Carbon Sequestration in Fine Aroma Cocoa Agroforestry Systems in Amazonas, Peru

Abstract

One way to mitigate climate change is by reducing atmospheric CO2 levels with the establishment of agroforestry systems (AFSs) that can capture and store atmospheric CO2. This study therefore estimated the carbon sequestration in two components, aboveground (cocoa trees, other tree species, and leaf litter) and soil, in 15 fine aroma cocoa AFSs in Amazonas, Peru. These cocoa AFSs had a minimum area of 1.5 ha and were distributed into three age groups (each group consisted of five systems or farms): young cocoa trees between 8 and 15 years old, middle-aged cocoa trees between 16 and 29 years old, and adult cocoa trees between 30 and more than 40 years old. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analysis followed by Fisher’s LSD mean comparison test (p > 0.05) determined the significant level of total aboveground biomass and total carbon content in the AFSs’ components. The present findings confirm that Theobroma cacao, Mussa sp., Cordia sp., and Persea sp. were the most common species in all AFSs. Clearly, biomass and carbon content in Theobroma cacao and Cordia sp. increased slightly with age, while fruit species Mussa sp. and Persea sp. decreased with age. The total aboveground carbon stock in young cocoa tree systems (13.64 Mg ha−1) was lower than in middle-aged cocoa systems (20.50 Mg ha−1) and adult cocoa systems (24.86 Mg ha−1); nevertheless, no significant differences were found for any of the age ranges. On the other hand, carbon stocks in soil (up to 30 cm depth) in the AFSs ranged from 119.96 Mg ha−1 to 131.96 Mg ha−1. Meanwhile, the total carbon stored by aboveground and soil components in adults cocoa systems (156.81 Mg ha−1) was higher compared to middle-aged cocoa systems (140.60 Mg ha−1) and young cocoa systems (133.59 Mg ha−1), although no statistically significant differences were found. Eventually, the CO2 sequestration for young cocoa systems was 490.28 Mg ha−1, and middle-aged and adult cocoa system recorded more than 500 Mg ha−1 of CO2. Furthermore, these data can further be used by national governments, local governments, and organisations of producers, particularly in accessing payments for environmental services, which may improve economic incomes and contribute to climate change mitigation by reserving biomass and sequestering C from these agroforestry cocoa systems.

Economic Profitability of Carbon Sequestration of Fine-Aroma Cacao Agroforestry Systems in Amazonas, Peru

“…The study was conducted in the cocoa agroforestry systems of the Multiple Service Cooperative APROCAM. The cooperative is composed of 235 small cocoa producers distributed across 4 districts of the province of Bagua (Aramango, Copallín, La Peca, and Imaza), 2 districts of the province of Utcubamba (Cajaruro and El Parco), and 1 district of the province of Santa María de Nieva (Nieva) in the Amazonas region [19]. APROCAM leads cocoa exports in whole or broken beans, raw except for sowing (Tariff item: 1801001900), with an FOB of USD 428,962 for 2022 and USD 366,020 for November 2023, with Spain and Italy as its main markets [2].…”

“…To calculate the CO 2 sequestration of the agroforestry systems in tons per hectare per year, the CO 2 values reported by Goñas et al 2022 [19] were utilized. These values were obtained from 15 cocoa agroforestry systems divided into three age strata ranging from 8 to 40 years.…”

Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Tree Species in Agroforestry Systems with Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in Amazonas

“…Consequently, Amazonas is the seventh 2 cocoa-producing region in Peru [12]. However, studies have yet to explore the diversity of trees associated with this crop within this area [13,14]. Agroforestry practices require rigorous training of producers and cooperative work for crop profitability [14].…”

“…However, studies have yet to explore the diversity of trees associated with this crop within this area [13,14]. Agroforestry practices require rigorous training of producers and cooperative work for crop profitability [14]. Recently, it has been observed that producers are diversifying their plots by combining various indigenous timber or fruit species and are consequently gaining complementary economic and consumption advantages from cocoa cultivation [13,15].…”

“…Recently, it has been observed that producers are diversifying their plots by combining various indigenous timber or fruit species and are consequently gaining complementary economic and consumption advantages from cocoa cultivation [13,15]. However, this diversification is carried out empirically, incorporating native species such as Cordia alliodora [14]. This is due to the need for more scientific documentation on the species, composition, and variety of shade trees within cocoa AFS [16] since each species comprising AFS affects the physico-chemical traits of the soil [17].…”