Julio Vasquez Alva
Other projects
17 Nov 2014
Monitoring of Growth and Health of Native Tree Species in Agroforestry Systems in the Peruvian Amazon using Mobile Electronic Devices
The aim of our monitoring event is: a) to carry out sampling of tree growth which will allows us to collect statistically robust data on the biomass contained with the agroforestry systems b) to evaluate tree health, disease and nutrient deficiencies and make recommendations for improved management. Both aims can be carried out in tandem, and the results will be disseminated so contribute to a) local learning to improve the productivity of agroforestry systems installed on degraded lands in the region as well as b) contribute to the academic literature on tree growth, biomass accumulation and carbon storage in agroforestry systems more broadly.
Plant your Future works with smallholder farmers in the northern Peruvian Amazon region of Loreto to restore degraded farmland with productive agroforestry. The region is internationally recognised as mega-biodiverse. Slash-and-burn agriculture poses a threat to that biodiversity; it is the main driver of deforestation locally. Our reforestation project (via agroforestry) reverses the loss of canopy and degradation. My project here is to continue to develop an efficient digital monitoring systems which will allow us to not only review tree health and give better management prescriptions but also estimate carbon storage.
I anticipate that the monitoring event in Loreto to carry out tree measurements and assessment of tree health using a sampling approach in all 25 hectares of agroforestry systems will take two months of fieldwork or 40 days including training and quality control checks. The soils and previous land-use conditions where the agroforestry systems are located are highly variable so although we will use a stratification approach, to achieve confidence in our data a relatively high number of sampling plots will be needed.
There is a lack of technical recommendations and specifications for reforesting of degraded lands in the Peruvian Amazon with native species. Through growth data from our existing plantations and further research we aim to:
I. continue to pilot and improve the monitoring of tree growth and health in reforestation systems
II. accurately estimate biomass and carbon storage in young agroforestry systems. This will contribute to the literature within Peru and internationally, helping with the national climate change strategy. It will also enable PYF to sell carbon offset and bring that is an income stream for the project/farmers.
III. build local and regional capacity on efficient measurement techniques for estimation of carbon dioxide storage in agroforestry systems. This is important as this capacity building is key if local institutuions in the northern Peruvian Amazon are to be part of and benefit from the national REDD+ strategy.
IV. provide recommendations on best-practise management for installing agroforestry systems on degraded land using native species