African societies face growing global change risks, with rapidly changing patterns of human settlements and intensity of use of ecosystem services. At the same time, climate variability and climate change are intensifying stress on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems that ensure environmental security, both locally (e.g. ecosystem services), regionally (e.g. sustainable development options) and internationally (e.g. carbon sequestration). Approaches that can address this challenge in an integrated and multidisciplinary way are urgently needed. In many places in Africa there is a close relationship between societal well-being and environmental condition, relating particularly to biomass for energy and food production, as well as water availability and water quality. Long-term terrestrial and marine observational systems and research infrastructures have been identified to be indispensable elements of knowledge generation to serve climate change adaptation, food security, and climate change mitigation.
General aims
The goal of the SEACRIFOG project is to promote the EU-Africa cooperation dialogue at different levels (policy, science, society) on the following themes: food security, carbon cycle and greenhouse gases observations, climate smart agriculture, in order to support adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. SEACRIFOG aims at developing an integrative network for long-term and sustainable cooperation among African and European environmental research infrastructures.
CMCC Role
WP1 coordinator “General needs and knowledge gaps”
Expected results
The project shall develop a road map towards an African network of research infrastructures (RI) for long-term observation of GHGs, climate change and environmental dynamics covering the variety of climates, land cover types and management practices within the African continent.
Activity
The main activity within the work package 1 is to assess needs and gaps, in terms of data, knowledge, capacities and research infrastructures in Africa (with respect to Europe) in the fields of land use (particularly agriculture) and land use change for what concerns GHG emissions/reductions under a changing climate. This work package will rely on stakeholders and expert groups’ engagement, and on the use of tools like surveys, working meetings, journals’ review etc. The outcomes will support the project activities providing relevant information about the above-mentioned needs and gaps.
Partners
- CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change
- TCD - Trinity College Dublin