Gendered Species Preferences Link Tree Diversity and Carbon Stocks in Cacao Agroforest in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Rika Ratna Sari, Danny Dwi Saputra, Kurniatun Hairiah, Danaë M. A. Rozendaal, James M. Roshetko and Meine van Noordwijk
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Rika Ratna Sari: Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
Danny Dwi Saputra: Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
Kurniatun Hairiah: Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
Danaë M. A. Rozendaal: Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
James M. Roshetko: World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF Southeast Asia, Bogor 16001, Indonesia
Meine van Noordwijk: Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: The degree to which the maintenance of carbon (C) stocks and tree diversity can be jointly achieved in production landscapes is debated. C stocks in forests are decreased by logging before tree diversity is affected, while C stocks in monoculture tree plantations increase, but diversity does not. Agroforestry can break this hysteresis pattern, relevant for policies in search of synergy. We compared total C stocks and tree diversity among degraded forest, complex cacao/fruit tree agroforests, simple shade-tree cacao agroforestry, monoculture cacao, and annual crops in the Konawe District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. We evaluated farmer tree preferences and the utility value of the system for 40 farmers (male and female). The highest tree diversity (Shannon–Wiener H index 2.36) and C stocks (282 Mg C ha −1 ) were found in degraded forest, followed by cacao-based agroforestry systems (H index ranged from 0.58–0.93 with C stocks of 75–89 Mg ha −1 ). Male farmers selected timber and fruit tree species with economic benefits as shade trees, while female farmers preferred production for household needs (fruit trees and vegetables). Carbon stocks and tree diversity were positively related ( R 2 = 0.72). Adding data from across Indonesia ( n = 102), agroforestry systems had an intermediate position between forest decline and reforestation responses. Maintaining agroforestry in the landscape allows aboveground C stocks up to 50 Mg ha −1 and reduces biodiversity loss. Agroforestry facilitates climate change mitigation and biodiversity goals to be addressed simultaneously in sustainable production landscapes.

Keywords: carbon storage; cacao agroforestry; farmer tree preference; utility value (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 (13)

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