Human Land Use Significantly Reduces Global Terrestrial Carbon Stocks
A new study from LMU Munich calculates that human activities have reduced natural land carbon stocks globally by 24 percent, amounting to 344 billion metric tons.
Human activities, including deforestation and agricultural expansion, have drastically altered natural carbon stocks on land worldwide, according to new research from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU).
The study, led by LMU geographer Raphael Ganzenmüller, estimates that human influence has depleted terrestrial carbon stocks by 344 billion metric tons, a reduction of 24 percent. This deficit is comparable in scale to the total global CO2 emissions from coal, oil, and natural gas over the past 50 years.
Researchers combined high-resolution Earth observation data with historical and current land use information and machine learning to develop a detailed global estimate. The findings indicate that the expansion of pasture and croplands, alongside forest management practices, are the primary drivers of this carbon loss.
Julia Pongratz, Professor of Physical Geography and Land Use Systems at LMU, highlighted the study's implications for climate policy, suggesting the data can help evaluate carbon removal measures. She added that restoring terrestrial carbon stocks offers significant potential for achieving global climate goals. The research provides a crucial basis for prioritizing the conservation and restoration of carbon sinks and improving climate models.