Agroforestry: A Natural Carbon Management Tool

1
Agroforestry A Natural Carbon Management Tool


Presented to Agriculture and Carbon Management
Conference

• by Blair English P. Ag.
• Agroforestry Specialist
• AAFC - PFRA
• Brandon Research Centre
• Ph [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• email englishb_at_agr.gc.ca
• www.agr.gc.ca/pfra.shelterbelt.htm

2
AAFC PFRAs Working Definition of Agroforestry

• An approach to land use that incorporates trees
  into farming systems to accomplish environmental,
  economic and social goals, and allows for
  production of trees and crops from the same piece
  of land

3
PFRA Shelterbelt Centre

• Located at Indian Head, Saskatchewan.
• Started producing shelterbelt material for
  prairie farmers in 1901.
• Produces tree material that is hardy to the
  harshest of prairie conditions.
• The Shelterbelt Centre ships 5 to 6 million trees
  about 8 to 10 thousand applicants per year in
  Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta Peace River
  District of B.C.

4
PFRA Shelterbelt Centre

• As well as providing shelterbelt material, the
  Shelterbelt Centre conducts research, provides
  technical assistance and promotes the use of
  trees and shelterbelts throughout the prairie
  region.

5
Shelterbelt Benefits

• When properly designed, there are three major
  ways green house gases can be mitigated by
  shelterbelts

1. Snow control
2. Energy Savings in home heating
3. Carbon sequestration

6
Snow Control

• Shelterbelts can be designed to keep farmyards,
  driveways and roads clear of snow. Financial and
  greenhouse gas emission savings can be achieved
  as a result of reduced snow clearing activities.

7
Energy Savings by Shelterbelts

• Properly designed shelterbelts can reduce the
  heating costs of farm buildings by 30. Depending
  on the source of energy used, greenhouse gas
  emission reductions as well as financial saving
  can be considerable.

8
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Shelterbelts

• Shelterbelts remove carbon dioxide and store it
  as carbon for long periods of time as wood.
• Shelterbelt Centre began investigating the carbon
  potential of prairie shelterbelts in the early
  1990s.
• PFRA determined the rate of carbon accumulation
  for 20 important prairie shelterbelt species.
• We are now able to predict the carbon content of
  current and future shelterbelt programs.

9
Carbon sequestration equations for 20 species of
trees and shrubs
10
Sequestration Potential

• Two scenarios, current distribution vs. an
  expanded planting programs.
• Carbon sink measured for 2008-2012, 2013-2017
  verification periods and 2036-2040.
• 1990 starting year.
• Shelterbelt Centre distribution numbers used for
  years 1990 1999.

11
Assumptions

• Trees were planted in shelterbelts at the
  recommended spacing between trees.
• Seedling survival varied from 50 to 85,
  depending on species.
• Hectares are calculated using a five metre width
  for a single row shelterbelt.
• Carbon is recorded in Mt CO2 and represents above
  ground carbon only.

12
Scenario 1 - Current Distribution

• Shelterbelt Centre distribution numbers used for
  1990-1999.
• Tree Distribution for 2000-2040 is assumed to be
  the same as for 1999 (5.3 million).

13
Scenario 1, Carbon sequestration by shelterbelts
(Mt CO2)
14
Scenario 2 - Double Current Distribution

• Actual distribution numbers 1990-1999.
• Five year ramp up period to full to new
  production level (10.6 million trees).
• Expanded program has 15 year duration after which
  production returns to pre-2000 levels (5.3
  million).

15
Scenario 2. Carbon sequestration by shelterbelts
(Mt CO2)
16
Hectares of shelterbelts planted, 1990-2040
17
Shelterbelt Benefits

• Shelterbelts are currently planted for the
  protection of soils, crops, buildings, livestock
  and for wildlife habitat. Carbon sequestration is
  one more benefit.
• Do not require the conversion of large tracts of
  agricultural land, the land stays in production
  and the shelterbelts complement the economic and
  environmental sustainability of the farm.

18
Shelterbelt Enhancement
Program (SEP)

• The Shelterbelt Enhancement Program is part of
  Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change.
• Five year, 4 million program designed to
  increase shelterbelt planting in the prairie
  region.
• Target is the sequestration of 0.3 MT CO2, 8,000
  km of incremental shelterbelts.

19
Shelterbelt Enhancement
Program (SEP)

• Provides seedlings, technical assistance, plastic
  mulch and access to equipment to qualifying
  applicants in MB, SK, AB BC Peace.
• 2001-2002 was first year of program.
• 228 approved applications (20 cancelled).

20
(No Transcript)
21
Plastic Mulch 1275 km in 2003
22
(No Transcript)
23
Shelterbelt Enhancement
Program (SEP)

• Total Planting Length
• B.C./Alberta 96.8 km
• Saskatchewan 263.9 km
• Manitoba 180.5 km
• Total 541.2 km

24
Summary

• Prairie shelterbelts will sequester between 1.7
  and 2.2 Mt CO2 in the first commitment period
  (2008-2012) depending on the size of the program,
  2.4 to 4.4 Mt CO2 in the second commitment
  period.
• There are many environmental and agronomic
  benefits to planting shelterbelts
• Opportunities exist to expand shelterbelt
  programming across Canada through new partnerships