Agroforestry Systems May Play Vital Role in Mitigating Climate Change

Agroforestry systems could offer a viable opportunity to deal with climate change issues, having the potential to sequester and store atmospheric CO2 over long periods. The purpose of the study was to provide an empirical foundation to support agroforestry systems as a strategy to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentration and mitigate climate change. A meta-analysis was carried out to investigate changes in soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil plays an important role in C sequestration, reportedly being able to store 1.5–3 times more C than in vegetation. Results revealed, while forests sequester about 25 percent more carbon than any other land use, the transition from agriculture, pasture/grassland, uncultivated/other land-uses to agroforestry significantly increased SOC. For example, soil organic carbon increased an average of 34 percent shifting from agriculture to agroforestry. If implemented correctly, agroforestry will not only play a role in climate change mitigation, but help small shareholder farmers maximize their resources, especially in in developing countries.

Day
Tuesday Poster Session
Authors
Andrea De Stefano
Michael Jacobson
Related Conference Themes
Food
Land Use
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