Flood control and air cleaning regulatory ecosystem services of agroforestry

Abstract

Agroforestry (AF) mimics natural forestry where perennial multispecies vegetation and/or livestock is intentionally integrated with agriculture and urban areas and thereby microclimate, landscape, soil properties, and ecosystem services are modified. The integration of AF improves flood control; wider riparian buffers protected levees and farmlands from flooding and sand deposition. Water storage and use by trees, and soil modification processes contribute to reduction of floods. The green vegetation improves air quality by removing particulate matter, gases, vapor, volatile organic chemicals, minerals, spores, and odor from the atmosphere. Air cleaning varies by vegetation characteristics, season, pollution type, concentration, location, and meteorological parameters. Selecting proper species, integrating more species, establishing effective designs, and maintaining green vegetation effectively control floods and clean air.