Climate-Smart Conservation Agriculture, Farm Values and Tenure Security: Implications for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Congo Basin

Background

The Congo Basin forest houses a high amount of biodiversity and is an important area to conserve in light of climate change. This region is also important for agriculture and local livelihoods, though current practices are degrading the forest. Certain policy issues surrounding land tenure and investments may be hindering climate smart agriculture.

Goals and Methods

This study presents a typology of the Climate Smart Conservation Agriculture land management techniques and documents land tenure and institutions in the Congo Basin region. In order to provide empirical evidence of the impact of farm-level investments on conservation agriculture, as well as determine how tenure impacts agricultural practice, the authors use a model simulation accounting for agricultural systems, policies, and people.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The authors determine that farmers choose agricultural systems to maximize profit based on their current tenure and environmental conditions. Climate-smart practices show to benefit smallholder farms. Overall, the authors advocate for farm-level investments as they enhance conservation efforts in light of climate change. Secure land tenure promotes better livelihoods and reduces land degradation.