LAMACLIMA

Changes in land cover and land management (LCLM) that are driven by human activities (such as evolving agricultural or forestry practices) have a considerable effect on the global climate through the release of carbon in the atmosphere (biogeochemical effects), and the change of local energy and water fluxes at the land surface and their interaction with large-scale atmospheric dynamics (biogeophysical effects). Therefore, it is very relevant for future climate mitigation and adaptation effort to investigate the overall LCLM-climate effects and their interactions with the climate system. However, these coupled effects receive overall limited consideration in land use decision processes due to uncertainties on the full implications of changes in LCLM for climate and ecosystem services, but also due to a lack of dialogue between the relevant science and practice communities.

The goal of the Land Management for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation project (LAMACLIMA) is to advance the scientific and public understanding of the coupled effects between LCLM and climate, and to inform the elaboration of sustainable land-based adaptation and mitigation measures. It will investigate the biogeophysical and biogeochemical effects of three key changes in LCLM (re/afforestation, irrigation and wood harvest) on climate, their implications for several sectors (agriculture, water availability, biodiversity and economic productivity) as well as the resulting economic impacts, including those simultaneously affecting geographically distant key regions such as the world’s breadbaskets. This will allow for an integrated analysis of their implications for the achievement of both the mitigation and adaptation objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land).