Page 14 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication
P. 14
14 Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation
COMMUNICATION
St1 pilots sustainable carbon
sequestrating through
afforestation in Morocco
By Mika Aho it is leading to rapid and dramatic carbon is already in the atmosphere,
changes in our planet’s ecosystem. which only can be removed
Nordic energy company Numerous forecasts indicate that through extensive afforestation
St1 has signed an the objective of the Paris Climate and reforestation activities. As the
agreement with the Agreement – to limit global warming problem is global, the mitigation
Université Mohammed to less than 2°C – will not be activities should not be artificially
VI Polytechnique in Morocco and achieved by the current policies and constraint to national activities only.
its affiliated fertiliser company, mitigation tools only. A recent report Viable land areas could be increased
OCP, for the implementation of an by the Intergovernmental Panel on through large-scale afforestation
afforestation pilot. Over a period of Climate Change (IPCC) confirms of arid regions. Locally accepted
three years, the project will examine the impossibility of achieving the afforestation projects combined with
the carbon sequestration by trees objective by current means, and agriculture would help the people
under various controlled conditions highlights that the range of methods in regions affected by drought and
in Morocco. The pilot is a major step require carbon sinks, such as new desertification, thereby reducing
towards creating a validated and forests. migratory pressures.
approved tool for combating climate
change through carbon sinks created Emissions will be further increased Moroccan pilot contributes to the
via afforestation. by the rapid growth of population, creation of a powerful tool for
economies and energy demand in urgent need
The carbon sequestration is developing countries. In addition, The goal of the pilot is to find the
essential some 100 billion tonnes of excessive optimal solution for the use of land
Climate change is the biggest improvement and irrigation systems
problem facing the humankind, as in cost-effective forest growth
and carbon sequestrating. A total
Taking soil samples of 16,000 seedlings acquired from
Morocco will be planted in a four-
hectare research area in Rhamna
Ben Guerir. Planting will begin in
January and the project will involve
testing seven tree species, including
carob, eucalyptus and acacia. Various
types of soil improvement, such
as water retention improvements
and fertilisation, will be performed
to provide a viable substrate in the
currently dry soil. In addition, the
project will involve studying the role
of irrigation and the optimisation of
water consumption by using a sub-
surface drip irrigation system.
The first results of the three-year pilot
will be obtained in a year’s time. The
university will implement a practical
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