Soil Carbon in mineral soils and agroforestry
The project will generate CRCF‑compatible soil‑carbon inventories by coupling high‑resolution multispectral and SAR observations with field‑based carbon‑stock measurements on three strategically selected agroforestry pilot sites. Satellite‑derived indices of vegetation vigor, canopy cover and soil moisture are fused with ground‑truth data (soil bulk density, organic‑matter content and tree‑biomass inventories) in a data‑assimilation framework that yields spatially explicit estimates of mineral‑soil organic carbon (SOC) and above‑ground carbon (AGC). The workflow incorporates a process‑based carbon model that accounts for litter input, root turnover, and management practices (e.g., minimum tillage, cover‑crop adoption), while uncertainty is quantified through Monte‑Carlo propagation of sensor noise, sampling error and model parameter ranges. The resulting SOC/AGC maps are delivered as EO‑based products that satisfy CRCF requirements for baseline definition, leakage assessment, double‑counting avoidance and biodiversity co‑benefits, and they provide a repeatable baseline for monitoring carbon dynamics over the life‑time of the agroforestry interventions.
Pilot activities are carried out at three complementary locations that reflect Treedom’s blend of proven experience and innovative capacity. In Madagascar’s Ambositra region (≈ 400 ha, lat ‑20.532617 / lon 47.244683) the agroforestry system, operational since 2018, integrates native trees with staple crops to restore degraded soils, increase fertility and generate income for smallholder families. In Ecuador’s Manabí and Cotopaxi provinces (≈ 300 ha, active since 2020) diversified agroforestry plots combine food‑security crops with fast‑growing tree species, delivering climate‑resilient yields while each tree is geolocated and monitored through Treedom’s transparent digital platform. The third site, a 40‑ha experimental field in Puglia, Italy (lat 41.032944 / lon 16.903528), tests agroforestry concepts under Mediterranean conditions, addressing soil degradation, water scarcity and biodiversity loss. Across all three sites, close collaboration with local farmers and communities ensures sustainable land‑use practices, biodiversity protection and long‑term socio‑economic resilience, while providing the diverse climatic, agronomic and socio‑economic contexts needed to validate the soil‑carbon methodology for CRCF certification.
Pilot sites
PS-1: Agroforestry & Soil practices in Madagascar (CRCF pilot)
PS-2: Agroforestry & Soil practices in Ecuador (CRCF pilot)
PS-3: Agroforestry practices in Italy (Innovative pilot)
