Agroforestry: An Appropriate and Sustainable Response to a Changing Climate in Southern Africa?

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ID: 114633
2020
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Abstract
Agroforestry is often discussed as a strategy that can be used both for the adaptation to and the mitigation of climate change effects. The climate of southern Africa is predicted to be severely affected by such changes. With agriculture noted as the continent’s largest economic sector, issues such as food security and land degradation are in the forefront. In the light of such concerns we review the current literature to investigate if agroforestry systems (AFS) are a suitable response to the challenges besetting traditional agricultural caused by a changing climate. The benefits bestowed by AFS are multiple, offering ecosystem services, influence over crop production and positive impacts on rural livelihoods through provisioning and income generation. Nevertheless, knowledge gaps remain. We identify outstanding questions requiring further investigation such as the interplay between trees and crops and their combination, with a discussion of potential benefits. Furthermore, we identify deficiencies in the institutional and policy frameworks that underlie the adoption and stimulus of AFS in the southern African region. We uphold the concept that AFS remains an appropriate and sustainable response for an increased resilience against a changing climate in southern Africa for the benefit of livelihoods and multiple environmental values.
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Authors Jonathan P. Sheppard;Rafael Bohn Reckziegel;Lars Borrass;Paxie W. Chirwa;Claudio J. Cuaranhua;Sibylle K Hassler;Svenja Hoffmeister;Florian Kestel;Rebekka Maier;Mirko Mälicke;Christopher Morhart;Nicholas P. Ndlovu;Maik Veste;Roger Funk;Friederike Lang;Thomas Seifert;Ben du Toit;Hans-Peter Kahle;Sheppard, Jonathan P.;Bohn Reckziegel, Rafael;Borrass, Lars;Chirwa, Paxie W.;Cuaranhua, Claudio J.;Hassler, Sibylle K;Hoffmeister, Svenja;Kestel, Florian;Maier, Rebekka;Mälicke, Mirko;Morhart, Christopher;Ndlovu, Nicholas P.;Veste, Maik;Funk, Roger;Lang, Friederike;Seifert, Thomas;du Toit, Ben;Kahle, Hans-Peter;
Journal sustainability
Year 2020
DOI 10.3390/su12176796
URL
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/6796
Keywords
food security environmental benefits trees carbon social development conservation agriculture climate-smart agriculture sustainable land use southern african development community (sadc)

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