Ecological impact of historical and future land-use patterns in Senegal

The CENTURY model was used to simulate changes in total system carbon resulting from land-use history (1850-2000), and impacts of climatic changes and improved land-use management practices in Senegal. Results show that 0.477 Gtons of carbon have been lost from 1850 to 2000. Improved management practices have the potential of increasing carbon levels by 0.116 Gtons from 2000 to 2100. Potential to store carbon exists for improved forest management and agriculture practices in southern Senegal. Potential climatic changes decrease plant production (30 percent), total system carbon (14 percent), and the potential to store carbon from improved management practices (31 percent). (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.