SAMPLES Trees in Latin American silvopastoral systems are a powerful mitigation resource

A new publication by leading Latin American experts shows the path for the enhancement of monitoring and reporting of silvopastoral systems.

Silvopastoral systems are land-use practices in which trees are integrated into livestock production. Their potential for carbon sequestration has long been recognized in principle, but much neglected in practice. A recent report ^[1] by 31 leading Latin American specialists in silvopastoral systems and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC ^[2]) Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV ^[3]) framework now offers guidance on how to fill this gap.

The lead author, World Agroforestry’s (ICRAF ^[4]) Marta Suber, comments, “in Latin America, silvopastoral systems are widespread and traditional way of land-use. We believe that our report will be key to ‘putting them on the map’ with regard to countries’ commitments under the Paris Agreement. Right now, they’re pretty much invisible.”