Rural Landowners Research Articles

Smallholders' perspectives, motivations, and incentives for restoring the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Ecosystem restoration, recognized as a critical strategy for climate change adaptation and mitigation, faces significant challenges in achieving widespread implementation. A particular facet of this challenge lies in the active involvement of rural landowners. Our study aimed to understand rural landowners' perspectives, motivations, and characteristics that influence their participation in restoration projects in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on 68 semi‐structured interviews with two groups of landowners: 36 who received support and 32 who did not receive project support from a local non‐governmental organization to restore native forests on their landholdings. Approximately three‐quarters of the sample are classified as smallholders (<80 ha). The main difference between the two groups is the dependence on agricultural production as the main source of income, with 22% of farmers in the supported group and 72% in the unsupported group. This socio‐economic characteristic appeared to influence the decision to restore native forest. Farmers' focus tends to be linked to rural production, and the main obstacle to restoration was the loss of productive land. They usually allow natural forest regeneration to establish on slopes. The other type of landowner (lifestylers) mainly restored land through planting of seedlings, with the main barrier being the cost of restoration. Both groups had water conservation as their main motivation for restoration. Our study shows that understanding the perspectives and motivations of the diversity of rural landowners is crucial to effectively engage them and address the socio‐economic feasibility of different restoration approaches.

Can rural counties benefit from high-speed rail investments? The distributive economic impacts of constructing the Dallas-Houston line

High-speed rail (HSR) investments have demonstrated significant economic benefits in many regions around the world. However, there have been ongoing concerns over the potential unjust effects of HSR development on the rural areas where HSR routes traverse. In the United States, resistance from rural landowners is a major factor that has delayed or derailed numerous HSR projects. Understanding whether and how rural areas may or may not benefit from HSR investments helps facilitate timely project delivery and inform supplementary policymaking to achieve broader societal benefits. This paper presents a case study of the Dallas – Houston HSR line in Texas, USA, a proposed project with private investments totaling $16 billion from Texas Central Railroad, LLC. Applying Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) modeling, the study estimates the economic impacts of investing in the Dallas-Houston HSR line and examines the spatial and sectoral distributions of the impacts across the rural counties along the project alignment. The privately funded Dallas – Houston HSR project stalled after a decade-long effort, largely due to opposition from the rural counties along the line. The recent formation of the Amtrak-Texas Central partnership has brought back hope to revive the HSR proposal. The findings of this study are informative for Amtrak-Texas Central to develop strategies that address the unbalanced rural–urban impacts of constructing the HSR line for ultimate project success.

From Command and Control Policy to Environmental Promotionalism: The Political-Instrumental Transition About Environmental Preservation in Brazil

Objective: The main objective of this work is to analyze this transition, especially with the institution of payment for environmental services (PSA) and therefore the change of paradigm, that is, from a policy based on the polluter pays to one that has as a primary foundation the protector of the environment as rewarded for promoting the ecological quality of its services. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework adopted is the work, Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) as an instrument for implementing the protector-receiver principle (PRP): Initial notes from the promotional function of Environmental Law, by Leonardo Papp. Method: The method adopted in the study is the research of specialized literature, with a qualitative approach, with the bibliographic reference as the main procedure, with the survey of works being analyzed using the deductive method. Results and Discussion: Regarding results and discussions, regarding the paradigmatic transition, the PSA represents a significant change, moving from a traditional approach based on the polluter pays to one that values ​​the environmental protector as rewarded. Research Implications: Regarding research implications, the paradigm transition can influence the formulation of public policies, governments can consider PSA as an effective tool to encourage environmental conservation and restoration, stimulating rural landowners, local communities and companies to adopt sustainable practices. Originality/Value: The present study presents an innovative approach, in addition, the research adopts the promotional ideology of law as the basis for the PSA, a perspective little explored in the literature. The value of this research lies in its contribution to the debate on the effectiveness of PSA as a mechanism to encourage environmental conservation.

Challenges for reducing carbon emissions from Land-Use and Land Cover Change in Brazil

Brazil, a crucial player in global climate change mitigation, faces challenges in reducing its carbon emissions, of which nearly half are from land use changes. Despite potential reductions that can be achieved through halting deforestation and fostering forest restoration, setbacks in environmental governance have heightened emissions. This article assesses challenges and proposes solutions for conserving and restoring Brazilian biomes in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement by 2030. Notably, net carbon emissions from land-use change and forestry increased twofold from 2017 to 2022 due to deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado. Native vegetation clearing peaked at 2.8 Mha in 2022, the largest area since 2008. The deficit of native vegetation within Legal Reserves and Permanent Protection Areas must be addressed through restoration. Achieving SDGs by 2030 demands urgent action against illegal deforestation, reinforced legislation for secondary forest protection, large-scale restoration programs, and economic incentives for forest conservation through payment for ecosystem services to rural landowners.

Subsurface evaluation for aquaculture ponds in the Amazon Region

ABSTRACT Few Brazilian rural landowners are aware of the technology available to survey the subsoil of terrains earmarked for aquaculture operations. This study evaluated subsoils of Monte Alegre (area 1) and Montenegro 3 (area 2) aquaculture zones in the geographic region of Bragança (Amazon region, northern Brazil), and the adequacy of these areas for aquaculture. Ground Penetrating Radar, electrical conductivity measurements, and sedimentological analyses were applied to evaluate the subsoil of fish farms. Apparent conductivity values recorded by the Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) in area 1 indicated possible presence of clayey soils. Excavation analysis and sedimentological samples (sand) from this site confirmed the inadequacy of the terrain. The EMI tool in area 2 indicated possible presence of clayey soils. Geophysical and sedimentological results from the site confirmed its suitability. These geophysical tools are recommended for evaluating prospective aquaculture sites, given their capacity to provide reliable data on the subsoil characteristics , which is essential to guarantee the success and sustainability of aquaculture operations.

Evaluation of nitrogen fertilization of hybrid hazelnuts (Corylus americana × Corylus avellana) based on leaf nitrogen sufficiency thresholds

Hybrids between Corylus avellana and Corylus americana are one of several new perennial and winter annual crops being developed as part of the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota. As a woody perennial shrub, hazelnuts in agroforestry systems can provide a new revenue source for rural landowners; continuous living cover to prevent soil erosion, sequester soil carbon, protect water quality, and provide wildlife habitat; and a delicious and healthful new local food. If hazelnuts are to fulfill their potential, better germplasm and better nitrogen fertilization recommendations are both needed. We modeled these trials after trials by R.E. Worley, who showed that yields of pecan trees fertilized only when leaf nitrogen (N) fell below critical thresholds were maintained with lower levels of applied N, benefitting both the environment and growers’ profits. Results of trials at three Minnesota sites, comparing N applied only when leaf N fell below 1.8%, 2.0%, or 2.2% with annual N applications and no N over 4 years, support using 2.2% leaf N as the critical threshold for N fertilization. Our results showed that whereas only 8% of N applied annually ended up in the harvested nuts and husks, N that was applied to plants that demonstrated hunger for it was more efficiently taken up. Our results suggest a need for more productive germplasm and further research to develop best management practices for N fertilization.

Factors influencing forestland enrollment in Georgia's preferential property tax programs

More than two-thirds of Georgia's private forestland (or 14.6 million acres) are enrolled in one of the state's preferential property tax programs. Besides alleviating property tax burdens for rural landowners, the purposes of these incentive programs have gradually evolved from ensuring a sustainable supply of agricultural and timber products to promoting the conservation of rural open space and provision of ecosystem services. This study examined the factors associated with forestland enrollment in Georgia's major current-use tax programs using a combination of parcel-level spatial data, property tax roll, and county-level economic data for all private forestland in the study counties. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to control the effects of hierarchical data structure. A forest parcel's size, tax savings, neighboring parcel enrollment, land value, land productivity, landowner's residence status in relation to the property, development potential (e.g., distance to cities, county population density) as well as distance to lakes and identified conservation areas are important predictors of its likelihood of being enrolled in the property tax incentive programs. Larger forest parcels, located close to identified potential conservation areas, characterized by high soil productivity, held by non-absentee owners, and adjacent to enrolled parcels were more likely to be enrolled in the current-use tax programs.

Brazilian Forest Code as an Instrument for Environmental Conservation – Case Study of the Curupaí and Engano Watersheds, Mato Grosso do Sul/Brazil

Objective: To analyze Rural Environmental Cadastres (CAR) of 126 properties in two microbasins with gullies and ravines, aiming to assess the effectiveness of the Forest Code in post-promulgation environmental conservation. Theoretical framework: The urgent need for monitoring stands out amid pressure on Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA) and Legal Reserves (LR). CAR and the application of geotechnologies play a crucial role in environmental analysis and preservation. Method: It consisted of the temporal analysis of land use and vegetation cover to determine any significant changes attributable to the new legislation. Results and conclusion: The results reveal stability in land use and cover over 12 years, with predominant agricultural use and inadequacies in LR in over half of the properties. PPAs indicate better compliance but reveal challenges in self-declaration. Despite the Forest Code, there are obstacles in implementation, requiring improvements in rural oversight and awareness. Research implications: This study highlights challenges in Forest Code implementation and emphasizes the continuous need for improvements in environmental oversight and awareness among rural landowners, pointing out gaps in compliance with Legal Reserves and highlighting the utility of an automatic system in demarcating Permanent Preservation Areas. These contributions strengthen environmental management and conservation on rural properties. Originality/value: The study provides valuable insights for managers, legislators, and researchers in environmental policies, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvements in conservation in rural areas. The detailed analysis in microbasins reveals the effectiveness of legal guidelines and underscores challenges in Forest Code implementation.

The National Water Resources Policy and Water Management: Considerations about the Rural Context of the Cantareira System

Purpose: The National Water Resources Policy established foundations and instruments for the management of water resources in Brazil. Despite being considered one of the most advanced internationally, its effectiveness is questioned for water management in rural contexts where small users predominate. The article presents elements of water management conducted by rural landowners, seeking to analyze how these elements approach or distance themselves from the foundations and instruments of the National Water Resources Policy. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 151 rural landowners who use water resources in the context of the supply sources of the Cantareira Water Production System. The results indicate that the water sources accessed by users are the central reference that supports decisions on local water management, which distances itself from the watershed as a management unit, as proposed by law. Not based on a scientific conception, users mobilize specific indicators to determine the quality of the water consumed. Perceptions of the private domain and common good surrounding water sources do not fully align with the understanding of water as a public good. Furthermore, the notion of free access to and use of water also distances itself from any intention to charge for water in rural areas. It is concluded that the foundations and instruments of the National Water Resources Policy are not able to promote the management of water resources at the level of small sources and users, and that the perceptions and management practices of these users are far from what is established by law. The objective of the article is to present elements of water management conducted by rural landowners, seeking to analyze how these elements approach or distance themselves from the foundations and instruments of the National Water Resources Policy. Method/design/approach: The research is of a qualitative nature, of a descriptive nature, having been carried out empirical research. For the empirical research, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 151 rural landowners who use water resources in the context of the supply sources of the Cantareira Water Production System. Results and conclusion: The results indicate that the water sources accessed by users are the central reference that supports decisions on local water management, which distances itself from the hydrographic basin as a management unit, as proposed by law. Not based on a scientific conception, users mobilize specific indicators to determine the quality of the water consumed. Perceptions of the private domain and common good surrounding water sources do not fully align with the understanding of water as a public good. Furthermore, the notion of free access to and use of water also distances itself from any intention to charge for water in rural areas. Research implications: From the analysis, it is highlighted that the fundamentals and official instruments of water resources management cannot influence the water management that occurs at the level of small rural users. The main implication of the study is to stimulate reflection on the need to build a policy that takes into account elements of local water management, seeking full management of water resources. Originality/value: The study seeks to contribute to the improvement of water resources management, in terms of local management aspects. The ways of acting of rural landowners need to be recognized, understood and valued, so it will be possible to promote sustainable water management in one of the most critical contexts for water security in the country.

After the Disaster Guidebook: Designing a Post-Disaster Communication Intervention for Rural Landowners

Extension is well-positioned to facilitate communication strategies that foster community resilience and disaster recovery, particularly for rural residents. This paper proposes a new approach to post-disaster communication that strengthens rural community capacities in locally and culturally relevant ways. The findings revealed specific post-disaster information needs, preferences for local resources, and communication that encourages resilience through a document analysis and interviews with informants recovering from the 2020 Colorado wildfires. The practical recommendations discussed serve as a starting point for Extension professionals in other areas to consider ways to engage with their communities before, during, and after a disaster.

Unraveling the link between political polarization and wind energy perspectives: Insights from a survey of agricultural landowners in Alberta, Canada

Wind energy development can be polarizing with opposition coming from rural regions that are most affected by new wind farms. Local opposition can become further entrenched through political ideologies, where one's perspective on wind turbines becomes a litmus test for one's political position. With these concerns in mind, we utilize results from a survey of large-scale agricultural landowners in Alberta, Canada, to answer the following question. To what extent are self-declared political positions consistent with views on wind energy development? Results indicate that wind energy acceptance is not politically polarized nor even polarized among Alberta's rural landowners. Instead, the sample reveals fragmented, moderate, and likely malleable opinions about wind energy. Within a jurisdiction that is politically conservative and fossil fuel dependent, these results have largely positive implications for future wind energy development in the province.

Carbon Biomass Estimation Using Vegetation Indices in Agriculture–Pasture Mosaics in the Brazilian Caatinga Dry Tropical Forest

Remote sensing is valuable for estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) stocks. However, its application in agricultural and pasture areas is limited compared with forest areas. This study quantifies AGB in agriculture–pasture mosaics within Brazil’s Campo Maior Complex (CMC). The methodology employs remote sensing cloud processing and utilizes an estimator to incorporate vegetation indices. The results reveal significant changes in biomass values among land use and land cover classes over the past ten years, with notable variations observed in forest plantation, pasture, sugar cane, and soybean areas. The estimated AGB values range from 0 to 20 Mg.ha−1 (minimum), 53 to 419 Mg.ha−1 (maximum), and 19 to 57 Mg.ha−1 (mean). In Forest formation areas, AGB values range from approximately 0 to 278 Mg.ha−1, with an average annual value of 56.44 Mg.ha−1. This study provides valuable insights for rural landowners and government officials in managing the semiarid territory and environment. It aids in decision making regarding agricultural management, irrigation and fertilization practices, agricultural productivity, land use and land cover changes, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, conservation strategies, the identification of priority areas for environmental restoration, and the optimization of resource utilization.

What is the problem with absentee landowners? Invasive plant management by residential and absentee amenity rural landowners

Landowners interested in rural lifestyles rather than primary production, are a significant group of rural landowners in many countries. Among these landowners, distinctions are made between the management practices and motivations of absentee and resident landowners. Absentee landowners are not uncommonly depicted as poor land managers and as not meeting their responsibilities. Evidence, however, on this is mixed. With a focus on invasive plant management in Australia, we compare the motivations, attitudes, and practices of absentee and resident landowners in two high amenity areas of New South Wales, Australia. We found that attitudes and practices surrounding invasive plant management were very similar between absentee and resident landowners, but that there are some key differences surrounding motivations and barriers to invasive plant management. Our data suggests that difference between absentee and residential landowners, therefore, may be overstated with respect to invasive plant management.

Trampling on Indigenous and Treaty Rights afterR v. Stanley: “That's What You Get for Trespassing”

AbstractThis article reports on institutional ethnographic research into how texts and talk were mobilized in social relations leading to the Government of Saskatchewan's enactment of the Trespass to Property Amendment Act, 2019. The act, proclaimed January 1, 2022, requires First Nations people to get advance permission from rural landowners before exercising their Indigenous and treaty rights to hunt and fish on land deemed private property. Findings (1) connect the 2018 acquittal of Gerald Stanley for the 2016 killing of Colten Boushie to political developments that paved the way for the new legislation and (2) trace how the advance permission requirement at the heart of the new legislation tramples on Indigenous and treaty rights, making it even more difficult for First Nations people to access their traditional territories for purposes such as hunting and fishing.

Know to preserve: Can the taste of native fruits change perceptions in favor of environmental conservation?

Climate change is largely caused by the destruction of forests due to the conversion of natural areas into monocultures, and in order to mitigate these problems and show the importance of forest conservation for people, the use of native fruits has become an increasingly decisive approach. Given this scenario, this study sought to create an opportunity for a change of perception and paradigm regarding the appreciation of the “standing forest” using sensory experiences. Our findings showed that the sensory analysis technique could reveal the “flavors of the forest” through a workshop consisting of a menu of cheeses, cakes, pies, jellies, and teas that used neglected species from the Atlantic Forest. As a result of the activity, the generation of an emotional behavior related to the taste of delicacies with native species experienced stood out, with about 90% of the participants intending to reproduce the recipes prepared for the workshop. These results proved to be highly prominent given the problems associated with implementing agroforestry systems in southern Brazil, which normally does not evolve into a value chain, consequently frustrating farmers who have invested their properties in this type of crop. Hence, the data shed light on the demand for products with forest fruit species, which is the starting point for rural landowners to maintain the forest fragments in their properties and invest in the commercial production of food with native fruit species, thereby highlighting the importance of maintaining the forest fragments on their properties.

Recent Environmental Legislation in Brazil and the Impact on Cerrado Deforestation Rates

This study aims to relate the recent trajectory of Brazilian environmental policies with the last 20 years deforestation rates observed in the Cerrado through the PRODES-Cerrado monitoring initiative. The main hypothesis is that the improvement of environmental legislation in Brazil, mainly during the period between 2005 and 2012, influenced the decrease in deforestation rates. In addition, policies to control environmental compliance, such as the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) also influenced the reduction of deforestation. In the early 2000s, there was a significant increase in public environmental policies and implementation of an environmental management structure with the creation of conservation, protection, and management agency for conservation units (ICMBio), the Brazilian Forest Service for the management of public forests and Rural Environment Registry (CAR). Comparing the annual deforestation rate, it was observed that between 2000 and 2005, when 12.60% of the Cerrado was deforested, the annual deforestation average rate was 2.52%. Between 2006 and 2012, the period that precedes the revision of the Forest Code, the total deforestation is equivalent to 7.98%, which results in an annual average rate of 1.33%. After the enactment of the new Forest Code, between 2013 and 2020, there was a deforestation of 7.03% of the Cerrado area, which is equivalent to a deforestation annual average rate of 1.00%. One of the positive aspects of the new legislation was the creation of CAR, which obliges rural landowners to make an environmental attributes declaration of their property, this program being the main environmental management tool created in Brazil recently. After CAR regulation in 2014, there was a decrease in deforestation from 10,904 km2 to 7905 km2 in 2020. On the other hand, since 2016, changes occurred in the political scenario that increased agribusiness influence and the rise of a more conservative agenda, which jeopardizes the future of environmental quality in Brazil (illustrated, for example, by the increased release of pesticides from 104 in 2010 to 493 in 2020). As the main conclusion of this research, we showed that the state’s commitment to environmental management can contribute to deforestation reduction. The regulation of programs such as CAR can also contribute to the reduction of deforestation since it is one more tool for monitoring and ensure compliance of environmental regularization and recovery vegetation programs. At the same time, is necessary to keep on monitoring deforestation once the influence of the agricultural lobby has gained strength.

Environmental Concerns and Stewardship Behaviors Among Rural Landowners: What Supports Farmers and Non-farmers in Being Good Stewards?

Intensive agriculture is a main factor of biodiversity and ecosystem services loss globally. It is therefore of great importance to understand how rural landowners are managing their lands and how environmental stewardship behaviors could be strengthened. Farming and non-farming rural landowners are often considered a homogenous group. In reality, however, they vary by their histories, attitudes, interests, and resources. While many rural landowners manage their lands with environmental values in mind, others may struggle to do so. Ignoring this diversity poses the risk that planning and policy for sustainable agriculture are less effective than they could be. Hence, it is of interest to understand the variety of environmental perceptions and stewardship behaviors across these varied groups. To help addressing this knowledge gap, we conducted a survey of 1,200 farming and non-farming rural landowners, using Ontario as a case study. We specifically investigated whether farming landowners differed from non-farming landowners in expressed environmental concerns and stewardship behaviors, as well as what the roles are of participation in conservation incentive programs, demographic factors, and landholding characteristics. We analyzed survey answers with logistic regression and text analysis. Our results suggest that farming landowners are generally less environmentally concerned than non-farming landowners. However, it appears that this difference may be less driven by farm ownership than by contextual factors, such as landowner age and participation in conservation programs. Participation in conservation programs was more pronounced for non-farming landowners and was associated with higher likelihood of environmental concerns and engaging with stewardship behaviors. In contrast, higher age emerged as predictor of lower environmental concerns. In addition, we found that cost factors and knowledge needs were important barriers for stewardship behaviors across farming and non-farming rural landowners. Based on our results, we are making recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of agricultural sustainability planning and policy in Ontario, focusing on reducing financial and knowledge barriers to pro-environmental land management behaviors.

Preventing wildfires with fire permits in rural Edson, Alberta

Background Fire used for agriculture has many benefits, but can cause wildfires if prevention activities are unsuccessful. Aims The aim of this study was to examine fire permit use and safe burning practices by rural residents in the Edson Forest Area, Alberta, Canada. Methods In total, 269 rural landowners completed a mail survey designed to identify how they use fire, their awareness of wildfire risk, fire experience, fire permit use and safe burning practices. Key results Most respondents used fire on their property, and all were aware of the local wildfire risk, but there was little recognition that using fire for agricultural purposes contributes to wildfires in the area. Many respondents were taking steps to prevent a fire from escaping, but some used fire without obtaining a permit. Those who had seen a wildfire in the Edson Forest Area were more likely to take measures to prevent a wildfire from escaping, and more likely to apply for a fire permit. Conclusions This research contributes to knowledge about rural landowners’ fire use, wildfire prevention activities and fire permit use. Implications Future research should confirm how wildfire experience affects fire permit use and safe use of fire by rural residents.

Disposição de proprietários rurais à adoção de práticas voluntárias e compulsórias de restauração florestal na região do médio Rio Doce - MG

Abstract The maintenance of hydrological conditions in rural watersheds depends on the behavior of rural landowners regarding land use and vegetation cover protection. We analyzed the willingness of farmers from the Rio Doce basin to adopt voluntary forest restoration strategies and to bring their lands into compliance with Federal Law 12.651/2012. We applied a questionnaire to 30 landowners in the municipality of Governador Valadares and the surrounding region. The results indicate that 86% of the farmers acknowledge maintaining vegetation cover as highly important, highlighting benefits such as reduced erosion (86%) and increased discharge in springs (73%). Technical assistance for productivity (29.6%), donation of materials (22.2%) and economic incentives (22.2%) were identified as factors that increase the motivation of farmers to implement such practices. Agroforestry Systems were the most preferred modality (50%). The long-term presence of rural assistance organizations and the trust between them and landowners explain the dissemination of environmental notions and pro-conservation attitudes.

Carbon sequestration by forests and agroforests: a reality check for the United States

Climate change is a major global threat affecting food security and sustainability. Land use systems involving trees have the potential to positively impact climate change by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and providing long-term carbon (C) storage. This review evaluated the C sequestration potential of two major land use systems of the United States (US) involving trees, forests and agroforests, which can also provide other ecosystem services.The estimated total forest C stock on forest land in the US in 1990 was 50,913 Tg and another 1885 Tg remained in harvested wood and discarded wood products. From 1990 to 1995, total C stock rose by 2%, and from 2000 to 2005, it rose by 1.7%. The US forests collectively lose (flux) about 200 Mg C y-1 from disturbance and harvesting. Currently, about 12% of the conterminous US forest land is at high or very high risk of wildfire. Annually, insects and diseases could transfer ~ 21 Tg of live aboveground biomass to litter and woody debris pools. A scenario that targets an afforestation policy for rural landowners in the eastern US and a reforestation policy targeting understocked federal forest lands in the western would improve US annual sequestration compared to the baseline of 323 Tg CO2 eq yr-1 in 2015 to 469 Tg CO2 eq yr-1 in 2050.Agroforestry offers greater potential to increase C sequestration of predominantly agriculture-dominated landscapes than monocrop agriculture by storing C in above- and belowground biomass, soil, and living and dead organisms and further extending the duration of C in soils. The estimated total C sequestration of current alley cropping (211,938 ha), riparian buffers (640,732 ha), silvopasture (34 Mha), and windbreak (2.37 Mha) practices is 219 Tg C yr-1. The total C sequestration would be 240 Tg C yr-1 with 5% of the US cropland converted to alley cropping (3.7 Tg yr-1), 15-m wide riparian buffers on both sides of 5% of the total stream length (4.75 Tg yr-1), 34 Mha converted to silvopasture (207 Tg yr-1), and windbreaks on 5% (7.45 Mha) of the cropland (25 Tg yr-1). Despite many limitations including uncertainty of land areas under agroforestry, lack of standardized estimation protocols, and lack of accountability on various C stocks (source-sink services, detritus C, insect/pest damages, etc.), we believe these new accrual rates and the land areas under each practice are much more realistic as new information became available over the last decade.The total C sequestration by forests (776) and agroforests (219) is 995 Tg yr-1 and represents approximately 15% of the US CO2 emissions. This review highlights the importance of sustainable management of forests and integration of agroforestry on agricultural lands to mitigate climate challenges further while meeting society’s need for food and a healthy environment.