Evaluation of Agroforestry Strategies in Climate Change Mitigation in Tropical Forest Areas
Keywords:
Agroforestry , Climate Change Mitigation , Carbon SequestrationAbstract
Purpose: This study investigates the role of agroforestry as a climate change mitigation strategy in tropical forest regions by integrating biophysical and socio-economic dimensions. The research seeks to quantify carbon sequestration potential, assess methodological consistency between field and remote sensing approaches, and evaluate livelihood co-benefits associated with agroforestry adoption..
Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted across three representative tropical landscapes, encompassing 150 permanent sample plots stratified by land-use type: multistrata agroforestry, shaded monocultures (cocoa/coffee), and conventional monocropping. Above- and below-ground biomass was measured using tree inventories and soil organic carbon sampling (0–100 cm depth, n = 450 samples). Remote sensing data (Landsat 8, Sentinel-2, and airborne LiDAR) were calibrated against field plots for landscape-scale carbon estimation. A household survey of 320 farmers was conducted, and econometric models—propensity score matching and difference-in-differences—were employed to assess livelihood impacts of agroforestry adoption. Bayesian hierarchical modeling and Monte Carlo simulations (10,000 iterations) were used to propagate uncertainties across scales.
Results: Multistrata agroforestry systems exhibited the highest carbon stocks, averaging 232.1 ± 16.1 Mg C ha⁻¹, compared with 173.2 ± 12.4 Mg C ha⁻¹ in shaded monocultures and 105.5 ± 9.3 Mg C ha⁻¹ in monocropping systems. At the landscape level, agroforestry expansion contributed a cumulative 2.1 Mt CO₂e sequestration over the decade (2013–2023). Remote sensing estimates demonstrated strong agreement with field data (R² = 0.82, mean bias = –0.3 Mg C ha⁻¹). Socio-economic analysis revealed that adopters of agroforestry practices earned USD 315 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ more than non-adopters while maintaining higher carbon stocks.
Conclusions: Agroforestry systems provide a scientifically robust and socially inclusive pathway for climate change mitigation in tropical forest areas. Their capacity to combine substantial carbon sequestration with livelihood enhancement underscores their value as a dual-benefit strategy. Findings highlight the need for supportive policies on land tenure, extension services, and carbon financing to enable agroforestry’s integration into national climate action plans and international carbon markets.
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