Presented to: Agriculture and Carbon Management

Conference

Agroforestry: A Natural Carbon Management Tool

by: Blair English P. Ag.Agroforestry Specialist

AAFC - PFRA Brandon Research Centre

Ph (204) 726-7587Fax (204) 726-7619

email: englishb@agr.gc.cawww.agr.gc.ca/pfra.shelterbelt.htm

AAFC – PFRA’s Working Definition of Agroforestry:

“An approach to land use that incorporates trees into farming systems to accomplish environmental, economic and social goals, and allows for production of trees and crops from the same piece of land”

PFRA Shelterbelt CentrePFRA Shelterbelt CentreLocated at Indian Head, Saskatchewan.Located at Indian Head, Saskatchewan.Started producing shelterbelt material for prairie Started producing shelterbelt material for prairie farmers in 1901.farmers in 1901.Produces tree material that is hardy to the harshest of Produces tree material that is hardy to the harshest of prairie conditions.prairie conditions.The Shelterbelt Centre ships 5 to 6 million trees about The Shelterbelt Centre ships 5 to 6 million trees about 8 to 10 thousand applicants per year in Manitoba, 8 to 10 thousand applicants per year in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta & Peace River District of B.C. Saskatchewan, Alberta & Peace River District of B.C.

PFRA Shelterbelt CentrePFRA Shelterbelt Centre

As well as providing shelterbelt material, the Shelterbelt Centre conducts research, provides technical assistance and promotes the use of trees and shelterbelts throughout the prairie region.

Shelterbelt BenefitsShelterbelt Benefits

When properly designed, there are three major ways green house gases can be mitigated by shelterbelts:

1. Snow control

2. Energy Savings in home heating

3. Carbon sequestration

Snow Control:

Shelterbelts can be designed to keep farmyards, driveways and roads clear of snow. Financial and greenhouse gas emission savings can be achieved as a result of reduced snow clearing activities.

Energy Savings by Shelterbelts:

Properly designed shelterbelts can reduce the heating costs of farm buildings by 30%. Depending on the source of energy used, greenhouse gas emission reductions as well as financial saving can be considerable.

Carbon Sequestration Potential of Shelterbelts

Shelterbelts remove carbon dioxide and store it as carbon for long periods of time as wood.

Shelterbelt Centre began investigating the carbon potential of prairie shelterbelts in the early 1990’s.

PFRA determined the rate of carbon accumulation for 20 important prairie shelterbelt species.

We are now able to predict the carbon content of current and future shelterbelt programs.

Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration equations for 20 species of equations for 20 species of trees and shrubstrees and shrubsDeciduous Trees Deciduous Shrubs Coniferous trees

Bur oak Buffaloberry Colorado spruceGreen ash Choke cherry Scots pineManitoba maple Caragana Siberian larchSiberian elm Dogwood White spruceHybrid poplar HawthornWillow Hedge rose

Russian oliveSea buckthornSiberian crabappleVillosa lilac

Sequestration PotentialSequestration PotentialTwo scenarios, current distribution vs. Two scenarios, current distribution vs. an expanded planting programs.an expanded planting programs.Carbon sink measured for 2008-2012, Carbon sink measured for 2008-2012, 2013-2017 verification periods and 2013-2017 verification periods and 2036-2040. 2036-2040. 1990 starting year.1990 starting year.Shelterbelt Centre distribution Shelterbelt Centre distribution numbers used for years 1990 – 1999.numbers used for years 1990 – 1999.

AssumptioAssumptionsns

Trees were planted in shelterbelts at Trees were planted in shelterbelts at the recommended spacing between the recommended spacing between trees.trees.Seedling survival varied from 50% Seedling survival varied from 50% to 85%, depending on species.to 85%, depending on species.Hectares are calculated using a five Hectares are calculated using a five metre width for a single row metre width for a single row shelterbelt.shelterbelt.Carbon is recorded in Mt COCarbon is recorded in Mt CO22 and and represents above ground carbon represents above ground carbon only.only.

Scenario 1 - Current Scenario 1 - Current DistributionDistribution

Shelterbelt Centre distribution Shelterbelt Centre distribution numbers used for 1990-1999.numbers used for 1990-1999.Tree Distribution for 2000-2040 is Tree Distribution for 2000-2040 is assumed to be the same as for 1999 assumed to be the same as for 1999 (5.3 million).(5.3 million).

Scenario 1, Carbon sequestration Scenario 1, Carbon sequestration by shelterbelts (Mt COby shelterbelts (Mt CO22))

1.72.4

9.1

11.4

6.2

0.4 0.6

2.2

0.3 0.40.8

2008 - 2012 2013 - 2017 2036 - 2040

0

2

4

6

8

10

Total Deciduous trees

Coniferous trees Shrubs

Scenario 2 - Double Scenario 2 - Double Current DistributionCurrent Distribution

Actual distribution numbers 1990-Actual distribution numbers 1990-1999.1999.Five year ramp up period to full to Five year ramp up period to full to new production level (10.6 million new production level (10.6 million trees). trees). Expanded program has 15 year Expanded program has 15 year duration after which production duration after which production returns to pre-2000 levels (5.3 returns to pre-2000 levels (5.3 million).million).

Scenario 2. Carbon sequestration Scenario 2. Carbon sequestration by shelterbelts (Mt COby shelterbelts (Mt CO22))

2.1

3.1

11.7

1.21.8

7.9

0.5 0.8

2.8

0.4 0.51

2008 - 2012 2013 - 2017 2036 - 2040

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Total Deciduous trees

Coniferous trees Shrubs

Hectares of shelterbelts Hectares of shelterbelts planted, 1990-2040planted, 1990-2040

Scenario 1990-2012 1990-2017 1990-2040

#1 (Current) 76,000 92,000 163,000

#2 (Double) 107,000 131,000 200,000

* Approx. 55 million hectares of agricultural land in the prairie region.

Shelterbelt BenefitsShelterbelt Benefits

Shelterbelts are currently planted for the Shelterbelts are currently planted for the protection of soils, crops, buildings, protection of soils, crops, buildings, livestock and for wildlife habitat. Carbon livestock and for wildlife habitat. Carbon sequestration is one more benefit.sequestration is one more benefit.Do not require the conversion of large Do not require the conversion of large tracts of agricultural land, the land stays tracts of agricultural land, the land stays in production and the shelterbelts in production and the shelterbelts complement the economic and complement the economic and environmental sustainability of the farm.environmental sustainability of the farm.

Shelterbelt Enhancement Program (SEP)

•The Shelterbelt Enhancement Program is part of Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change.•Five year, $4 million program designed to increase shelterbelt planting in the prairie region. •Target is the sequestration of 0.3 MT CO2, 8,000 km of incremental shelterbelts.

Shelterbelt Enhancement Program (SEP)

•Provides seedlings, technical assistance, plastic mulch and access to equipment to qualifying applicants in MB, SK, AB & BC Peace.•2001-2002 was first year of program.•228 approved applications (20 cancelled).

Plastic Mulch – 1275 km in 2003

Shelterbelt Enhancement Program (SEP)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

BC/AB MB

km

Total Planting Length

-B.C./Alberta – 96.8 km

- Saskatchewan – 263.9 km

- Manitoba – 180.5 km

- Total – 541.2 km

SummarySummaryPrairie shelterbelts will sequester between Prairie shelterbelts will sequester between 1.7 and 2.2 Mt CO1.7 and 2.2 Mt CO22 in the first commitment in the first commitment period (2008-2012) depending on the size period (2008-2012) depending on the size of the program, 2.4 to 4.4 Mt COof the program, 2.4 to 4.4 Mt CO22 in the in the second commitment period.second commitment period.

There are many environmental and There are many environmental and agronomic benefits to planting shelterbeltsagronomic benefits to planting shelterbelts

Opportunities exist to expand shelterbelt Opportunities exist to expand shelterbelt programming across Canada through new programming across Canada through new partnershipspartnerships