scholarly journals Role of Indigenous Dryland Agroforestry System for Biodiversity Conservation and Carbon Storage in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashenafi Manaye ◽  
Berihu Tesfamariam ◽  
Musse Tesfaye ◽  
Adefires Werku ◽  
Yirga Gufi

Abstract Background : Agroforestry (AF) is an age-old practice in the farming system of Ethiopian dry lands. So far, several studies conducted in the field of AF focused on system design, soil fertility management and system interactions. Less emphasis has been given to the biodiversity and climate change mitigation aspects. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the woody species diversity, biomass carbon (C) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock of the dry land indigenous AF practices. A total of 197 smallholder farmers representing four AF practices were systematically selected from three agroecologies. Woody species inventory was done on the randomly established plot of each farm. Results : A total of 59 species, belonging to 48 genera and 32 families were recorded. Shannon diversity index (H’) of highland agroecology was higher in-home garden AF while in the midland and lowland the higher H’ was recorded in parkland AF. Smallholding ecosystem C stocks (sum of total biomass C and SOC 0 –60 cm) ranged from 77 to 135 Mg ha−1.The mean total biomass C stock of woodlot AF practice (31 Mg C ha-1) was significantly higher than the other three AF practices. SOC stocks (0–60 cm) were greater in boundary planting (113 Mg C ha-1) followed by the home garden (109 Mg C ha-1) and woodlot (97 Mg C ha-1) AF practices. Conclusions : The woody species diversity of highland agroecology was higher in-home garden AF while in the midland and lowland the higher species diversity was recorded in parkland AF. As compared to other AF systems, our study revealed that rotational woodlot and boundary planting AF practice accounts higher biomass and SOC stock, respectively. Finally, our work concluded that indigenous AF system is a win-win solution to address the biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation of the dryland ecosystem.

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Gebru Eyasu Siyum ◽  
Tuemay Tassew

Mitigation of climate change is one of the major environmental challenges facing the globe. In this context, homegarden agroforestry systems (HGAFs) have large potential for climate change mitigation. Therefore, this study was initiated to estimate the biomass and soil carbon stocks of HGAFs in relation to adjacent Natural Forest (NF). It also analyzed the relationship between woody species diversity, evenness and richness with biomass and soil carbon stocks. Three sites were purposely selected on the basis of the presence of HGAFs and NF adjacent to each other. Random sampling was used to select representative homegardens from the study population. In NF, a systematic sampling technique was employed. A total of 60 plots with a size of 10 m x 20 m were used to collect vegetation and soil data in both land uses. Soil samples were collected from each plot of the samples laid for vegetation sampling. Accordingly, 120 composite and 120 undisturbed soil samples from 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm soil depths were collected for soil organic carbon (SOC) and bulk density analysis respectively. Biomass estimation for each woody species was analyzed by using appropriate allometric equations. The result showed that the total amount of carbon stocks was 148.32±35.76 tons ha-1 and 157.27±51.61 tons ha-1 in HGAFs and adjacent NF respectively which did not vary significantly between the two studied land uses (P > 0.05). The finding also shows a positive but non-significant (P>0.05) relationship between carbon stocks and woody species diversity, richness, and evenness. Specifically, in NF lands, woody species diversity with SOC (r=0.36) and in HGAFs species richness with biomass carbon (r=0.39) was correlated positively and significantly (P=0.05). We concluded that HGAFs have the same potential as the NF for carbon stock accumulation and to counteract the loss of biomass.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Cámara-Leret ◽  
Andre Schuiteman ◽  
Timothy Utteridge ◽  
Gemma Bramley ◽  
Richard Deverell ◽  
...  

The Manokwari Declaration is an unprecedented pledge by the governors of Indonesia’s two New Guinea provinces to promote conservation and become SE Asia’s new Costa Rica. This is an exciting, yet challenging endeavour that will require working on many fronts that transcend single disciplines. Because Indonesian New Guinea has the largest expanse of intact forests in SE Asia, large-scale conservation pledges like the Manokwari Declaration will have a global impact on biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lazaro Elibariki Nnko

Worldwide agroforestry has been recognized as a potential greenhouse gases mitigation strategy under Kyoto protocol. And this is due to its potential in carbon sequestration. There are several agroforestry technologies with different rate in carbon sequestration. In that respect carbon sequestration can depend on type of technology, climate, time since land use change and previous land use. Our knowledge in this topic from the tropical countries such as Tanzania is how ever very limited. To address this challenge this study was undertaken in Kilombero District where the local community are practicing various agroforestry technologies. The objective of this study was to understand the carbon sequestration in different trees species in agroforestry technologies and also to understand which agroforestry technology provide the greatest benefit in term of carbon sequestration. Ecological survey was conducted and a total of 90 plot engaged in different agroforestry technologies were randomly selected from three villages of different altitudinal range. Pivot table was used in analysis and allometric equation was used for computing biomass and carbon. The result shows that Mangifera indica contributed highest carbon over all the tree species encountered during ecological survey with 189.88 Mg C ha−1. Home garden, Mixed intercropping, Parkland and Boundary with 19 514.19 MgCha−1, 648.44MgCha−1,144.79 MgCha−1 and 139.29 Mg C ha−1 respectively were the agroforestry technology practiced in Kilombero. From the results Home garden contributed more to carbon sequestration and this study results can be used to inform practitioners and policy makers on the most effective agroforestry technologies for carbon sequestration since agroforestry technologies are expected to play important role as climate change mitigation strategy.


Wetlands ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
D.D.T.L. Dayathilake ◽  
E. Lokupitiya ◽  
V.P.I.S. Wijeratne

AbstractWetlands hold significant potential for climate change mitigation due to their high capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Colombo, Sri Lanka was recently declared as one of the eighteen global Ramsar wetland cities. The current study represents the first attempt to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks held by the urban freshwater wetlands in Colombo. The study focused on the extensive urban wetland ecosystems of Kolonnawa wetland and Thalawathugoda wetland park. SOC stocks were determined using three parameters: depth of soil, bulk density, and SOC concentration. Loss on ignition method was used in quantifying SOC concentrations. Average SOC stocks, up to a depth of 60 cm at Kolonnawa wetland and Thalawathugoda wetland park were estimated at 504 ± 14 t C/ha and 550 ± 23 t C/ha, respectively. Furthermore, the total SOC stock at Kolonnawa wetland and Thalawathugoda wetland park were estimated at 198,408 ± 5564 t CO2eq and 66,313 ± 2764 t CO2eq, respectively. When considering global estimates, it was found that freshwater wetlands in Colombo hold a higher SOC stock than tropical wet forests and tropical dry forests. The current study highlights the importance of urban ecosystems in mitigating the ever increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 .


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashenafi Manaye ◽  
Berihu Tesfamariam ◽  
Musse Tesfaye ◽  
Adefires Werku ◽  
Yirga Gufi

Abstract Background Agroforestry (AF) is an age-old practice in the farming system of Ethiopian dry lands. So far, several studies conducted in the field of AF focused on system design, soil fertility management and system interactions. Less emphasis has been given to the biodiversity and climate change mitigation aspects. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the woody species diversity, biomass carbon (C) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock of the dry land indigenous AF practices. A total of 197 smallholder farmers representing four AF practices were systematically selected from lowland, midland and highland. Woody species inventory was done on the randomly established plot of each farm. Results A total of 59 species, belonging to 48 genera and 32 families were recorded. Shannon diversity index (H’) of highland agroecology was higher in-home garden AF while in the midland and lowland the higher H’ was recorded in parkland AF. Smallholding ecosystem C stocks (sum of total biomass C and SOC 0 –60 cm) ranged from 77 to 135 Mg ha −1 .The mean total biomass C stock of woodlot AF practice (31 Mg C ha -1 ) was significantly higher than the other three AF practices. SOC stocks (0–60 cm) were greater in boundary planting (113 Mg C ha -1 ) followed by the home garden (109 Mg C ha -1 ) and woodlot (97 Mg C ha -1 ) AF practices. Conclusions The higher species richness was recorded on the home garden and parkland small household agroforestry system as compared to woodlot agroforestry systems. Likewise, the higher Shannon diversity and evenness were found on the home garden agroforestry system.. As compared to other AF systems, our study revealed that rotational woodlot and boundary planting AF practice accounts higher biomass and SOC stock, respectively. We found that biodiversity is synergy with SOC stock but can be seen as an independent agro-ecosystem function that may not directly correlated to biomass and total agroforestry carbon storage. Finally, our work concluded that home garden and boundary agroforestry can strategically promote to maximize biodiversity and carbon storage of the dry land ecosystem.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document