ICIMOD Working Paper 2016/11 Potential Synergies for Agroforestry and REDD+ in the Hindu Kush Himalaya 1 About ICIMOD The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, ICIMOD, is a regional knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan – and based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Globalisation and climate change have an increasing influence on the stability of fragile mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain people. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand these changes, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities, while addressing upstream-downstream issues. We support regional transboundary programmes through partnership with regional partner institutions, facilitate the exchange of experience, and serve as a regional knowledge hub. We strengthen networking among regional and global centres of excellence. Overall, we are working to develop an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain populations and to sustain vital ecosystem services for the billions of people living downstream – now, and for the future. ICIMOD gratefully acknowledges the support of its core donors: the Governments of Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Corresponding author: Nabin Bhattarai, [email protected] 2 ICIMOD Working Paper 2016/11 Potential Synergies for Agroforestry and REDD+ in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Authors Nabin Bhattarai1 Laxman Joshi2 Bhaskar Karky1 Kai Windhorst3 Wu Ning1 1 International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) 2 Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) 3 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal, November 2016 i Copyright © 2016 International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) All rights reserved, published 2016 Published by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal ISBN 978 92 9115 436 4 (printed) 978 92 9115 437 1 (electronic) Production Team Shradha Ghale (Consultant editor) Christopher Butler (Editor) Dharma R Maharjan (Layout and design) Asha Kaji Thaku (Editorial assistant) Photos: Nabin Bhattarai - cover, pp 1, 2, 9, 13, 17, 20 (T), 21, Laxman Joshi - pp 3, 19, 20 (B) and Samir Jung Thapa, pp 22, 23 Printed and bound in Nepal by Hill Side Press (P) Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal Reproduction This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. ICIMOD would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from ICIMOD. The views and interpretations in this publication are those of the author(s). They are not attributable to ICIMOD and do not imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or the endorsement of any product. Note This publication is available in electronic form at www.icimod.org/himaldoc Citation: Bhattarai, N., Joshi, L., Karky, B.S., Windhorst, K., Ning, W. (2016) Potential synergies for agroforestry and REDD+ in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. ICIMOD Working Paper 2016/11. Kathmandu: ICIMOD ii Contents Foreword iv Executive Summary v Acronyms and Abbreviations vi Introduction 1 Climate Change, REDD+ and Agroforestry 2 REDD and agroforestry nexus 2 Trees outside forest 2 Concept of Agroforestry 4 Trees in agroforestry 4 Desirable characteristics of trees 5 Benefits of agroforestry 5 Limitations of agroforestry 7 Classification of agroforestry systems 7 Potential Agroforestry Systems 10 Improved fallows 10 Alley cropping 11 Scattered trees on cropland 12 Live fences 14 Windbreaks 16 Trees along boundaries 18 Contour vegetative strips 18 Trees and shrubs on terraces 21 Shifting cultivation 22 Tea, cardamom, coffee and medicinal plants under trees 23 Agroforestry and REDD+ 24 Conclusion 26 References 27 iii Foreword In the past, agroforestry received attention for restoring denuded hillsides in an effort to reduce erosion and soil nutrient depletion. But today it enjoys renewed attention for its climate change mitigation potential. For centuries agroforestry has been artfully practiced throughout the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), and now the underlying principles of these time-tested practices, as well as the scope for applying scientific principles to improve them, are being explored vigorously. It has now become obvious that the science of agroforestry does, or should, involve a harmonious blending of both biophysical and social sciences. Land management practices that integrate trees and shrubs with agriculture can provide benefits to the farm and the surrounding landscape. The HKH is a mosaic of different land uses from rangelands to agricultural land, from shifting cultivation areas to pasture land and forested areas governed under many different regimes. We hope the ideas and practices put forth in this paper will inspire and assist in decision-making related to managing land resources that involve trees, shrubs and agriculture products in a sustainable manner. This paper presents a review of secondary literature related to agroforestry in the HKH. Chapter 1 provide an introduction to agroforestry. Chapter 2 focuses on the nexus between climate change, REDD+ and agroforestry. Chapter 3-5 examine the various design features and management practices of successful agroforestry approaches, include the carbon sequestration potential for each approach. Chapter 6 highlights existing knowledge gaps between REDD+ and agroforestry, offering helpful suggestions for future planning. In the context of REDD+, the authors conclude that agroforestry has the potential to reduce deforestation and degradation by supplying timber and fuel wood from farmlands. Agroforestry is now seen as an intervention strategy for implementing REDD+ concepts which will ultimately help meet the commitments made under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) plans as well. On behalf of ICIMOD, I would like to thank all the professionals and individuals who contributed to this study. David J Molden, PhD Director General ICIMOD iv Executive Summary Traditional subsistence practices in agroforestry have given way to improved commercial practices in recent years. Interest and action in agroforestry education, research and training has grown substantially. Growing trees in agricultural land not only improves the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, it also has the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation. It is increasingly recognized that agroforestry (i.e., growing trees in agricultural land) significantly contributes to climate change adaptation and mitigation.’ There is growing interest in the assessment of carbon stocks and sequestration in agroforestry systems. Agroforestry practices address food, nutritional and economic needs of households and help mitigate environmental degradation. Agroforestry can provide supportive and complementary benefits across a range of geographical, environmental and economic contexts. All types of forests in the HKH region provide various co-benefits in addition to carbon sequestration. Likewise, agroforestry provides multiple economic and environmental benefits. It also involves challenges requiring skillful management of land. Agriculture in the HKH region, as in many parts of the world, involves integration of crop production and livestock rearing. In the hills across the Himalayan region, farmers grow and selectively protect useful native trees and bamboo species on their farmland and nearby forests to maintain farm productivity and to meet their subsistence needs. Tree species grown on farmland have been an integral component of local economies because they generate animal feed and food for human consumption as well as cash income for farmers with market access. A typical agroforestry system allows synergistic interaction between woody and non-woody components to increase productivity and diversify total land output while conserving the environment. Four major types of agroforestry systems have been identified based on their composition: agri-silivi-cultural system, silvi-pastoral system, agri-silvi-pastoral system, and multipurpose tree plantation system. Common agroforestry systems include improved fallows, alley cropping, scattered trees on cropland, live fences, wind breaks, trees along boundaries, contour vegetation strips, trees and shrubs on terraces, shifting cultivation, and cultivation of tea, cardamom, coffee and medicinal plants under trees. All these agroforestry systems store substantial amounts of carbon in above ground biomass and in soil. However, available literature contains little information on their carbon sequestration and storage potential. In the context of REDD+, agroforestry systems have the potential to reduce deforestation and forest degradation directly and indirectly. They supply timber and fuel wood that would otherwise be sourced from adjacent forests. In fact, agroforestry has been used in several protected area landscape buffer zones and in conservation programmes as a way of reducing pressure on forests. However, enabling market infrastructure, policies on tree rights and ownership and safeguards would be necessary for agroforestry to effectively contribute to the goals of REDD+. v Acronyms and Abbreviations C Carbon CBS Central Bureau of Statistics CO Carbon Dioxide 2 Eq Equivalent ESD Energy for Sustainable Development FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ha Hectare ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development ICRAF International Centre for Research in Agroforestry IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change kg Kilograms LiDAR Light Detection and Ranging LULC Land Use and Land Cover LULUCF Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry t Tonnes NAMAs Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions NTFPs Non Timber Forest Products ToF Tree outside forest REDD+ Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Spp Species WECS Water and Energy Commission Secretariat vi Introduction Agroforestry, which involves integrating woody perennials in a farming system, has been a longstanding practice in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region (Gilmour and Nurse, 1991). Trees are integral to hill farming and have tangible impact on rural farming systems. A great diversity of tree species, often exceeding 100 species, exists in upland farms; they are scattered in and around homesteads. These trees contribute substantially to carbon stocks in the system and carbon sequestration. It is important to understand agroforestry systems and their role in carbon sequestration to formulate future strategies for national-level carbon trading and natural resource management. The major agroforestry practices in the hills of the eastern Himalayas include home gardens, agri-silviculture system (planting trees along terrace bunds, borders and slopes), silvi-pastoral system (livestock grazing in grasslands), agri-silvi-pastoral system (typical hill farming method, in which crops are grown on flat terraces, trees on terrace bunds and borders, and grasses on terrace slopes; and livestock are allowed to graze during fallow season), and alley cropping, agri-silviculture system, silvi-pastoral system, horti-silvi-culture system and aqua-silviculture. Shifting cultivation (also called slash and burn agriculture), though in decline, is still practised in many upland areas in the region. Poplar with sugarcane 1 Climate Change, REDD+ and Agroforestry REDD and agroforestry nexus Anthropogenic causes of climate change are now widely acknowledged and efforts are underway to reduce carbon emissions from different sectors. The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that the forestry sector, mainly through deforestation, contributes about 17% of global greenhouse emissions. This is the second largest source after the energy sector. In many developing countries, deforestation, forest degradation, forest fires and slash and burn practices are the primary causes of carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is a policy instrument that attempts to create financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. Compared to original REDD, REDD+ goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation (Joshi et al., 2010). REDD+ includes five sets of activities that encourage developing countries to contribute to mitigation actions in the forest sector depending on context and national circumstances. ƒ Reducing emissions from deforestation ƒ Reducing emissions from forest degradation ƒ Conservation of forest carbon stocks ƒ Sustainable management of forests ƒ Enhancement of forest carbon stocks The first two activities reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and they are the two activities listed in the original submission on REDD in 2005 by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (van der Werf et al., 2009). The three remaining activities constitute the “+” in REDD+. REDD’s definition of forest is based on FAO’s definition: “a minimum threshold for the height of trees (5 m), at least 10 per cent crown cover (canopy density determined by estimating the area of ground shaded by the crown of the trees) and a minimum forest area size (0.5 hectares).” Urban parks, orchards and other agricultural tree crops are excluded from this definition. Though agroforestry systems consist of trees, often in large numbers, they are not included in the definition of forest. Trees outside forest Trees and woody biomass, wherever they may be, play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Forest biomass accounts for over 45% of terrestrial carbon stocks, with approximately 70% and 30% contained within the above and below ground biomass respectively (Cairns et al., 1997; Mokany et al., 2006). Not all trees exist inside of forests. Trees feature prominently in agricultural landscapes globally. Almost half of all agricultural land maintains at least 10% tree cover (Zomer et al., 2014). Despite widespread distribution, “trees outside forests” are an often neglected carbon pool and little information is available on carbon stocks in these systems or their carbon sequestration potential (De Foresta et al., 2013; Hairiah et al., 2011). Growing trees in agricultural land helps to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers livelihoods and to modify micro-climate (van Noordwijk et al., 2014). In addition, it contributes to global climate change mitigation (Nair et al., 2009 and 2010). Even when planted at low densities, the aggregate carbon accumulation in trees can help fight climate change because of the large spatial extent covered (Verchot et al., 2007). Such trees are estimated to accumulate 3–15 t C ha–1 yr–1 in above-ground biomass alone (Nair et al., 2010), a significant amount compared to other carbon sinks. 2