Agroforestry as a Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy towards Climate Change

Special Issue: Agroforestry as a Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy towards Climate Change

An introduction to the Special Issue by- Ms. Priscilla Ntuchu Kephe, PhD Candidate, Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre, University of Limpopo, South Africa

"Given the projected shortages of food and increase in hazards across various ecosystems due to the impacts of climate change, a wide range of solutions should be considered for mitigation and adaption purposes. Agroforestry (AF) can provide a set of innovative practices that can enhance productivity and simultaneously contributes to climate change mitigation. AF offers ecological and economic advantages, creates agro-biodiversity which enhances ecosystem services; diversify systems and buffers farmers against total crop failure especially where fruits and nuts are incorporated as cash crops. Through processes such as carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and resource use efficiency, a system’s ability to cope with the adverse impacts of changing climate conditions can be strengthened. AF can be a valuable asset to provide local mitigation and adaptation options to climate change resilience and food security issues. Aspects of how AF improves soil fertility and enhances local climate conditions; provides ecosystem services; and reduces human impacts on natural forests whilst contributing to global efforts to control atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, can be harnessed as a sustainable practice to achieve both national mitigation and adaptation agenda".