PROGRAMME

Orchards agro-ecosystems display a significant potential to act a net sink for atmospheric carbon, offering significant land-based mitigation services. This mitigation potential depends greatly on cultivated species and applied cultivation practices. In this context, the study herein aims to explore the potentials arose regarding the removal of CO2 from atmosphere by tree crops and to underline the significance of this type of cultivations in the field of climate change mitigation. For this purpose, the novel methodology (CO2RCA) that was designed and developed in the context of the LIFE ClimaTree project (https://www.lifeclimatree.eu/) and later was further tested and optimized in the context of the Horizon 2020 Shui project (https://www.shui-eu.org/), will be used. This methodology aims at the detailed calculation of the CO2 balance related to the trees of an orchard and the cultivation practices applied. Five typical tree crop species (orange, olive, apple, peach, almond) of southern Europe (Greece, Spain, Italy) are herein examined. The obtained results are capable to support the design of coupled climate and agricultural policies with significant contribution to the circular economy. Thus, our findings can inspire and be involved in future design of eco-schemes and CO2 voluntary markets, in the context of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) contributing to the Circular Economy pillar of the Mediterranean EU countries.