Lecture notes: Carbon cycle, deforestation, wetlands, afforestation, agriculture, policy, and water management (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts from the notes on carbon cycle, deforestation, wetlands, afforestation, agriculture, policy, and water management.

Carbon sequestration

Process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon in vegetation, soils, wetlands, or oceans to reduce CO2 in the air.

Net primary productivity (NPP)

Net carbon uptake by plants after subtracting plant respiration; often expressed as g/m2/year.

Gross primary productivity (GPP)

Total amount of carbon fixed by photosynthesis in plants per unit area per time.

Urban tree cooling effect

Shade and transpiration from trees in cities that lower temperatures during heatwaves (about 1–2°C).

Infiltration enhancement by roots

Tree roots improve soil infiltration, helping to prevent urban flooding.

Wildlife corridors

Habitat linkages that allow wildlife to move between fragmented areas, supporting biodiversity.

Pollen dispersal

Movement of pollen through wind or animals, enabling plant reproduction.

NO2 reductions in tree-lined streets

Lower nitrogen dioxide concentrations due to air filtration and deposition by urban trees.

Insect biodiversity on trees

A single mature tree can host hundreds of insect species, supporting ecosystem diversity.

Deforestation drivers

Main causes include mining, hydroelectric development (HEP), cattle ranching, soybean production, transmigration schemes, and roads.

Carbon cycle disequilibrium (short-term)

Deforestation and land-use change disrupt the carbon and water cycles, affecting resource distribution and climate.

Desertification

Land degradation in arid and semi-arid areas caused by climate factors and human activity, often worsened by deforestation.

Tropical rainforest

Oldest, most biodiverse ecosystem on Earth, covering about 6% of the planet's surface and storing significant carbon.

REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)

UN scheme that provides financial incentives to conserve forests and reduce deforestation.

Afforestation

Planting trees on land that has not previously been forested to create new forest cover.

Reforestation program (Amazon/Peru context)

Projects to restore forest cover in deforested or degraded areas, often linked to REDD-style funding.

China afforestation program

Massive government effort begun in 1978 to plant large areas of forest to combat desertification; often uses fast-growing non-native species.

Wetlands

Freshwater marshes, salt marshes, peatlands, floodplains, and mangroves that store a large portion of terrestrial carbon.

Ramsar Convention

International treaty focused on the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Wetlands as carbon sink

Wetland ecosystems store carbon and can sequester it more rapidly than some forests; restoration enhances this capacity.

Amazon Regional Protected Areas (ARPA)

Brazilian program covering a large portion of the Amazon to reduce deforestation.

Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)

IFIs' funding mechanism to support forest conservation and REDD-type projects.

Wetland restoration benefits

Restoration enhances carbon storage, biodiversity, flood protection, and water cycle stability.

Beavers in wetlands

Beaver dams create and sustain wetland habitat; can aid restoration but require ecological management.

Water allocations

Policy about allocating scarce water resources, especially where agriculture consumes the majority of withdrawals.

Evapotranspiration

Combined evaporation and plant transpiration; key driver of regional climate and water availability.

Irrigation efficiency (water management)

Techniques to minimize water losses (e.g., mulching, drip irrigation, reduced evaporation).

Groundwater recharge

Processes to replenish groundwater stores, including artificial recharge where appropriate.

Drainage basin management

Integrated management of water resources at the scale of a drainage basin to balance multiple uses.

River Basin Management Plan (RBMP)

EU framework plans setting targets for water quality, abstraction, groundwater, and habitats.

Zero tillage

Agriculture without ploughing to preserve soil structure and sequester soil carbon.

Polyculture

Cultivation of multiple crops with trees to provide year-round ground cover and reduce erosion.

Crop residues

Leaving stems and leaves on fields after harvest to protect soil and reduce erosion.

Contour ploughing

Ploughing along contour lines to reduce runoff and soil erosion on slopes.

Terracing

Creating stepped levels on slopes to slow water flow and reduce erosion.

New rice strains

Drought-tolerant rice varieties designed for drier conditions.

Ammonium sulfate

A nitrogen-based fertilizer; its use can influence soil microbial processes and methane production in rice systems.

Enteric fermentation

Methane produced during digestion in ruminant animals (e.g., cattle, sheep).

Manure management

Practices to control manure decomposition and capture methane for energy or reduce emissions.

ELMS (England’s Environmental Land Management Scheme)

UK government program to incentivize sustainable farming practices; not legally binding long-term.

Kyoto Protocol

1997 international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; legally binding for many, with some major emitters opting out or not ratifying; expired in 2012.

Paris Agreement

2015 global framework to limit warming to well below 2°C; relies on voluntary nationally determined contributions and financial support to developing countries.

Cap and Trade (carbon trading)

Market-based approach that sets an emissions cap and allows trading of credits among emitters.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)

EU-wide cap-and-trade system allocating emissions quotas and enabling credit trading.

Carbon offsets

Credits awarded for verified emission-reducing projects (e.g., afforestation, renewables, wetlands) used to compensate for emissions elsewhere.