Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agroforestry Systems

This multi-authored volume contains peer-reviewed chapters from the world's leading researchers and professionals in this topic. It is a compendium of original research articles, case studies, and regional overviews and summarizes the current state of knowledge on carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems. The main hypothesis of the book is that the farmers since time immemorial have integrated an array of tree and crop species in their land use systems as a means to achieve higher productivity, risk avoidance, product diversification, and sustainability. These multispecies production systems also impact the ecosystem processes favorably. Yet, our understanding of the diversity attributes and carbon dynamics under agroforestry is not adequate. Although carbon sequestration is a focal theme of discussion in most agroforestry and climate conferences, publications on carbon sequestration in agroforestry are scattered. This book, with 16 chapters organized into three broad sections titled: Measurement and Estimation, Agrobiodiversity and Tree Management, and Policy and Socioeconomic Aspects, represent a cross section of the opportunities and challenges in current research and emerging issues in harnessing carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems. The book is unique in its exclusive and global coverage of the subject, and constitutes a valuable reference material for students and researchers in the field of agroforestry and climate change mitigation.

Zusammenfassung

Tree based production systems abound especially in the tropics. Despite the pervasiveness of such multipurpose trees-outside-forest resources, they have not attracted adequate attention in the development paradigms of many nation states. These multispecies production systems impact the ecosystem processes favourably. Yet, our understanding of the diversity attributes and carbon dynamics under agroforestry is not adequate. This book focuses on the role of multispecies production systems involving tree and crop species as a means for carbon sequestration and thereby reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Sixteen chapters organized into three broad sections titled: Measurement and Estimation, Agrobiodiversity and Tree Management, and Policy and Socioeconomic Aspects represent a cross section of the opportunities and challenges in current research and emerging issues in harnessing carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems.

Inhalt
List of Contributors.- List of Reviewers.- Preface.- Section 1. Measurement and Estimation.- 1. Methodological challenges in estimating carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems.- 2. Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry practices in temperate North America.- 3. Carbon sequestration in European agroforestry systems.- 4. Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in Africa.- 5. Soil carbon sequestration in cacao agroforestry systems: a case study from Bahia, Brazil.- 6. Carbon sequestration potential of silvopastoral and other land use systems in the Chilean Patagonia.- 7. Carbon pools in tree biomass and soils under rotational woodlot systems in eastern Tanzania.- 8. Silvopasture and carbon sequestration with special reference to the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado).- 9. Biomass and carbon accumulation in land use systems of Claveria, the Philippines.- Section 2. Agrobiodiversity and Tree management.- 10. Linking carbon, biodiversity and livelihoods near forest margins: the role of agroforestry.- 11. Assessing the carbon sequestration in short rotation coppices of Robinia pseudoacacia L. on marginal sites in northeast Germany.- 12. Does tree management affect biomass and soil carbon stocks of Acacia mangium Willd. stands in Kerala, India?.- Section 3. Policy and Socioeconomic Aspects.- 13. Can forest carbon finance influence land tenure security in project areas? Preliminary lessons from projects in Niger and Kenya.- 14. Constructing public policy in a participatory manner: from local carbon sequestration projects to network governance in Chiapas, Mexico.- 15. Inpang carbon bank in northeast Thailand: A community effort in carbon trading from agroforestry projects.- 16. The socioeconomic context of carbon sequestration in agroforestry: A case study from homegardens of Kerala, India.- Subject index.