Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study examines the response of soil organic carbon (SOC) to land-use changes (LUCs) across Europe. Using field data from the LUCAS survey and satellite-based Corine Land Cover data, we find that SOC losses due to conversions to cropland are immediate (63% occurs within the first 1.5 years) whereas SOC accumulation following conversions from cropland to grassland or forest is more gradual (10–20 years) but still with a notable peak in the first 1.5 years. Our dynamic approach reveals a potentially much higher carbon sequestration from LUC (an indicative 572 MtC between 1990 and 2021) than reported by current national inventories (76 MtC), although both approaches come with substantial limitations. These findings suggest that conservative IPCC Tier 1 estimates may understate the mitigation potential of land-use policies. We provide ready-to-use, country-specific emission factors to improve the precision of national greenhouse gas inventories and to support compliance with public regulation, though further validation is needed for forest-related LUCs due to small sample sizes and the possible incorporation of forest litter into topsoil measurements.
Source: Environmental Research Letters
Institution: L'Institut Agro
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,045
OpenAlex ID: W7204173286