Benin Cumhuriyeti ve Türkiye'nin Akdeniz bölgesinde meraya dayalı hayvansal üretim sistemlerinde ekolojik ayak izi

Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions associated with ruminant (sheep, goats, and cattle) production in the Benin Republic (RB) and the East Mediterranean region of Turkey (EMR) were quantified. The emissions of two GHG, i.e. methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) were calculated using the Tier 2 method developed by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). The amount of CH4 was determined using annual animal population and county-specific emission factors (EF) developed. As for N2O emission, it was estimated using the EF default provided by the IPCC. Over two decades, the GHG emissions in RB increased by 72.79% from 2770.81 Gg CO2 eq in 1999 to 4787.90 Gg CO2 eq in 2019. Regarding emissions in the EMR, they were 2540 and 4689 Gg CO2 eq in 2004 and 2020 respectively, with a yearly growth rate of 4.98%. In terms of animal species, cattle were responsible for the most emissions, representing about 92.11% (4410.19 Gg CO2 eq) and 66.20% (3104 Gg CO2eq) of the sector's emissions in RB and the study area in Turkey. Enteric fermentation was the main source of emissions, representing an average of 78.04% (2944.10 Gg CO2eq) and 60.86% (2151.19 Gg CO2eq) of total emissions in RB and the study area in Turkey respectively. Manure storage and processing represent 21.96 and 39.14 % of emissions respectively in the RB and the EMR of Turkey.