 per cent of the world’s SOC; have suffered losses because of human activities such as intensive livestock grazing, agricultural activities, and other land-use activities.

• Most of the world’s grasslands have a positive carbon balance, meaning the land is stable or well-maintained.

• However, negative carbon balance was found in East Asia, Central and South America, and Africa south of the Equator, meaning these stocks are likely to be decreasing due to anthropogenic stresses combined with climatic conditions.

• The lack of incentives for farmers to improve management practices, and the current difficulty in accurately monitoring SOC stocks and changes are the main reasons that SOCs are not being included in the national climate plans known as National Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Suggestions given in the report

• Stimulating plant growth, capturing carbon in the soil, and protecting carbon in highly organic soils, such as semi-natural (non-human managed) grasslands.

• In livestock management, implementing rotational, planned, or adaptative grazing measures for animals.

• Improving management practices in grasslands— large areas covered with grass, especially used for animal grazing— can boost the capacity of soils as carbon sinks, and help countries reach their climate goal

About Soil Organic Carbon

• Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the amount of carbon stored in soil organic matter. It is an important component of soil health and fertility, as it influences soil structure, nutrient cycling, water-holding capacity, and the ability of soil to support plant growth.

• It shows the carbon held within the soil that is measurable, expressed as a percentage by weight (gC/Kg soil).

About Grasslands

• Grasslands are areas dominated by grasses.

• Distribution: Grasslands are found in areas having well-defined hot and dry, warm and rainy seasons.

Grasslands can majorly be divided into two parts

• Tropical Grasslands – Savannah, Campos, and Llanos

• Temperate Grasslands- Pampas, Prairie, Veld, Steppe, and Down

Significance of Grasslands 

• Farmers who keep cattle or goats, as well as shepherds who keep sheep, are highly dependent on grasslands.

• Domestic animals are grazed in the ‘common’ land of the village.

• Fodder is collected and stored to feed cattle when there is no grass left for them to graze in summer.

• The grass is also used to thatch houses and farm sheds.

• The thorny bushes and branches of the few trees that are seen in grasslands are used as a major source of fuelwood.

• Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)

• Ecological succession or ecosystem development