Harnessing agroforestry as a nature-based solution
Caritas, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services are supporting communities to reduce deforestation and promote agroforestry. This is part of Transforming Rural Lives through Adaptation and Carbon Capture project, supported by Climate Resilient by Nature, an Australian Government-funded initiative.
Natural ecosystems in the municipalities of Baucau and Viqueque in Timor Leste have been severely depleted in the last century through intensive deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture and heavy rains. This has led to degraded soil, increased frequency of landslides, weakened forest ecosystems, and poor agricultural yields.
To address these challenges and reduce deforestation, the project, Transforming Rural Lives through Adaptation and Carbon Capture (TRACC) in partnership with Caritas and the Catholic Relief Service centres on agroforestry as a nature-based solution in Timor Leste.
Brigida using drip irrigation method on tree sapling © Catholic Relief Services, Timor Leste.
Agroforestry involves the intentional planting and maintenance of trees in agricultural landscapes, including among crops and livestock. Through the TRACC project the injection of new trees aims to reduces pressure on forest ecosystems, and provide critical climate mitigation and adaptation benefits including carbon sequestration. In addition, trees in the agricultural landscape can increase the soil’s ability to capture and retain water in the soil and replenish groundwater. This can improve crop yields, providing a buffer during times of climate extremes and diversify income streams, while supporting biodiversity.
Community members from ten sucos (villages or communes) are utilising such agroforestry practices to repopulate their household plots and rehabilitate degraded forests in their community. Various tree sapling species are planted that support community resilience and livelihood needs. These range from fast growing tree varieties that can be utilised for firewood; species that offer “protection” by improving land and soil health and prevent landslides; and lastly, fruit trees that supplement food sources. So far, 73,000 saplings have been distributed to support the implementation of community forest plans and a total of 406 hectares of land are under restoration.
In addition, the project focuses on individual and community behaviour change to reduce deforestation, tree cutting and slash and burn, and promote agroforestry. Critically, this takes an inclusive approach. Inclusion is of the utmost importance as marginalised groups such as women, youth, the elderly, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities are impacted differently by environmental challenges and proposed conservation initiatives.
As part of this Brigida, a 59-year-old resident of Bualale village in Baucau municipality who is mobility impaired was provided with 100 saplings including orange, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, mahogany, moringa, and ipil-ipil trees. With support from her relatives and the TRACC project team, she has successfully planted these trees on her farm. Previously, Brigida solely cultivated seasonal crops such as maize, cassava, and beans. However, with the introduction of fruit trees on her farm, she now envisions a more sustainable future and anticipates fruit production in the coming years. Despite having a mobility impairment, Brigida states:
“It’s not preventing me from planting trees and taking care of nature as we are relate - we all are living in nature, we need to work hard every day to sustain life. Sometimes we need to get support from our neighbours, they come and help me taking care of the plantation and also support me for watering to make sure that my saplings survive during the dry season.”
Brigida also attended training to improve her knowledge on agroforestry and techniques including mulching and drip irrigation to protect her trees during the dry season. “I learned about stopping the slash and burning activities that contribute to the loss of trees. Watering trees without mulch makes it difficult for trees to survive as the dry seasons becomes very hot. I'm so glad that I learned this including drip irrigation. It has helped me a lot during the dry season,” adds Brigida.
In the face of a changing climate, these practices will help ensure the survival of the growing saplings. The trees in turn will reduce erosion and risk of landslide. By enhancing the health of the broader ecosystem and protecting these forests, communities can also build resilience of food systems while also diversifying food sources.
Nature is our greatest ally in the fight against climate change. That’s why Climate Resilient by Nature, an Australian Government-funded initiative in partnership with WWF-Australia, is supporting high-integrity nature-based solutions in the Indo-Pacific. Nature-based solutions can restore and protect critical ecosystems, build sustainable livelihoods, and increase resilience to climate shocks.