Transition to agroforestry

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Current challenges and opportunities for the adoption of agroforestry as carbon sequestration strategy

Dr Sara Burbi�sara.burbi@coventry.ac.uk

Agroecology Europe

Forum 2017

Lyon, France

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Workshop 11: Agroecology

and Agroforestry

26 October 2017

Dr Rodrigo Olave�rodrigo.olave@afbini.gov.uk

Transition to agroforestry �to promote carbon sequestration

1

Current Knowledge

The benefits of agroforestry

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Multi-functional landscape → Ecosystem services:

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• Supporting: soil enrichment, nutrient cycling
• Provisioning: biodiversity, biomass (food, timber)
• Regulating: air/water quality, land degradation, climate change

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• Carbon sequestration:

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• Aboveground biomass
• Belowground biomass
• Soil properties, quality, SOM
• Saturation…

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Woodland ≠ Silvopasture ≠ Grassland

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Long-term land management strategies

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Challenges

Need to address complexity in agroecological transition!

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Challenges

Need to address complexity in agroecological transition!

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UNCERTAINTY

RISK MANAGEMENT

TIMEFRAME

The Way Forward

5

Long-term data

Modelling LUC

Economics

Indicator-based Decision Support Tool

PARTICIPATORY

PRACTICAL

LONG-TERM

STRATEGY

• User-friendly
• Context-based
• Focus on practices (e.g. soil health indicators)
• Socio-economic impact
• Recommendations, options, trade-offs

Monitor

transition

The Way Forward

6

Long-term benefits

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• Integration of scientific, empirical, and traditional knowledges → Greater engagement → Innovation

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• Improved economic assessment

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• Application at any scale

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• Self-assessment for compliance with�environmental schemes

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• Support policy changes
• Evidence-informed
• Transdisciplinary

Monitor

transition

The Way Forward

7

Long-term benefits

​

• Integration of scientific, empirical, and traditional knowledges → Greater engagement → Innovation

​

• Improved economic assessment

​

• Application at any scale

​

• Self-assessment for compliance with�environmental schemes

​

• Support policy changes
• Evidence-informed
• Transdisciplinary

Some reading…

8

Thank you!

• Burbi S, Baines RN & Conway JS (2016) Achieving successful farmer engagement on greenhouse gas emission mitigation. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 14: 466-483. DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2016.1152062
• den Herder M, Moreno G, Mosquera-Losada RM, Palma JHN, Sidiropoulou A, Santiago Freijanes JJ, Crous-Duran J, Paulo JA, Tomé M, Pantera M, Papanastasis VP, Mantzanas K, Pachana P, Papadopoulos A, Plieninger T, Burgess P (2017) Current extent and stratification of agroforestry in the European Union. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 241: 121-132. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2017.03.005.
• Fornara D, Olave R, Burgess P, Delmer A, Upson M & McAdam J (2017) Land use change and soil carbon pools: evidence from a long-term silvopastoral experiment. Agroforestry Systems DOI: 10.1007/s10457-017-0124-3
• Jose S (2009) Agroforestry for ecosystem services and environmental benefits: an overview. Agroforestry Systems 76: 1-10. DOI: 10.1007/s10457-009-9229-7
• Olave R (2016) Agroforestry as a land use option to sequester carbon in a cool temperate climate. World Congress Silvo-pastoral Systems 2016. University of Évora, Portugal. 27-30 September 2016.
• Raiesi F & Riahi M (2014) The influence of grazing exclosure on soil C stocks and dynamics, and ecological indicators in upland arid and semi-arid rangelands. Ecological Indicators 41, 145–154.
• Scialabba N El-H (2015) Low-Input and Sustainable Livestock Systems. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Agroecology. UK Parliament. Westminster Palace, London, 25 February 2015.
• Solorio-Sánchez FJ, Solís-Pérez GdC, Burbi S, Fiebrig I & Ku-Vera JC (2016) Methane production by crossbred cows in silvopastoral systems from Michoacán, México. World Congress Silvo-pastoral Systems 2016. 27-30 September 2016. University of Évora, Portugal.
• Stockwell R & Bitan E (2012) Understanding opportunities and increasing implementation of climate friendly conservation. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 67(3), 67A–69A.
• Wu X, Li Z, Fu B, Zhou W, Liu H & Liu G (2014) Restoration of ecosystem carbon and nitrogen storage and microbial biomass after grazing exclusion in semi-arid grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Ecological Engineering 73, 395–403.