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Representatives of this project presented at the National Environment Congress (CONAMA 2018), some of its main actions of agricultural soils as carbon sinks, suppliers of ecosystem services, and as a source of job creation and rural development.
When we think of options to combat climate change, the first thing that comes to mind is the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is undoubtedly key.
But we easily overlook a strategic sector that also has much to contribute in this regard and that is also essential for the socio-economic development of the Region of Murcia.
It is the proper use of agricultural land and more specifically, that of rainfed agriculture integrated with biodiversity.
Within the context of the Kyoto Protocol and the subsequent international meetings on climate change (COP), agricultural lands have not been proposed as an attractive and barely developed strategy to mitigate carbon concentrations.
The Murcia project LIFE AMDRYC4, led by the University of Murcia since September 2017, has precisely the objective of demonstrating, in a quantified way, the potential of agricultural soils as sinks of these gases.
To make the demonstration effective, the Project has four experimental plots, located in Corvera, Nogalte, Xiquena and El Moralejo.
By means of techniques such as the use of infrared in the laboratory or the use of drones with coupled cameras, which fly over the plots collecting data and photographs on a regular basis, carbon measurements are carried out to quantify the real resilience that is capable of carrying out rainfed agriculture.
But the objectives of LIFE AMDRYC4 do not remain only in this demonstration.
As explained by María José Martínez, project manager and professor of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry at the University of Murcia, at the National Environment Congress (CONAMA): "The ecosystem services of the soil that we study also reach areas such as sustainable management of the water or the fight against desertification, while generating a series of parallel benefits such as job creation or agricultural rural development. "
On the turn of the 'Conversations' event within the Congress, the Murcian team had the interest of two ex-Environment ministers, Cristina Narbona (PSOE) and Elvira Rodríguez (PP), with whom they subsequently exchanged opinions.
During the exhibition, María José Martínez added that: "during the 52 months of work, we will contribute to improving the competitiveness of the European Union by developing new methods and technologies to adapt to climate change, and we intend to promote long-term sustainable rural development and involve to interest groups at different scales: The contribution of policies that support the implementation of financing lines with European funds for the adaptation to climate change of rainfed agriculture, and to avoid desertification and the depopulation of the field is necessary " .
He also announced that in a short time, the first data of the measurements collected by the drones will be obtained.
The four partners with which the University of Murcia has to carry out the actions of LIFE AMDRYC4 that will last until the year 2021, are: Engineering of the Natural Environment (IDEN), Office of Socioeconomic Promotion of Environment of the Autonomous Community of Murcia (OISMA), Coordinator of Farmers and Livestock Organizations.
Rural Initiative of the Region of Murcia (COAG) and the New Culture for Climate Association (NCC).
All the information about this Project financed by LIFE funds of the European Union, is collected on its official website: http://lifeamdryc4.eu/
Source: Universidad de Murcia
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