Abstract:

Development Mechanism (CDM). An allometric equation for G robusta was used to calculate
the carbon sacks and merchantable wood volume in the woodlot and agroforestry management
options over different crediting periods. The results indicated that G robusta wood lots and
agroforestry management options sequestered 470 and 2251 CO,e ha1 respectively, over a 20
year rotation. The net present values (NPVs) of the G robusta agroforestry management
option of US$4367 and 4447 ha1 under the Plan Vivo and small-scale CDM, respectively, were
higher than US$1358 and 1902 ha-1 in the G robusta woodlot management option. The NPV of
the traditional agroforestry system was US$ 3992 ha1. These results show that, whereas the
woodlot option stores more carbon, it is the least profitable option. Analysis also revealed that,
although poor households were well represented in the Plan Vivo scheme, they preferred the
agroforestry option. This suggests that forest carbon offsets on productive agricultural land,
should focus on promoting agroforestry technologies in order to increase profitability and
targeting of the poor households.