Climate Change Impacts, Agroforestry Adaptation and Policy Environment in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Despite its low emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs), Sri Lanka is considered as a vulnerable small island nation under climate change. Agroforestry, which uniquely integrates trees into land use systems, has historically contributed to climate change adaptation in Sri Lanka. Hence, the promotion of agroforestry practices is vitally important to enhance the resiliency of the country to future climate change. This paper reviews the literature and discusses the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture and forestry, the effects of adapting agroforestry on climate changes, and important policies for promoting agroforestry adaptation in Sri Lanka. The adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture and forestry are identified as follows: endangerment of natural assets; prevalence of pests, diseases and invasive species; agriculture and forest damage; and high levels of food insecurity. The adaptation of agroforestry impacts climate change by increasing the tree cover outside forests, enhancing forest carbon stocks, conserving biodiversity, reducing risks and damage intensity, maintaining health and vitality, and scaling up multiple benefits. Changing regulations and legislation, developing awareness and capacity, planning for climate-smart agroforest landscapes, offering no-regret options and implementing climate change adjustment programs are discussed as important policy measures. It is concluded that agroforestry, along with favourable policy, has an important role in climate change adaptation by enhancing resilience to climate impacts on farming systems.

Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change and Their Implications in the Zou Department of South Benin

“…Many studies have shown that agroforestry may offer many economic and environmental benefits [36][37][38][39]. According to Zoysa [39], agroforestry has an important role in climate change adaptation by enhancing resilience to climate impacts on farming systems.…”

“…Many studies have shown that agroforestry may offer many economic and environmental benefits [36][37][38][39]. According to Zoysa [39], agroforestry has an important role in climate change adaptation by enhancing resilience to climate impacts on farming systems. Torquebiau [40] reported that agroforestry has a double potential to address climate change issues: greenhouse gas mitigation strategy through carbon sequestration and sustainable adjustment to changing conditions (because agroforestry systems can be called perennial farming systems).…”

Farmers’ Perceptions towards Climate Change, and Meteorological Data in Kahuzi-Biega National Park Surroundings, Eastern DR. Congo

“…Another major strategy is agroforestry and perennial plantation. Many studies have shown that agroforestry may offer many economic and environmental benefits (Zoysa and Inoue, 2014). According to Zoysa and Inoue (2014), agroforestry has an important role in climate change adaptation by enhancing resilience to climate impacts on farming systems.…”

“…Many studies have shown that agroforestry may offer many economic and environmental benefits (Zoysa and Inoue, 2014). According to Zoysa and Inoue (2014), agroforestry has an important role in climate change adaptation by enhancing resilience to climate impacts on farming systems. Torquebiau (2013) reported that agroforestry has a double potential to address climate change issues: greenhouse gas mitigation strategy through carbon sequestration and sustainable adjustment to changing conditions (because agroforestry systems can be called perennial farming systems).…”

Forest Dwellers’ Perception on Climate Change and Their Adaptive Strategies to Withstand Impacts in Mizoram, North-East India

“…Agroforestry and perennial plantations could be major strategies to combat climate change and also by enhancing resistant approaches to climate impacts on the forest dwelling communities. Agroforestry has double potential to address climate change issues: for example greenhouse gas mitigation strategies to be adopted through carbon sequestration and sustainable adjustment to changing conditions[16]. As most of the respondents were farmers and had very low income with poor economic conditions, they lack expertise despite their willingness to adapt to the effects of climate change.…”