The agroforestry-biodiversity-climate change nexus

Abstract

Amongst human activity, industrial agriculture is a primary cause of biodiversity loss and climate change, reducing the land’s suitability for agriculture. This reduces global food security, increasing the pressure for food production which further exacerbates forest and land degradation. Agroforestry emerges as a promising solution by leveraging nature-based approaches to mimic natural ecosystems, combining trees with annual crops, to tackle both biodiversity loss and climate change. The adoption of tropical agroforests, shade-tolerant crops, scattered trees in parklands and homestead agroforestry, are all examples of how agroforestry has helped promote diverse and resilient landscapes capable of adapting to changing climatic conditions, while still providing essential ecosystem services. The positive influence of agroforestry on ecological processes is further supported by scientific evidence which shows that agroforestry enhances soil health, serves as a carbon sink and promotes resilience against climate hazards. The adoption of agroforestry may be hindered, however, by knowledge gaps, policy recognition and variations in effectiveness across different contexts. These can and should be overcome, because agroforestry is recognised by international organisations as a key strategy in sustainable land management and climate change mitigation, and as a vital tool for addressing food security on a global scale.