ABSTRACT
The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change, (U N FC C C , 1998), proposes to limit future aggregate anthropogenic carbon dioxideequivalent greenhouse gas emissions (Article 3.1). The Kyoto Protocol also establishes the concept of credits for carbon sinks. These credits can be used to m eet a country’s emission limitation and reduction commit-
ment. Currently, carbon sinks are limited to recent efforts in afforestation, reforestation, and deforestation and do not include agricultural soils (Article 3.3). However, A rticle 3 .4 leaves the future inclusion of agricultural soils a distinct possibility by stating, “Parties to this Protocol shall . . . decide upon modalities, rules, and guidelines as to how, and which, additional human-induced activities related to greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks in the agricultural soils and the land use change and forestry categories shall be added to or subtracted from the assigned amounts.”
