Environmental Services of Agroforestry Systems

About this book

Deforestation and the rampant use of fossil fuels are major contributors to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and are enormous influences on global warming. Agroforestry systems and tree plantations can help mitigate the resulting climate change and degradation of biodiversity and accelerating climate change.

"Environmental Services of Agroforestry Systems" addresses these global concerns with an essential collection of presentations on biodiversity and climate change from the First World Congress in Agroforestry. Respected experts discuss the latest research and data on how agroforestry systems can help solve environmental problems through carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. Years ago, agroforestry's environmental benefits were mainly seen as being soil amelioration, erosion control, microclimate control, and the alleviation of the effects of drought in semiarid areas. "Environmental Services of Agroforestry Systems" goes beyond the regional considerations from years past to focus on the challenges of today's most pressing global environmental concerns. The contributors describe the latest research and concepts in agroforestry systems, reforestation efforts, soils, vegetation, and agriculture while reviewing their economic aspects. Incentives for reforestation and agroforestry are explored in detail. Each chapter is carefully referenced and includes tables to clarify ideas and data.

Contents

Preface (Florencia Montagnini) Soil Carbon Sequestration in Natural and Managed Tropical Forest Ecosystems (R. Lal) Carbon Sequestration in Pastures, Silvo-Pastoral Systems and Forests in Four Regions of the American Tropics (Mar a Cristina Am zquita, Muhammad Ibrahim, Tangaxuhan Llanderal, Peter Buurman, and Edgar Am zquita) Environmental Services of Native Tree Plantations and Agroforestry Systems in Central America (Florencia Montagnini, Daniela Cusack, Bryan Petit, and Markku Kanninen) Carbon Sequestration in Rural Communities: Is It Worth the Effort? (Jens B. Aune, Alene T. Alemu, and Kamala P. Gautam) Shade Coffee Agro-Ecosystems in Mexico: A Synopsis of the Environmental Services and Socio-Economic Considerations (Sarah Davidson) A Review of Trees and Shrubs in the Agroforestry Systems of Costa Rica (Alvaro Redondo Brenes) Index Reference Notes Included

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