Achieving mitigation and adaptation to climate change through sustainable agroforestry practices in Africa

TLDR

Agroforestry is widespread across African agroecological zones and is increasingly valued for its capacity to provide food security, climate resilience, carbon sequestration, wood energy, soil fertility, and ecosystem services that support both local adaptation and global mitigation. This study reviews recent evidence that sustainable agroforestry practices simultaneously advance climate mitigation and adaptation goals while enhancing the livelihoods of poor smallholder farmers in Africa.

Abstract

Agroforestry is one of the most conspicuous land use systems across landscapes and agroecological zones in Africa. With food shortages and increased threats of climate change, interest in agroforestry is gathering for its potential to address various on-farm adaptation needs, and fulfill many roles in AFOLU-related mitigation pathways. Agroforestry provides assets and income from carbon, wood energy, improved soil fertility and enhancement of local climate conditions; it provides ecosystem services and reduces human impacts on natural forests. Most of these benefits have direct benefits for local adaptation while contributing to global efforts to control atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. This paper presents recent findings on how agroforestry as a sustainable practice helps to achieve both mitigation and adaptation objectives while remaining relevant to the livelihoods of the poor smallholder farmers in Africa.