The importance of pastures for carbon storage and agri-environment payments
Earth – the home of over seven billion people – is a giant ecosystem, which offers living conditions to the entire biosphere through its connections between resources, animals and plants. Everything that comes to life is made from the matter existing on Earth (especially in the soil), with a minimal, yet essential, contribution outside the planet – light. Organic matter, which can be found in every living thing, is related to carbon, because this can combine most elements occurring in nature. In the first stages of development, plants are among the first providers of proteins and carbohydrates. Sunrays – which represent the light and heat contribution outside the planet (ecosystem) – help with photosynthesis, making plants grow, and they heat the planet, offering suitable conditions for life to develop.