ATMOSPHERIC CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH AGROFORESTRY IN CHINA

Agroforestry is an important alternative to modern agriculture and for estry. It is useful in ameliorating environmental degradation, such as desertification and land erosion. During our study on biomass and pro ductivity of agroforestry systems in the North China Plain, we found t hat agroforestry has a greater potential for storing and absorbing car bon from the atmosphere than has land cultivation. Furthermore, agrofo restry systems produce timber and firewood that will bring profit to p easants and reduce the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.