Land Use
Land use is an important area of climate change management, encompassing agriculture, forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems. These ecosystems can help mitigate climate change by sequestering CO2 and supporting natural ecological processes, but if managed unsustainably, they can also release CO2, thus contributing to climate change.
Land use includes agriculture, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other natural and semi-natural ecosystems that determine how much carbon dioxide is stored or released into the atmosphere. Sustainably managed areas can act as important carbon sinks, while improperly used or degrading areas can become significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Deforestation, intensive soil cultivation, plowing of grasslands, or draining of wetlands release long-stored carbon and weaken ecosystems’ ability to regulate climate. In contrast, healthy forests, natural grasslands, vibrant soil, and restored wetlands enhance carbon sequestration, support biodiversity, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Land use is also closely linked to food production and the local economy. Sustainable agricultural practices, organic farms, local food chains, and shorter supply routes can reduce environmental impact, improve soil health, and increase resilience to climate change impacts. Such solutions contribute not only to climate goals but also to the preservation of the landscape, rural vitality, and quality of life.
For this reason, land use decisions are a fundamental part of climate neutrality – they require a balanced approach that combines environmental protection, economic activity, and the long-term value of territories.
Useful links
Situation in Tauragė
Agricultural land and forests occupy the majority of the Tauragė District Municipality territory and are important in the context of climate neutrality. Agricultural land accounts for approximately 49% of the municipality’s area, forests for about 38%, wetlands and bogs for about 3.7%, and towns and settlements for about 7.5%.
AFOLU sector GHG emissions in 2018 amounted to approximately 167.5 thousand t CO₂e, but due to high carbon sequestration, the sector’s overall balance accounts for only about 0.7% of all municipal GHG emissions. The largest share of emissions comes from cattle enteric fermentation (about 35%), peat extraction in bogs and wetlands (about 26%), and fertilizer use (about 20%). Therefore, wetland protection and restoration are important long-term climate policy directions.
Forest land in the municipality covers approximately 45.25 thousand ha (38.4% of the territory), and forest cover has remained largely unchanged over the past decade. Forests sequester about 77% of the total carbon in the AFOLU sector, making these sequestrations stable and long-term.
In 2023, 50.7 thousand ha of agricultural land were declared in the municipality, of which 46% was arable land and 36% was permanent grasslands and pastures. Since 2018, an intensification of agriculture has been observed – arable land areas increased, while permanent grasslands and pastures decreased. Most farms are small (up to 50 ha), and the average soil productivity score (39.2) creates conditions for more climate-friendly farming models. Almost 10% of the declared agricultural land in 2023 was used for organic farming, and the areas of organic farms have grown in recent years.
The AFOLU sector in Tauragė district remains important for both the local economy and climate neutrality goals, as it allows for combining land use with maintaining and increasing carbon sequestration. Due to the high potential of this sector for both greenhouse gas emission reduction and carbon sequestration enhancement, it is necessary to purposefully apply sustainable land use, farming, and ecosystem restoration solutions.
Anticipated changes in Tauragė
Climate-friendly livestock farming
– the use of feeds and supplements that reduce methane emissions in livestock farming will be promoted, biological preparations for manure and slurry treatment will be applied, and slurry acidification and injection solutions will be implemented, utilizing national investment support measures. These actions aim to reduce methane and nitrogen compound emissions from livestock farming without changing the scale of operations.
More sustainable soil and fertilizer use
Promotion of organic and conservation farming
Consulting, knowledge dissemination, and best practices
Protection and restoration of peatlands and wetlands
Afforestation, reforestation, and quality improvement of forests
Development of green infrastructure in urbanized areas
Public education and changes in consumption habits
Projects
VšĮ Ekomaistas
2024 m. Tauragėje startavo VšĮ „Eko maistas“, kuri užtikrina kokybišką, šviežią ir ekologišką maitinimą ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų vaikams. Įgyvendinama trumposios maisto tiekimo grandinės strategija, skatinant tiesioginį bendradarbiavimą su vietiniais ūkininkais bei gamintojais. Tiekiami natūralūs, kuo mažiau perdirbti produktai, atitinkantys aukščiausius kokybės ir saugos standartus.
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