Enhancing Vietnam’s Nationally Determined Contribution with Mitigation Targets for Agroforestry: A Technical and Economic Estimate

Rachmat Mulia, Duong Dinh Nguyen, Mai Phuong Nguyen, Peter Steward, Pham Van Thanh, Hoang Anh Le, Todd Rosenstock and Elisabeth Simelton
Additional contact information
Rachmat Mulia: World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Duong Dinh Nguyen: Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Mai Phuong Nguyen: World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Peter Steward: World Agroforestry (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Pham Van Thanh: World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hoang Anh Le: Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Todd Rosenstock: World Agroforestry (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Elisabeth Simelton: World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 12, 1-24

Abstract: The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of several non-Annex I countries mention agroforestry but mostly without associated mitigation target. The absence of reliable data, including on existing agroforestry practices and their carbon storage, partially constrains the target setting. In this paper, we estimate the mitigation potential of agroforestry carbon sequestration in Vietnam using a nationwide agroforestry database and carbon data from the literature. Sequestered carbon was estimated for existing agroforestry systems and for areas into which these systems can be expanded. Existing agroforestry systems in Vietnam cover over 0.83 million hectares storing a 1346 ± 92 million ton CO 2 equivalent including above-, belowground, and soil carbon. These systems could be expanded to an area of 0.93–2.4 million hectares. Of this expansion area, about 10% is considered highly suitable for production, with a carbon sequestration potential of 2.3–44 million ton CO 2 equivalent over the period 2021–2030. If neglecting agroforestry’s potential for modifying micro-climates, climate change can reduce the highly suitable area of agroforestry and associated carbon by 34–48% in 2050. Agroforestry can greatly contribute to Vietnam’s 2021–2030 NDC, for example, to offset the greenhouse gas emissions of the agriculture sector.

Keywords: agriculture sector; carbon sequestration; cost efficiency; land suitability; potential expansion areas; representative concentration pathway (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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