Wetland-Based Agroforestry Systems: Balancing Between Carbon Sink and Source

Abstract

Wetlands of India, estimated to be 58.2 million ha, are important repositories of aquatic biodiversity. The diverse ecoclimatic regimes extant in the country resulted in a variety of wetland systems ranging from high altitude cold desert wetland to hot and humid wetlands in coastal zones with its diverse flora and fauna. These ecosystems provide immense services and commodities to humanity. Wetlands perform numerous valuable functions such as recycle nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods, maintain stream flow, recharge ground water, and also serve in providing livelihood to local people in terms of fish, drinking water, fodder, fuel, and environmental services. With rapidly expanding human population, wetlands of India are threatened and facing severe anthropogenic pressures. There is obviously much ground to be covered in our conservation efforts of wetlands. Various agencies at local and government level need to join hands in making these viable, functional, and sustainable. Being diversified farming systems, agroforestry opportunities are abundant in rehabilitation of wetland systems. The nutrient-rich riparian zone provides a suitable site for harnessing the ecosystem services of tree-based farming in the flood plains and in the ecologically fragile hilly region. Ecologically, wetland use as a component in agroforestry may be more acceptable in areas which are facing frequent/seasonal or permanently flooding. It is envisaged that wetland agroforestry can alleviate poverty by making substantial contribution toward local economy in terms of fish and agricultural production.