Perceived multifunctionality of agroforestry trees in

smallholder farming systems of Northern Ethiopia

A participatory case study of the perceived functions and associated personal values of trees in Northern Ethiopia’s agricultural landscape

Johannes Ernstberger – MSc student in Agroecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)jser0003@stud.slu.se 2016-06-07

Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)

Outline• Background to Ethiopia & Agroforestry• Means-End Chain theory• “Measuring” Multifunctionality• Multifunctional trees & the importance of multiple functions

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Environmental degradationLow economic outputFood insecurity

Introduction

Background• Multiple problems

-> Need a multifunctional solution!

Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/05/2023 3

ssa

Agroforestry as a multifunctional solution?!

• But who plants or manages those trees?

Soil fertility (organic matter)

Clean air (carbon sequestration)

Wood products>

Food & Medicine

>

Shade>

Fodder >

N2-fixation>

Soil stabilization>

Agroforestry

Habitat for beneficial organisms

Introduction

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Source: Vi-Skogen, 2016

Research Questions• Which trees are prevalent?• Which functions do these trees

fill?• Why are these functions

important for households?

Aim

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Source: Author.

Methods• Case study in Tigray• 2 sites (sub-districts)• Semi-structured interviews• 55 household heads• 5 informants

Methods

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Source: GoogleMaps.

How to evaluate functions?M

ethods

• Multiple functions -> Multiple values?• Means-End Chain (MEC) framework• Origins in Marketing Research• Attributes• Consequences (Functions)• Personal values

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Independence

Inputs costs saving

Improve water holding capacity

Goat manure use

Value

Consequences / Functions

Attribute

Source: Adapted from Okello et al., 2014.

Agroforestry trees in the sites

Tree speciesNo. of HH (N=55)

No. of HH Site 1 (N=28)

No. of HH Site 2 (N=27)

Avg. no. of trees per HH

Eucalyptus spp. 46 28 18 285.36Faidherbia albida 38 28 10 22.09Acacia lahay 26 0 26 37.76Cordia Africana 26 4 22 4.77Croton macrostachyus 18 1 17 5.12Acacia etbaica 10 10 0 37.57Ziziphus mucronata 9 0 9 2.47Ficus thonningii 6 0 6 3.40Sesbania sesban & Leucena leucocephala 3 0 3 102.33

Results

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Most mentioned functions per HH across trees

Constructi

on (total)

Firewood

Sale (to

tal)

Fodder (t

otal)

Land improve

ment (total)

Fencin

gEating

Pos. shade (to

tal)Misc

Grace

Bee forage

0102030405060

Results

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Excerpt: F. Albida – Hierarchical Value Map

Results

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Pods

Palatable for all livestock

NutritiousLarge amount

Fodder

More livestockImproved growth

Cash

Education

Leaves

Sheds in summerNutritiousFast decomposing

Fertilizing

Replace mineral fertilizerImproved crop performance

More harvest

Less risk of shortage

Safety

Capital

Solving crisis

Better life

Cons

eque

nces

/ F

uncti

ons

Attrib

ute

sVa

lue

s

“So what?”• Multiple functions relate to multiple values

• Drawbacks MEC: What about basic needs?

• Farmers’ perspective: Which role does it play in the multifunctionality of landscapes?

Conclusion

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ReferencesVi-Skogen Agroforestry – så fungerar det [2016-06-06].Okello, J.J., Largerkvist, C.J., Ngigi, M.W. & Karanja, N. (2014). Means-End Chain Analysis Explains Soil Fertility Management Decisions by Peri-Urban Vegetable Growers in Kenya. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 12(2), pp. 183-199.

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