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<p>Riverine agroforestry (AF) systems play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health by enhancing biodiversity, stabilizing riverbanks, regulating hydrological cycles, and sequestering significant amounts of carbon. However, research on riverine agroforestry in Ethiopia is limited. Most studies have focused on homegardens, parklands, and enset- or coffee-based AF systems. This lack of empirical evidence limits our understanding of the ecological functions of riverine agroforestry and restricts its integration into national strategies for land restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable resource management. This study evaluated the composition, diversity, biomass carbon stock, and soil organic carbon (SOC) in riverine agroforestry and adjacent cropland systems in the Upper Awash Basin of Ethiopia. Vegetation was surveyed in 240 plots, and 480 soil samples were collected to evaluate soil organic carbon and bulk density. We recorded a total of 84 woody species from 61 genera and 38 families, with 96.4% classified as native. Species accumulation curves and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination indicated that riverine agroforestry had greater ecological heterogeneity and distinct species composition compared to cropland. Riverine plots had significantly higher Shannon diversity (1.87 vs. 1.21), Margalef species richness (2.45 vs. 1.49), and total biomass carbon stock (62.76 vs. 15.41&#xa0;Mg&#xa0;C&#xa0;ha⁻<sup>1</sup>) compared to croplands, which showed greater Simpson evenness due to the dominance of a few disturbance-tolerant species. SOC were substantially higher in riverine systems, both in the topsoil (43.73 vs. 21.34&#xa0;Mg C ha⁻<sup>1</sup>) and subsoil (35.03 vs. 14.97&#xa0;Mg C ha⁻<sup>1</sup>), indicating increased organic matter inputs and favorable microclimatic conditions. The total ecosystem carbon stock in riverine agroforestry systems (141.52&#xa0;Mg C ha⁻<sup>1</sup>) was nearly 2.7 times greater than that of croplands (51.72&#xa0;Mg C ha⁻<sup>1</sup>). These findings highlight the multifunctional value of riverine agroforestry in enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health, and fostering climate resilience, making it a crucial nature-based solution for restoring Ethiopia’s degraded landscapes.</p>

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Assessment of riverine agroforestry for biodiversity enhancement and carbon sequestration in the Upper Awash Basin of Ethiopia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月28日

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  • Gadisa Demie,
  • Bohdan Lojka

摘要

Riverine agroforestry (AF) systems play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health by enhancing biodiversity, stabilizing riverbanks, regulating hydrological cycles, and sequestering significant amounts of carbon. However, research on riverine agroforestry in Ethiopia is limited. Most studies have focused on homegardens, parklands, and enset- or coffee-based AF systems. This lack of empirical evidence limits our understanding of the ecological functions of riverine agroforestry and restricts its integration into national strategies for land restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable resource management. This study evaluated the composition, diversity, biomass carbon stock, and soil organic carbon (SOC) in riverine agroforestry and adjacent cropland systems in the Upper Awash Basin of Ethiopia. Vegetation was surveyed in 240 plots, and 480 soil samples were collected to evaluate soil organic carbon and bulk density. We recorded a total of 84 woody species from 61 genera and 38 families, with 96.4% classified as native. Species accumulation curves and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination indicated that riverine agroforestry had greater ecological heterogeneity and distinct species composition compared to cropland. Riverine plots had significantly higher Shannon diversity (1.87 vs. 1.21), Margalef species richness (2.45 vs. 1.49), and total biomass carbon stock (62.76 vs. 15.41 Mg C ha⁻1) compared to croplands, which showed greater Simpson evenness due to the dominance of a few disturbance-tolerant species. SOC were substantially higher in riverine systems, both in the topsoil (43.73 vs. 21.34 Mg C ha⁻1) and subsoil (35.03 vs. 14.97 Mg C ha⁻1), indicating increased organic matter inputs and favorable microclimatic conditions. The total ecosystem carbon stock in riverine agroforestry systems (141.52 Mg C ha⁻1) was nearly 2.7 times greater than that of croplands (51.72 Mg C ha⁻1). These findings highlight the multifunctional value of riverine agroforestry in enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health, and fostering climate resilience, making it a crucial nature-based solution for restoring Ethiopia’s degraded landscapes.