6. Agro-forestry

Agro-forestry is the production of livestock or food crops on land that also grows trees for timber, firewood, or other tree products. It includes shelter belts and riparian zones/buffer strips with woody species. The standing stock of carbon above ground is usually higher than the equivalent land use without trees, and planting trees may also increase soil carbon sequestration (Oelbermann et al., 2004; Guo and Gifford, 2002; Mutuo et al., 2005; Paul et al., 2003). But the effects on N2O and CH4 emissions are not well known (Albrecht and Kandji, 2003). [1]
 
The latest research and development (R&D) initiative on this front focuses on agro-forestry which can help in reversing climate change forces. For this, the ICAR has entered into an agreement with the International Centre for Research in Agro-forestry (ICRAF) for collaborative research on farm forestry aimed specifically at dealing with climate change issues. A four-year work plan prepared for this purpose is proposed to be executed in India with the involvement of over 50 agricultural R&D organizations. [2]