The Potential Contribution of Agroforestry to Net Zero Objectives [updated Nov 2022].
Abstract
The aim of this report is to examine the potential contribution of agroforestry to net zero objectives in the United Kingdom over the next 40-50 years, with a focus on 2050. The report comprises six main sections. The first section provides the over-arching context for this study. The second section focuses on the current baseline of greenhouse gas emissions. Section 3 examines the effect of expanding tree cover on the storage of organic carbon in soils. Section 4 examines the effect of planting trees and hedgerows on the storage of biomass carbon, both above- and below-ground. The report firstly considers boundary agroforestry systems such as new shelterbelts and managed hedgerows. Section 5 integrates the baseline emissions (Section 2), the soil carbon change (Section 3), and change in vegetation biomass (Section 4) to describe the potential change in greenhouse gas emissions of planting shelterbelts, hedgerows, silvoarable systems, and silvopasture systems. The final section provides seven recommendations.