Role of Agroforestry in Biodiversity Conservation and Response to Climate Change
Authors/Creators
- 1. Researcher, Department of Forest and Range Land Plants Biodiversity, Ethiopian Biodiversity, Harar Biodiversity Centre, Harar, Ethiopia.
Description
Abstract: Agriculture is the primary driving force leading to biodiversity loss and environmental change. However, Agroforestry combines land use practices and is one of the proposed systems to merge biodiversity conservation, food production, and the delivery of ecosystem services. Therefore, agroforestry practices have received huge attention globally by delivering ecosystem services like biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration. Understanding the role of agroforestry in carbon storage and biodiversity conservation is crucial for achieving an optimum balance and identifying existing gaps, such as which system performs better in different situations. The objective of this review is to synthesise various articles on the role of agroforestry in biodiversity conservation and climate response. To achieve this, multiple articles related to biodiversity conservation and climate response in agroforestry practices in Ethiopia were systematically searched in Google Scholar and synthesised. Consequently, based on this review, maintaining agroforestry is also vital for conserving faunal diversity in addition to flora. This area serves as a refuge for threatened, endemic, and native plant species retained from deforestation. Again, agroforestry is noted as having full potential in adapting to and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Therefore, further research should consider the sustainability of biodiversity conservation in agroforestry by facilitating agroforestry-based carbon payments, maximising the diversification of various agroforestry components, and developing a management strategy.
Files
B106105021025.pdf
Files
(815.6 kB)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:1f6554a14735862466186e92d9bdeed7
|
815.6 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.54105/ijab.B1061.05021025
- EISSN
- 2582-9475
Dates
- Accepted
-
2025-10-15Manuscript received on 09 September 2025 | Revised Manuscript received on 20 September 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 October 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 October 2025.
References
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2021). Becoming #Generation Restoration: Ecosystem restoration for people, nature, and climate. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/becominggenerationrestoration-ecosystem-restoration-people-nature-and-climate
- Sinha, E., Calvin, K. V., Kyle, P. G., Hejazi, M. I., Waldhoff, S. T., Huang, M., ... & Zhang, X. (2022). Implications of imposing fertilizer limitations on energy, agriculture, and land systems. Journal of Environmental Management, 305, pp.114391. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114391
- Taylor, C. A., & Rising, J. (2021). Tipping point dynamics in global land use. Environmental Research Letters, 16(12), pp.125012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac3c6d
- Msofe, N. K., Sheng, L., Li, Z., & Lyimo, J. (2020). Impact of land use/cover change on ecosystem service values in the Kilombero Valley Floodplain, Southeastern Tanzania. Forests, 11(1), 109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f11010109
- Semere, M., Cherinet, A., Gebreyesus, M., 2022. Climateresilient traditional agroforestry systems in Silite district, Southern Ethiopia. J. For. Sci. 68 (4), 136–144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17221/151/2021-JFS
- Mellisse, B. T., Descheemaeker, K., Giller, K. E., Abebe, T., & van de Ven, G. W. (2018). Are traditional home gardens in southern Ethiopia heading for extinction? Implications for productivity, plant species richness, and food security. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 252, 1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.09.026
- A. Quandt, H. Neufeldt, K. Gorman. (2023). Climate change adaptation through agroforestry: opportunities and gaps, Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain. 60 (2023) 101244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2022.101244
- Raj, A., Jhariya, M. K., Yadav, D. K., Banerjee, A., & Meena, R. S. (2019). Agroforestry: a holistic approach for agricultural sustainability. In Sustainable agriculture, forest and environmental management (pp. 101-131). Singapore: Springer Singapore. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-13-6830-1_4
- Bogale D.(2025). Agroforestry systems in Ethiopia: A systematic review of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable land management potential [version 1; peer review: 2 not approved] F1000Research 2025, 14:286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.160723
- Tesema, H. A., Shiferaw, H. A. I. L. I. E., & Getachew, G. O. R. E. M. S. U. (2025). Agroforestry in Ethiopia: review of its role in enhancing smallholder agriculture, environmental sustainability, and adoption challenges. J Landsc Ecol, 18(2), 82-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jlecol-2025-0014
- Rosenstock, T. S., Dawson, I. K., Aynekulu, E., Chomba, S., Degrande, A., Fornace, K., & Steward, P. (2019). A planetary health perspective on agroforestry in Sub-Saharan Africa. One Earth, 1(3), pp.330-344. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2019.10.017
- Enkossa, T., Nemomissa, S., & Lemessa, D. (2023). Woody species diversity and the carbon stock potentials of different land use types in the agroecosystem of Jimma Ganati District, Western Ethiopia. Environmental Challenges, 13, 100761. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100761
- Maryo, M., Wolde, A., & Negash, M. (2023). Woody species diversity and carbon stock potentials in homegarden agroforestry and other land use systems, northern Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(9). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19243
- Gutema, Y., Bekele, D., & Wondiferaw, W. T. (2023). Woody species diversity across agricultural land use in Dale Wabara District, West Oromia region, Ethiopia. Journal of Forestry and Natural Resources, 2(1), 27-44. https://journals.hu.edu.et/hujournals/index.php/jfnr
- Manaye A, Tesfamariam B, Tesfaye M, Worku A, Gufi Y. (2021). "Tree Diversity and Carbon Stocks in Agroforestry Systems in Northern Ethiopia." Carbon Balance and Management, 16(1): pp.1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-021-00174-7
- Gemeda Terfassa. (2021). The Role of Homegarden Agroforestry in Biodiversity Conservation at Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, Chora District, South-western Ethiopia. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Vol. 6, No.3, pp.78-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20210603.12
- Gebru, G. W., Ichoku, H. E., & Phil-Eze, P. O. (2020). Determinants of smallholder farmers' adoption of adaptation strategies to climate change in Eastern Tigray National Regional State of Ethiopia. Heliyon,6(7). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04356
- Tesfay, F., Moges, Y., & Asfaw, Z. (2022). Woody species composition, structure, and carbon stock of coffee‐based agroforestry system along an elevation gradient in the moist mid‐highlands of Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research, 2022(1), pp.4729336. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4729336
- Legesse, Abayneh, and Mesele Negash. (2021)."Species diversity, composition, structure, and management in agroforestry systems: the case of Kachabira district, Southern Ethiopia." Heliyon,7, no. 3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06477
- Habte, W., Debissa, L., Dereje, B., 2021. A comparative analysis of indigenous and exotic tree species management practices in agricultural landscapes of southwest Ethiopia. Tree Forest People 4, 100059. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100059
- Worku, M., & Bantihun, A. (2017). Review of woody species and socioeconomic roles of traditional agroforestry practices in Ethiopia. J.Energy, 7(6). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2090-4541.1000246
- Tesfay, H.M.; Oettel, J.; Lapin, K.; Negash, M. (2024). Plant Diversity and Conservation Role of Three Indigenous Agroforestry Systems of Southeastern Rift-Valley Landscapes, Ethiopia. Diversity. 16, 64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010064
- Dereje, Y., & Mammo, S. (2024). Woody species composition and diversity of homegarden agroforestry systems and their Contributions to Rural Livelihood in Dendi District, Central Ethiopia.Improvements in Dendi District, Central Ethiopia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4771888/v1
- Mulatu kassahun and Debela Hunde. (2019). Agroforestry: A Supplementary Tool for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, Vol 9, No.19. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/270187283.pdf
- Ndolo, M. C, Dharani, N., and Kehlenbeck, K. (2016). Socioeconomic and Biophysical Factors Affecting Tree Richness and Diversity in Machakos County, Eastern Kenya. International Journal of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences, 6 (3). Xx. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Socioeconomic-andBiophysical-Factors-Affecting-and-NdoloDharani/23f8713674d0b39cfdfaf51862081bc00a5d653e
- Perry, J., Lojka, B., Quinones Ruiz, L. G., Van Damme, P., Houška, J., and Cusimamani, E. F. (2016). How natural Forest Conversion Affects Insect Biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon: Can Agroforestry Help? Forests, 7: 82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f7040082
- Endale, Y., Derero, A., Argaw, M., & Muthuri, C. (2017). Farmland tree species diversity and spatial distribution pattern in semi-arid East Shewa, Ethiopia. Forests, trees and Livelihoods, 26(3), pp.199-214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2016.1266971
- Leakey, R.R.B., 2017. Multifunctional Agriculture: Achieving Sustainable Development in Africa. Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA, p. 480. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2017.1376000
- IPCC (2019b). Technical Summary. In Climate Change and Land: an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems. ecosystem. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/07/sr2_background_repor t_final.pdf
- Mekuanent, T., Zebene, A., Adefires, W.(2024). Role of agroforestry systems in addressing climate change and the livelihood vulnerability of farmers in Northwestern Ethiopia. Heliyon 10 (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36196
- Tebkew, M., Asfaw, Z., & Worku, A. (2024). The role of agroforestry systems in addressing climate change and the livelihood vulnerability of farmers in Northwestern Ethiopia is significant. Heliyon, 10(17). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36196
- Asfaw, S., N. McCarthy, L. Lipper, A. Arslan, and A. Cattaneo. (2020b). "Climate-smart Agriculture: a Review of Recent Developments and Practices." Food Security 12, no. 3: 597–617.
- Latamo, L., Wondmagegn, B., 2020. Farmers' local knowledge on Niche selection, management strategies, and uses of Cordia africana tree in agroforestry practices of Sidama zone, southern Ethiopia. Am. J. Agric. For 8, 258–264. DOI: http://doi.org/10.11648.j.ajaf.20200806.14
- Papa, C., Nzokou, P., & Mbow, C. (2020). Farmer livelihood strategies and attitudes in response to climate change in agroforestry systems in Kedougou, Senegal. Environmental Management, 66(2), 218-231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01302-8
- Adane, F., Legesse, A., Weldeamanuel, T., Belay, T., 2019. The contribution of A fruit tree-based agroforestry system for household income to smallholder farmers in Dale district, Sidama zone, southern Ethiopia. Adv. Plant Agricul. Res. 9, 78–84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15406/apar.2019.09.00415
- Masebo, N., & Menamo, M. (2016). A review paper on: The role of agroforestry for rehabilitation of degraded soil. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 6(5), 128-135. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234661932.pdf
- Ahmed, F., H. Desta, and M. Bekele. 2021. "Food Security Outcomes of Agroforestry Practices in Ethiopia." Journal of Agricultural Research 18, no. 4: 311–327.
- Zomer, R. J., D. A. Bossio, A. Trabucco, L. Yuanjie, D. C. Gupta, and V. P. Singh. 2016a. Trees on Farms: An Update and Reanalysis of Agroforestry's Global Extent and Socio-Ecological Impacts. World Agroforestry Centre. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.11.010.
- Gebrehiwot, M., Elbakidze, M., Lidestav, G., Sandewall, M., Angelstam, P., & Kassa, H. (2016). From self-subsistence farm production to khat: driving forces of change in Ethiopian agroforestry homegardens. Environmental Conservation, 43(3), 263-272. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892916000035
- Molla, A., & Kewessa, G. (2019). Carbon Stock of Indigenous Agroforestry Practices in Dellomenna District, Southeast Ethiopia: Implications for Climate Change Mitigation. Carbon, 9(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7176/JEES/9-5-03
- Tessema, T., Kibebew, K. (2019). Carbon stock under major land use/land cover types of Hadessub‑watershed, eastern Ethiopia. Carbon Balance and Management. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-019- 0122-z
- Tsedeke, R. E., Dawud, S. M., & Tafere, S. M. (2021). Assessment of Carbon Stock Potential in Parkland Agroforestry Practice: The Case of Minjar Shenkora, North Shewa, Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research, 10, pp.1-11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40068-020-00211-3
- Gebrewahid, Yikunoamlak, and Esayas Meressa. (2020). "Tree species diversity and its relationship with carbon stock in the parkland agroforestry of Northern Ethiopia." Cogent Biology 6, no. 1, pp.1728945. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23312025.2020.1728945
- assa, H., Dondeyne, S., Poesen, J., Frankl, A.& Nyssen, J. (2017). Impact of deforestation on soil fertility, soil carbon, and nitrogen stocks: the case of the Gacheb catchment in the White Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 247, pp.273–282. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5555/20173283534
- Abebaw, S. E., Yeshiwas, E. M., & Feleke, T. G. (2025). A Systematic Review on the Role of Agroforestry Practices in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Climate Resilience and Sustainability, 4(2), e70018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cli2.70018
- Denu, Dereje, Philip J. Platts, Ensermu Kelbessa, Tadesse W. Gole, and Rob Marchant. (2016). "The role of traditional coffee management in forest conservation and carbon storage in the Jimma Highlands, Ethiopia." Forests, trees and Livelihoods, 25, no. 4, pp.226-238. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2016.1192004
- Mesele Negash and Mike Starr. (2015). "Biomass and Soil Carbon Stocks of Indigenous Agroforestry Systems on the South-Eastern Rift Valley Escarpment, Ethiopia." Plant and soil, 393, 95-107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2469-6pp.
- Sahle, Mesfin, Osamu Saito, and Sebsebe Demissew. (2021)."Exploring the Multiple Contributions of Enset (Ensete Ventricosum) for Sustainable Management of Home Garden Agroforestry System in Ethiopia." Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100101
- Betemariyam, Mulugeta, Mesele Negash, and Adefires Worku. (2020)."Comparative Analysis of Carbon Stocks in Home Garden and Adjacent Coffee-Based Agroforestry Systems in Ethiopia." Small-scale Forestry, 19(3): pp.319–34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-020-09439-4.
- Yohannes, T. (2016). Plant diversity and carbon stock analysis along environmental gradients: the case of Gergeda and Anbessa Forests in western Ethiopia. PhD thesis, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
- Negawo, J.W.& Beyene, D.N. (2016). The Role of Coffee-Based Agroforestry Systems in Tree Diversity Conservation in Eastern Uganda. Uganda. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515_jlecol-2017-0001
- Molla, A. & Kewessa, G. (2015). Woody Species Diversity in Traditional Agroforestry Practices of Dellomenna District, Southeastern Ethiopia: Implications for Maintaining Native Woody Species. Hindawi Publishing Corporation: International Journal of Biodiversity, pp.1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/643031
- Bajigo, A., Tadesse, M., Moges, Y. & Anjulo, A.(2015). Estimation of Carbon Stored in Agroforestry Practices in Gununo Watershed, Wolayitta Zone, Ethiopia. J Ecosys Ecograph, 5, pp.157. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7625.1000157