“I do not see why a farmer should protect the forest just because people are talking about climate change. However, if you tell the farmer that by planting the improved material, they would diversify the source of his income and start harvesting within three years, then they would start listening to why this eco-system should be protected. Any living tree is a reservoir for absorbing carbon. The more you plant trees, the better you reduce the effects of climate change,” notes Dr. Zac Tchounjeu, the Coordinator of World Agroforestry Centre for Central Africa.
Using this approach, the World Agroforestry Centre introduced agroforestry practices to rural farmers in Cameroon 20 years ago, transforming smallholder households with improved food security, nutrition, income, health, shelter, social cohesion, energy resources and environmental sustainability.
