ESTIMATION DU STOCK DE CARBONE DES SYSTEMES AGROFORESTIERS DANS LA COMMUNE DE N DALI AU NORD-EST DU BENIN

Agroforestry systems (AFS) are recognized for their essential role in agricultural resilience and climate change mitigation, particularly through carbon sequestration. This study aims to estimate the carbon stock of the main AFS present in the Commune of N Dali.We adopted an approach based on a floristic inventory within the distribution area of agroforestry systems using the Braun Blanquet sigmatist method. We established 150 circular plots, each with an 18m radius, across agroforestry parks, hedges, fallows, home gardens, and plantations (Taungya systems). The collected data allowed us to estimate aboveground and root biomass in order to calculate carbon stock using appropriate software (Excel, SPSS).The results showed that carbon stock varies significantlyat the p < 0.001 level between AFSs. Agroforestry parks store the largest amount of carbon (39.23 tons), followed by fallows (27.49 tons) and plantations (20.54 tons). Home gardens (3.65 tons) and hedges (2.23 tons) have lower absolute carbon stocks, but their ecological role in the landscape is significant. The equivalent CO2quantity stored follows the same gradient, with agroforestry parks having the highest CO2sequestration potential (19,605.99 16,602.05 t.EqCO2/ha). A key finding of this study is the strong correlation between carbon stock and the ecological importance of species in all AFSs, with determination coefficients greater than 0.79 (R² 1 for hedges, R² 0.98 for agroforestry parks). This relationship suggests that ecologically important species also contribute the most to carbon sequestration. Furthermore, carbon stock increases significantly with tree diameter, with large diameter individuals contributing disproportionately to overall storage.This study highlights the crucial role of agroforestry systems as carbon sinks in the Commune of N Dali, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and the resilience of rural households. For effective climate change mitigation, promoting agroforestry parks, fallows, and hedges, combined with sustainable management practices, represents a promising strategy to strengthen local climate resilience.