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Title: A common framework for GHG assessment protocols in temperate agroforestry systems: connecting via GRACEnet

Author
item SCHOENEBERGER, MICHELE - Us Forest Service (FS)
item Franzluebbers, Alan
item JOSE, SHIBU - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2013
Publication Date: 7/12/2013
Citation: Schoeneberger, M., Franzluebbers, A.J., Jose, S. 2013. A common framework for GHG assessment protocols in temperate agroforestry systems: connecting via GRACEnet. Meeting Abstract. North American Agroforestry Conference, 19-21 June 2013, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There are technical and financial advantages for pursuing agroforestry-derived mitigation and adaptation services simultaneously, with a recognition that carbon (C) payments could assist in supporting the deployment of adaptation strategies (Motocha et al. (2012). However, we lack the repeated/repeatable data required for accounting and reliably managing for these C contributions, as well as for other GHGs, in temperate agroforestry. Despite a significant increase in the research and our understanding of how these systems work in North America, the efforts are disconnected and use disparate sampling protocols; greatly limiting our capacity to build a regional understanding and C accounting of these systems. In the U.S., efforts are being initiated to see whether and how agroforestry can be linked into USDA Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) GRACEnet (Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network) effort. GRACEnet’s goal is to identify and develop agricultural strategies to enhance soil C sequestration and reduce GHG emissions and to provide a scientific basis for C credit programs, to reduce net GHG emissions and to improve environmental quality. Central to this effort is a national coordination of research and use of consistent protocols for soil, trace gas and plant sampling. Agroforestry, by its very nature, obviously adds a high level of spatial and temporal complexity. On-going work focused on developing suitable monitoring /measurement approaches utilizing GRACEnet protocols will be discussed, as well as other activities focused on framing the data needs necessary to advancing the incorporation of agroforestry into U.S. farm-level GHG assessment tools.