Legal Framework for Improving Carbon Management in Grasslands in the People's Republic of China

Abstract

This "Preliminary analysis of three environmental laws in relation to carbon management" is a component of the Regional TA on managing grassland areas in the face of climate change in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The regional capacity development technical assistance (TA) for Strengthening Carbon Financing for Regional Grassland Management in Northeast Asia is a continuation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) support for regional cooperation among the countries of Northeast Asia to combat dust and sandstorms. Overall, the TA contributes to the implementation of the regional master plan that was prepared under the TA on Prevention and Control of Dust and Sandstorms in Northeast Asia. In particular, the PRC TA focuses on land management techniques that improve soil carbon levels and therefore contributes to the reduction of land degradation from the effects of climate change. The principal aim of this preliminary analysis is to provide information on the capacity of three selected PRC environmental laws relating to the management of carbon associated with agricultural land use activity in the grassland areas, as a contribution to the regional TA. Specifically, the analysis investigates the capability of the PRC Agriculture Law 2003 to manage soil carbon, including its relationship with the PRC Grassland Law 2002 and the PRC Desertification Law 2001 (the national laws), from an integrated perspective in relation to the management of soil organic carbon (SOC) in PRC grasslands.