A review of the carbon sequestration potential of fruit trees and their implications for climate change mitigation: The case of Ethiopia

Abstract

Carbon sequestration is defined as the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Fruit crops are indispensable both for climate change mitigation and ensuring food security. However, the impact of fruit trees is not adequately investigated. This review assesses the carbon sequestration potential of fruit trees and their implications for climate change mitigation. Fruit trees use photosynthesis to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and assimilate it into their cellulose, lowering atmospheric buildup. Horn of Africa is the most vulnerable region for climate change, and Ethiopia is also facing unpredictable weather, which brings sporadic floods and droughts that harm the agricultural sectors. Dramatic rise of CO2 from 280 ppm in 1850 to 420.2 ± 0.5 ppm in 2023 is reported to link with human activity. In most Ethiopian farms, multipurpose fruit trees are rarely cultivated, and the only experience is planting trees in the homestead areas. Even though fruit trees have an enormous potential to store carbon, the destruction of those trees is also results greenhouse gas. Tree plants, including fruit trees, are thought to absorb 0.42 to 0.65 pentagrams of carbon per year. Above- and below-ground biomasses have been described to sink more than 40% of carbon. Agroforestry practices should adopt all fruit species on the basis of carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation in their growing stratum. Therefore, in order to oblige countries to adopt versatile fruit trees to meet food and nutrition security, carbon sequestration, and climate change mitigation efforts should have both political and economic sustainability.