Agroforestry in Sierra Leone –examining economic potential with carbon sequestration

• Main Author: Björkemar, Kristian
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för skog och träteknik (SOT) 2014
• Subjects: Sierra Leone; carbon trade; carbon sequestration; agroforestry; Makari
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-33473

This thesis aimed to examine the possibilities and benefits of implementing agroforestry projects in Sierra Leone by comparing different agroforestry systems used in a Tanzanian project that consider carbon sequestration. Farmers involved in this type of projects get income from sold carbon credits as well as from other products that an agroforestry system could provide. Sierra Leone is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, with most of the population living in rural conditions. It was investigated what the potential economic and environmental impact different agroforestry systems considering carbon storage could have in Sierra Leone. The study was based on empirical material from a case community Makari. The conclusions were that Sierra Leone could benefit greatly from agroforestry projects, especially at community level where it could provide additional sources of food and income. From a greater perspective it could give environmental benefits as well as securing wood commodities like fuelwood for the future. Starting up a project would however be a high risk investment with a troublesome implementation process and complications on a daily basis.