The challenge of HIV/AIDS: Where does agroforestry fit in? - World ...

Chapter 13: Opportunities for linking climate change adaptation and mitigation119Table 5.Value of Sahelian Eco-Farm (SEF) products from SEF–ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics)Sadoré station during 2002.Species Quantity per unit area Yield per unitUnit value(US$)Total revenue(US$ ha –1 )Acacia colei 320 trees ha –1 2 kg seeds tree 0.14 kg –1 90Zizyphus mauritiana 63 trees ha –1 30 kg fresh fruit tree –1 0.12 kg –1 225Andropogon gayanus 567 metres ha –1 1 bundle 10m 0.8 bundle –1 45Millet 1/3 ha 1500 kg ha –1 0.1 kg –1 50Cowpea 1/3 ha 1260 kg ha –1 0.2 kg –1 84Roselle 1/3 ha 400 kg ha –1 0.8 kg –1 106Total 1 ha 600Source: Pasternak et al. (2005).by their heavy reliance on natural factorsand a lack of complementary inputs andinstitutional support systems.The concepts of resilience and sustainableproductivity are well established inagriculture and can be linked directly tothe discussions about adaptation to andmitigation of climate change. Thus, policymakers can draw upon a substantial bodyof knowledge in this respect. However,the adaptation and mitigation synergies ofagroforestry management systems warrantfurther investigation.Within international fora, there is muchtalk about bringing adaptation into themainstream of planning processes. Wehave shown above, through the specificcase of agroforestry, that some mitigationmeasures simultaneously provide opportunitiesto increase the resilience of agriculturalsystems. It is suggested that such synergiesought to be promoted more intensivelythrough the channels of the UNFC-CC such as the CDM. However, if agroforestryis to be used in carbon sequestrationschemes including the CDM, several areasneed to improve, for example, we needbetter methods of assessing carbon stocksand non-CO 2emissions. Furthermore, thedebate on durable wood products is ongoing,but what is known is that farmers willneed provisions to allow them to marketwood products from their agroforestrysystems, and we should develop methodsto account for the lifetime of the carbonsequestered in agroforestry products. Assmall-scale farmers are enrolled in carbonoffsetprojects, we will need to develop abetter understanding of the implications ofthese for carbon sequestration by agroforestryand what it means to livelihoods. Finally,the CDM has very stringent rules forparticipation that may be beyond the reachof small-scale farmers to understand or toprovide evidence of compliance. There is aneed for institutional support by national,regional and international centres of excellenceto facilitate effective participation ofsmall-scale farmers in the CDM.In their attempts to develop adaptationstrategies for the agricultural sector, scientistsand policy makers must consider thecomplex interactions of constraints createdby changing climates in the light of otherstress factors. Government and internationalsupport in terms of research, education,and extension will be required to helpfarmers in developing countries cope withthe additional stresses created by climatechange and increased climate variability.Agroforestry can very likely contribute toincreasing the resilience of tropical farmingsystems. However, our understanding ofthe potential of agroforestry to contribute toadaptation to climate change is rudimentaryat best. Better information is requiredon the role of agroforestry in bufferingagainst floods and droughts from both thebiophysical (e.g. hydraulic lift or soil fertility)and financial (e.g. diversification andincome risk) points of view.Agroforestry promises to create synergiesbetween efforts to mitigate climate changeand efforts to help vulnerable populationsadapt to the negative consequences ofclimate change. The research agenda in thisarea is fairly well defined; much is alreadyknown and putting these ideas into practiceon the ground with small-scale farmers willallow us to learn important lessons.