Beyond Carbon Credits: Integrating Silvopastoral Systems into REDD+ Activities for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

In the context of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, the forestry sector holds significant potential to contribute to global mitigation efforts. One of the primary drivers of deforestation is land expansion for livestock production. However, both sectors are closely linked to issues of food security and food sovereignty, with the livestock sector playing a crucial role in ensuring food availability. Integrating these two sectors through silvopastoral systems offers a promising solution that supports forest conservation while simultaneously addressing the global food crisis. Among the leading initiatives in forest conservation is REDD+, a mechanism under the UNFCCC that has proven effective in reducing deforestation and forest degradation, as well as in enhancing carbon stock conservation. Following the ratification of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in 2024, REDD+ has gained recognition as a viable approach for generating international carbon credits. Given the intersection of the livestock and forestry sectors, and the potential of carbon credits to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, silvopastoral systems could be considered for inclusion in REDD+ strategies under the framework of Article 6.