Title: Measurements and economics of carbon sequestration in temperate tree-based intercropping systems

Authors: Mahbubul Alam; Alain Olivier; Alain Paquette

Addresses: Département de phytologie, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec (QC) G1V 0A6, Canada ' Département de phytologie, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec (QC) G1V 0A6, Canada ' Centre for Forest Research, Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

Abstract: The paper aims to quantify and monetise carbon sequestration potential of temperate Tree-Based Intercropping (TBI) systems in Canada. The net carbon sequestration potential is estimated to be 2.26 Mg C ha⁻¹y⁻¹ that represents an immobilisation of 8.3 ton CO₂ ha⁻¹y⁻¹. In economic terms this amount of sequestered carbon represents $24,383 per hectare of societal benefits over a rotation period of 40 years. This means 137 million dollars per year of climate regulation services could be achieved through establishment of TBI systems on 1.93 million hectares of land areas in the province of Québec in Canada. Government incentives, however, are needed to interest farmers in adopting practices that reduce farmers' private profits yet benefit society as a whole.

Keywords: tree-based intercropping systems; agroforestry; climate change; economic valuation; carbon sequestration; CO2; carbon dioxide; Canada; government incentives; agriculture; forestry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2016.076919

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2016 Vol.12 No.2, pp.125 - 136

Received: 01 Aug 2015
Accepted: 21 Dec 2015
Published online: 07 Jun 2016 *

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