Methane emissions from rice cultivation in West Africa and compensation options from nature reserve forests

• DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/adc28c
• Publication Date: 2025-03-19T22:52:17Z
• Authors: Samuel Guug; Souleymane Sy; Emmanuel Quansah; Jan Bliefernicht; Frank Neidl; Rainer Steinbrecher; Michael Ayamba; Alex Frempong; Patrick Davies; Ines Spangenberg; Francis E Oussou; Belko Aziz Diallo; Seyni Salack; Kwame Hackman; Leonard K Amekudzi; Kehinde Ogunjobi; Harald Kunstmann
• Keywords: Methane Emissions

Abstract Methane (CH₄) is a major and potent greenhouse gas (GHG), its emissions from agricultural activities, particularly rice cultivation, are significant concern for climate change. Due to the high demand food security, driven by rapid population growth national initiatives reduce dependency on imports, cultivation intensified in West Africa. However, contribution atmospheric CH4 remains largely understood. Here, first time, cutting-edge eddy covariance tower measurements were conducted parallelly field (Janga) reserve forest (Mole National Park), both located Guinea savanna region of Using measurement data June October 2023 (rice period), dynamic interplay between methane potential mitigation through uptake was assessed. Our results show that acted as net source 2037 mgCH4m-2, whereas most intense flooded period (August) accounted 70% total emissions. On other hand, sink, with -560 highest observed October. Accounting global warming (GWP) over 20-year period, had wet season negative GWP -47.04 gCO2eq, while emitted 171.36 gCO2eq. This implies under similar conditions during campaigns, per square area needs approximately factor ⁓4 balance positive radiative effect cultivated. work emphasizes need integrate forests compensate released semi-arid African savannah region.