Atmospheric carbon sequestration through agroforestry in China

Agroforestry is an important alternative to modern agriculture and forestry. It is useful in ameliorating environmental degradation, such as desertification and land erosion. During our study on biomass and productivity of agroforestry systems in the North China Plain, we found that agroforestry has a greater potential for storing and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere than has land cultivation. Furthermore, agroforestry systems produce timber and firewood that will bring profit to peasants and reduce the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.