Abstract

The anthropogenic global climate change has negative impacts on various sectors and communities who particularly rely on rain-fed agriculture. Parkland Agroforestry practice can contribute to mitigate and adapt to the forthcoming climate change through carbon sequestration. However, empirical studies on carbon stocks of parklands and perception of the local people on the practices are scarce in different localities. This study assessed carbon stocks of the practice and perception of the community on the practice at Minjar Shenkora woreda. By using two-stage stratified random sampling technique, 110 farmers from 4 kebeles were selected for household surveys to assess farmers’ perception of socio-ecological roles of the practice and 8 farms/plots/ of 40 m*40 m sample size were selected from each kebele for the vegetation inventory. Tree species-specific allometric equations were used to determine carbon stock's potential of the practice. Likert scale was also used to analyze the perception of farmers on the practices. The result revealed that, almost all farmers well perceived about parkland Agroforestry practice. The AGC, BGC, SOC and TC have significant variation (p<0.05) across kebeles. The mean total carbon stock of Bolo Giorgis, Bolo Slase, Agirat and Korma Agere is 48.87 Mg C ha-1, 58.21 Mg C ha-1, 57.81 Mg C ha-1and 73.71 Mg C ha-1; respectively. On average, carbon stock of the practice in Minjar shenkora was 59.65 Mg C ha-1. The perception and carbon stocks result indicated that, the practice has a large potential to deliver various ecosystem services and opportunities to mitigate the impending climate-changing through carbon sequestration and increasing the resilience of the agricultural system at study area. To enhance the ecosystem services of the practices in a sustainable way: local bylaws should be strengthened to avoid illegal tree cutting and free grazing. Moreover, the effect of plowing by tractor and harvesting of a machine on the growth and regeneration of seedlings need attention.