The role of agroforestry in carbon sequestration and climate adaptation: A review

Abstract

Agroforestry is a holistic land-use approach that combines trees, crops, and livestock to improve ecosystem services, biodiversity, and productivity and ensure economic and environmental resilience. This review examines the major contribution of agroforestry in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration and promoting climate adaptation. Through sequestering atmospheric carbon in biomass and soil, agroforestry systems are a cost-effective method to mitigate greenhouse gases and enhance ecological stability. In addition, these systems play a role in climate adaptation through improved soil health, water retention, erosion reduction, and biodiversity promotion, thereby contributing to agricultural sustainability. The review critically assesses different agroforestry practices, their efficiency in carbon sequestration, and their role in climate adaptation. Also, it elaborates on the primary challenges including land tenure security, policy constraints, and socio-economic limitations and then suggests possible solutions and policy measures to enhance broad-based agroforestry uptake and adoption.