Global Warming, Carbon Balance, and Land and Water Management

Abstract

With more intense, longer droughts in larger areas since the 1970s, particularly in the tropics, one of the most important issues facing the world today is the need to ensure food security through the sustainable management of water and soil resources. There is a need to understand interactions between climate and land degradation through dedicated observations of the climate system, proper assessment and management of water and land resources, and advances in climate science. The debate on the complex issue of quantification of carbon stocks is still evolving. It is generally agreed that carbon sequestration, especially in soils, could be a highly cost effective and environmentally sound mitigation technique. Natural resources, particularly land and water are increasingly restricted both in quality and quantity in most parts of the world. There are still sufficient water resources however, to produce food and fibber for a growing population but that trends in consumption, production and environmental patterns, if continued, will lead to water crises. Consumption and pollution of water by agriculture are becoming serious concerns.