Adapting agroforestry systems management and climate change mitigation

Key words: resilience, microclimate, water management, monitoring

Petros Kakouros

Forester

Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre, 14th km Thessalonikis-Mihanionas PO Box 60394 57001 Thermi petros@ekby.gr

Costas Zissis Ι Papingo, Ioannina prefecture, Region of Epirus NW. Greece

Agroforestry systems have a multitude of features that make them resilient to climate change and at the same time important for mitigation efforts (Hernández-Morcillo et al. 2018). However, it is advisable to continuously adapt their management so that they continue to provide their desired ecosystem services, including those that contribute substantially to climate change mitigation.

Definitions

According to FAO (2013), “adaptation actions to climate change refer to adjustments and regulation of natural or anthropogenic systems in response to the current or expected climate change impacts, in order to minimize the risks and vulnerability of these systems, and at the same time, to take advantage of the opportunities provided. Specifically in the forest sector, adaptation includes interventions and changes in management practices aiming at the reduction of the vulnerability of forests and societies near forest areas to climate change.” Climate change mitigation actions include measures to stabilise or reduce the presence greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This can be achieved either by reducing anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases or by increasing the rate of their removal from the atmosphere. The effects of adaptation actions can be perceived at a specific spatial level or activity sector, whereas the effects of mitigation actions cannot be perceived directly, although they can be applied at different spatial levels or different sectors of the economy.