Multistrata Agroforestry
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APBiology, Earth and Space Sciences, Economics
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Provided by Project Drawdown
What it is
- This resource is currently being revised by Project Drawdown but you can research many of the other solutions in detail on their new Drawdown Explorer page.
- This article explores the nature of multistrata agroforestry, how this agricultural system can impact food production, and multistrata agroforestry's ability to sequester large amounts of carbon.
- Students will learn the impact of multistrata agroforestry on biodiversity, agricultural revenue, and emissions reduction.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This article includes a What You Can Do section providing some tips for living sustainably.
- This article does an excellent job of explaining its research methodology.
Additional Prerequisites
- The first link in the References section is broken, but it isn't necessary for understanding the article.
- The Limitations section of this article provides valuable context for readers.
- Some students, especially ELL students, will need the terms multistrata, sequester, land degradation, afforestation, mitigation, hectare, and others defined before reading the article.
- Many Project Drawdown articles about land sinks and shifting agricultural practices mention the Project Drawdown Agro-Ecological Zone model. It may benefit students to understand this model before reading the article.
Differentiation
- This article pairs well with other solutions from Project Drawdown's Table of Solutions to create a lesson on potential solutions to climate change.
- Students can use this article for an informative essay on agricultural practices that are eco-friendly and economically sound.
- Science students can discuss the connection between agriculture and biodiversity.
- This article can enhance a classroom discussion on the differences between multistrata agroforestry and other agricultural systems.
- Younger students or students with low reading stamina can read this article as a whole class or read the column on the right and the definition at the top individually.
From the scientist review
The resource introduces the topic of multistrata agroforestry and how mimicking the structure of natural forests can reduce greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon while still producing food. The article briefly defines multistrata agroforestry and explains how replacing grazing on nondegraded grassland can decrease the effects of climate change. It includes a few solutions to incorporate this structure. A method, example scenarios, models, results, and discussion explain using land sinks to reduce greenhouse gases. This article will strengthen any lesson discussing alternative methods for reducing carbon emissions. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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