Role of Agroforestry in Land Management and Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration in agroforestry is an effective and sustainable approach to climate change mitigation. Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through the integration of trees in agricultural systems. In the era of climate change, trees play a vital role in bolstering the resilience of agriculture by providing crucial benefits such as carbon sequestration, livelihood improvement, and enhanced food security. This review explores the multifaceted roles of agroforestry in providing essential ecosystem services and contributing significantly to carbon sequestration.(Rawale G.B. 2024). Agroforestry combines the cultivation of trees with crops and/or livestock, creating a multifunctional land-use system that provides numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. The trees in agroforestry systems act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 through photosynthesis and storing it in their biomass and in the soil. Overall, Agroforestry has a significant impact on the SOC and proportion of labile and non-labile pools in the soil, which governs soil quality and vulnerability to rapid mineralization, and is thus a key determinant of soil carbon sequestration. In comparison to other ecosystems such as cultivated lands, grasslands, and fallows, agroforestry systems contribute a significant amount of labile carbon fractions (Melkani et al. 2023). Currently, agroforestry covers 8.65% of India's total geographical area, totalling about 28.42 million hectares. Current report underscores the potential benefits of converting underutilized areas, especially wastelands, for agroforestry. The GROW initiative aligns with national commitments, aiming to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (NITI Aayog Feb 2024).