Carbon footprint of transhumant sheep farms: accounting for natural baseline emissions in Mediterranean systems

Abstract Purpose Transhumance has rarely been analyzed through LCA approaches, and there is little evidence about its emissions level when conducted under different practices (by truck or on foot) compared to sedentary livestock systems. Moreover, mobile pastoralism strongly linked natural resources by seasonal grazing patterns, thereby occupying the niche of wild herbivores. Considering emission baselines in these ecosystems could have relevant effects estimating their carbon footprint. Materials methods Inventory data 20 sheep farms was collected estimate footprint (CF) lamb meat produced. Farms were divided into three sub-groups representing typical management region: (1) (SED), (2) transhumance (THT), (3) foot (THF). Livestock GHG modeled according herd structure IPCC guidelines. Off-farm from external feeds fuels accounted based existent databases. A baseline herbivores established population red deer reported a hunting preserve, previously considered be reference for carrying capacity Mediterranean ecosystems. estimated two guidelines allometric regression equations. Results discussion Carbon ranged 16.5 up 26.9 kgCO 2 -eq/kg liveweight (LW). Significant differences identified among transhumant farms, latter consistently showing lower CF values (SED: 25.1 kg CO LW, THT: 18.3 THF: 18.2 LW). Sedentary resulted higher (+ 27%) N O, contributions derived consumption additional feeds. Both applied compute led similar results (25.3–26.8 Mg -eq/km ), comparatively than estimation (47.7 ). When considering emissions, reduced almost 30%, reaching quite below those intensive production systems Spain. Conclusions From our results, mobility can as strategy promoting climate change mitigation. This achieved mainly reducing need feeds, while maximizing use local forage that otherwise would difficult valorize. Further reductions result emissions. The application this new accounting perspective implications aiming at neutrality grazing-based ruminant