Integrating ecosystem services through sustainable land use approach in multifucntional agroforestry: The case of Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Multifunctional agroforestry (MFA) systems integrate trees with crops and/or livestock, offering sustainable solutions to enhance productivity, biodiversity, and climate resilience. This study aimed to quantify all four Ecosystem services (ES) - provisioning services, regulating services, supporting and cultural services in MFA established at Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalyam, India, during 2018-2021. It is designed as circular arrangement of 25 tree species and 8 intercrops structured into four quadrats. The provisioning services were quantified in terms of yield (Kilogram); Carbon sequestration was estimated through non-destructive method while cultural services were evaluated using structured qualitative survey. The findings concerning provisioning services confirm that the yield and income were consistently generated from various components throughout the year. The economic valuation of provisioning services (timber, food, fruits, fodder, flower and medicinal plants) from MFA at the end of study period was $8967.45. Under regulating services, air temperature moderation of∼1 to 2 o C were recorded. Neolamarckia cadamba and Melia dubia (2.6 Mg ha -1 yr -1 ) sequestrated highest carbon with carbon credit of $78 ha -1 of MFA. Supporting services indicated a total oxygen production of 37.02 Mg ha -1 . In cultural services, willingness to pay (WTP) was positively influenced by income of a respondent, averaging $0.70 visit -1 . Overall, the total monetary value of ecosystem services from multifunctional agroforestry were $9528.03 ha -1 ($3176.03 yr -1 ha -1 ). This study is the first report on complete quantification and valuation of ES, thereby offering empirical evidence to support agroforestry as climate resilient and economically viable land-use system for smallholder farmers. • Circular multifunctional agroforestry model comprising of 25 tree species and 8 intercrops for small holder farmers. • Comprehensive quantification of all four ecosystem services: provisioning, regulating, supporting, cultural • Provisioning services generated consistent income and yield • Multifunctional agroforestry moderated temperature • Cultural services depends on perception of respondents