Fruit Trees For Climate Adaptation And Mitigation In East Africa
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
Download
Abstract: The "Fruit Trees for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in East Africa" project?led by World Agroforestry (ICRAF) with support from ACIAR?sought to strengthen smallholder resilience in Kenya and Rwanda through fruit tree-based agroforestry systems. Conducted over 24 months across Kiambu and Makueni counties in Kenya and the Bugesera district in Rwanda, the initiative aimed to improve food security, nutrition, and climate adaptation by increasing fruit tree planting and quantifying their carbon sequestration potential. Building on previous Trees4FoodSecurity programs, the project employed participatory and gender-responsive training strategies, integrated government policy priorities, and collaborated with local actors to scale implementation. Key achievements included the direct engagement of 3,578 beneficiaries (45% women), the creation of county-specific decision-support tools and mobile apps, significant increases in tree planting rates, and enhanced agricultural group membership. Furthermore, the project developed species-specific allometric equations for mango and avocado trees, contributing scientific insights into agroforestry's mitigation capacity. By aligning technical innovations with community needs and government policies, the project underscores the pivotal role of fruit trees in climate-smart landscapes, enabling progress toward national goals of carbon reduction, livelihood enhancement, and ecological restoration.