🏭CommercialAgriculture & Food • Soil Carbon Sequestration

Silvopasture Systems

Silvopasture integrates trees, forage plants, and livestock in managed systems that sequester 1-5 tons of CO₂ per hectare annually while improving animal welfare and farm productivity. These agroforestry systems can increase farm income by 35-45% through diversified products including timber, fruits, and improved livestock performance. Organizations like Project Drawdown estimate silvopasture could sequester 31.19 gigatons of CO₂ globally with adoption on suitable agricultural lands.

How It Works

Strategic tree planting in pastures creates integrated systems where trees provide shade and shelter for livestock while sequestering carbon in biomass and soil. Trees are selected for compatibility with grazing systems, including nitrogen-fixing species that improve soil fertility. Rotational grazing manages livestock movement to optimize grass growth and prevent soil compaction. Agroforestry practices include alley cropping, windbreaks, and riparian buffers integrated with grazing management.

Advantages

Sequesters significant carbon while improving farm profitability and animal welfare, provides climate resilience through diversified farm income and reduced weather vulnerability, and enhances biodiversity supporting wildlife habitat. Silvopasture improves soil health and water retention. The technology provides multiple revenue streams including carbon credits, timber, and improved livestock productivity.

Challenges

Requires long-term commitment and patience for tree establishment and maturation, faces initial costs for tree planting and fencing modifications, and needs specialized knowledge for successful integration of trees and livestock. Land use changes may affect property values and agricultural financing. Carbon sequestration verification requires monitoring and measurement systems.