Abstract
Since agriculture directly contributes to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, integrating trees into agricultural landscapes through agroforestry systems is a viable adaptive strategy for climate change mitigation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the carbon (C) sequestration and financial benefits of C sequestration according to Quebec’s Cap-and-Trade System for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowances (C & T System) or the Système de plafonnement et d’échange de droits d’émission de gaz à effet de serre du Québec (SPEDE) program for two experimental 10-year-old tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems in southern Quebec, Canada. We estimated total C stored in the two TBI systems with hybrid poplar and hardwoods and adjacent non-TBI systems under agricultural production, considering soil, crop and crop roots, litterfall, tree and tree roots as C stocks. The C sequestration of the TBI and adjacent non-TBI systems were compared and the market value of the C payment was evaluated using the net present value (NPV) approach. The TBI systems had 33% to 36% more C storage than adjacent non-TBI systems. The financial benefits of C sequestration after 10 years of TBI practices amounted to of $2,259–$2,758 CAD ha−1 and $1,568–$1,913 CAD ha−1 for St. Edouard and St. Paulin sites, respectively. We conclude that valorizing the C sequestration of TBI systems could be an incentive to promote the establishment of TBI for the purpose of GHG mitigation in Quebec, Canada.
Highlights
Integrating trees into temperate agricultural landscapes through tree-based intercropping (TBI)systems offers several potential advantages, from increased crop productivity and stability under climate change, to optimization of inputs and resilience to disruption, to restoring soil and water quality and biodiversity [1,2]
Given the uncertainties with respect to the future monetary value of lumber and other commodities produced after 10–20 years or longer from TBI systems, providing financial incentives based on quantifiable environmental benefits or ecosystem services such as C
This study shows that farmers can gain the financial benefits of C sequestration from afforestation when they use the emissions allowance options provided by the SPEDE program at the current market value of $11.39 Canadian Dollar (CAD) t1 CO2 e
Summary
Integrating trees into temperate agricultural landscapes through tree-based intercropping (TBI)systems offers several potential advantages, from increased crop productivity and stability under climate change, to optimization of inputs and resilience to disruption, to restoring soil and water quality and biodiversity [1,2]. Despite the potential for higher primary production and C sequestration in TBI systems than non-TBI systems, very few examples of commercial TBI systems exist in the temperate regions of Canada. In part, this is due to a historical segregation of commodities produced by the agricultural and forestry sectors and reflects different economic models for these sectors, where agriculture is practiced on a fixed land base that produces annual economic returns with short amortization periods (five years or less). A promising incentive for farmers interested in TBI systems emerged in January 2012 with the implementation of Quebec’s Cap-and-Trade System (C & T) System or the Système de plafonnement et d’échange de droits d’émission de gaz à effet de serre du Québec (SPEDE). The SPEDE program was developed with the aim to reduce GHG emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and was linked to California’s C market in January 2013 [9,10]
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