Emissions from drained organic soils

The FAOSTAT domain Drained organic soils consists of nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with the mineralization and oxidation of the organic matter in organic soils that are drained for agriculture (cropland and grassland). Data are computed geospatially, using the Tier 1 method of the IPCC Guidelines for National greenhouse gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006; 2014) and using the distribution of histosols as a proxy for organic soils. Estimates are available by country and with global coverage, in complete time series for the period 1990–2020. The database is updated annually.

The FAOSTAT domain Organic soils disseminates information by country on: activity data (in hectares of organic soils drained for agriculture); and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (in kilotonnes of N2O and CO2). Drainage and associated emissions are assessed separately for IPCC land use categories cropland and grassland, corresponding to FAO land use categories ‘’cropland’’ and ‘’permanent meadows and pastures.’’ Data are available for all countries and territories, for standard FAOSTAT regional aggregations, and for Annex I and non-Annex I country groups.

This FAOSTAT domain also disseminates the activity data and emissions data reported by countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), under ‘Cultivation of organic soils’ for the N2O component and categories ‘Cropland drained organic soils’ and ‘Grassland drained organic soils’ for the CO2. Activity data are sourced from the most recently available GHG National Inventories (NGHGI) or from National Communications. Emission data are sourced directly from the UNFCCC data portal or from Biennial Update Reports (BURs). UNFCCC data are disseminated in FAOSTAT with permission, formalized via a FAO-UNFCCC Memorandum of Understanding.