Trade-Off Between Agroforestry and Ecosystem Services among Smallholder Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2019
Authors
Kinyili, Benjamin Mutuku
Ndunda, Ezekiel
Kitur, Esther
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
East African Nature & Science Organization
Abstract
Agroforestry provides multiple ecosystem services. The understanding of the
relationships between it and the ecosystem services can help to lessen undesired
trade-offs. The aim of this study was to determine the trade-offs between
agroforestry and ecosystem services among smallholder farmers in Machakos
County, Kenya. This study demonstrated that smallholder farmers who had
adopted agroforestry in the semi-arid areas of Machakos County achieved
several ecosystem services from the practice. Ecosystem services supporting
functions included nutrient recycling and soil formation which were the most
important. These were followed by regulatory functions (soil erosion control,
water infiltration, microclimate regulation, flood control and disease/pest
control). Provision of ecosystem services such as fuelwood, fruit, nuts, poles,
timber and fodder was the third most important function as perceived by the
local community members while the least was cultural functions that are rarely
performed within the agroforestry ecosystems. Given the low knowledge of the
entire range of agroforestry ecosystem services in the area, there should be
concerted effort to educate the local community members about the wide range
of ecosystem services to maximize the exploitation of these services from
agroforestry
Description
An Article Published in East African Journal of Forestry and Agroforestry
Keywords
Agroforestry, Ecosystem Services, Supporting Functions, Regulatory Functions, Provisioning Functions, Cultural Functions, Livelihoods