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Project

The Climate Shepherds of the Kempen: grassland management as an opportunity for carbon sequestration, agriculture and nature (Klimaathoeders)


With the project "The Climate Shepherds of the Kempen", KU Leuven Campus Geel, Thomas More Kempen, Regional Landscape Kleine and Grote Nete, Hooibeekhoeve, Boerenbond, Het Bolhuis, VLM Region East and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries want to demonstrate the smart climate opportunities for grasslands in the Kempen to the agricultural sector, nature sector, students, policy and the tourism sector. Both the agriculture and the nature sector play an important role in the climate story. There are still many opportunities in the Kempen, where grasslands are an important part of the landscape. Innovative technologies for grasslands and precision grazing offer new opportunities for carbon storage and soil health, but have not yet been sufficiently translated into practice for (the sandy soils of) the Kempen. We want to map, quantify and communicate these soil properties to the sectors with the aim of enabling livestock farmers and landscape managers to manage their grasslands sustainably. We want to make livestock farmers aware of the possibilities of carbon sequestration in the soil and the benefits for soil moisture. We also want to give them a voice in the climate story and give them access to extra benefits from smart climate initiatives. We also want to engage students and professionals into sustainable solutions for the rural areas. And, last but not least, we want to demonstrate the possibilities of grassland and grazing in the Kempen to citizens and recreationists.
 

Date:1 Jan 2023 →  Today
Keywords:Grassland management
Disciplines:Carbon sequestration science