Strengthening Carbon Financing For Grassland Management In The People S Republic Of China

Carbon emissions trading markets are one of the main policy mechanisms of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Grasslands cover 40% of the PRC's land area, and these contain large amounts of carbon. Restoration and sustainable management of these grasslands have large greenhouse gas mitigation potential. This publication assesses the potential of carbon market mechanisms to support the achievement of grassland policy objectives. It also reviews the state of national policy regarding climate change mitigation, particularly carbon markets, and outlines opportunities and challenges in producing carbon offsets from grasslands.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) is being impacted by climate change. The resulting degradation and desertification of grasslands are projected to lead to decreased productivity and severely affect livestock and ecosystems. Financial incentives are required to improve environmental management of grasslands and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the grassland sector of the PRC. This publication summarizes the legal and policy framework for incentive programs, assesses the impact of three main incentive programs on soil carbon stocks, and analyzes the implications of these existing incentive mechanisms for the development of grassland carbon finance projects for domestic carbon markets.

The majority of the People's Republic of China's 3.9 million square kilometers of grasslands are degraded and contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. Restoring degraded grasslands and increasing the efficiency of forage utilization are key strategies for addressing sustainable grassland management. To balance carbon sequestration and livestock production objectives, changes in grazing and livestock management are required. This publication summarizes potential technical measures to increase carbon sequestration and reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from grassland-based animal husbandry. Carbon finance may help provide an incentive for some mitigation activities such as restoring degraded grasslands and increasing the efficiency of forage utilization.

Climate change threatens grassland ecosystems and herders' livelihoods in Mongolia. Herders depend on pasture and water resources for their livestock, and are thus among the most vulnerable groups to climate change impacts. However, although climate change impacts on grassland ecosystems are measurable, current institutional capacity and financial resources limit implementation of adaptation practices. This publication reviews grassland management and traditional nomadic pastoralism in the local Mongolian context, and identifies potential adaptation strategies and practices, such as rotation and resting of pasture, long-distance migration of animals in fall and/or winter, and reduction of livestock stocking rates.

Payments for environmental services (PES) are a potential mechanism to provide incentives for sustainable management of grasslands and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. PES is not widely practiced in Mongolia, but has been included in the Green Development Strategy of the government. This paper reviews 50 PES schemes operating in grasslands and other grazing lands globally, including Mongolia. It discusses key issues related to the design of PES schemes in Mongolian grasslands, including potential benefits, risks, constraints, and trade-offs.

Climate change is a threat to Mongolia's economic growth, sustainable development, and fragile environment. Well-designed actions to mitigate climate change can provide multiple benefits, including socioeconomic development and resilience to climate variability and change. Nationally appropriate mitigation actions can provide a framework for the identification and implementation of mitigation actions. This publication identifies and assesses technical, institutional, and policy elements needed to develop and implement appropriate mitigation actions in the grassland and livestock sector. Technical elements include estimates of greenhouse gas mitigation potential, economic costs and benefits, greenhouse gas measurement options, adaptation benefits, and barriers to adoption and identification of policies and measures.