Silvopasture can deliver the province of Utrecht a combined 130 kton CO₂-eq per year of reduction and sequestration by 2030, by grazing livestock among trees instead of on bare pasture.
What it is
Silvopasture combines conventional grazing with trees and shrubs on the same land. Pastures interspersed with trees store five to ten times more carbon — both above ground and in the soil — than treeless pasture. Livestock provide manure and control weeds, while trees improve the fertility and water balance of the soil. This makes the land both healthier and more productive.
Potential in Utrecht
The total addressable market is 66,418 hectares of non-degraded grassland with minimal or moderate slopes. The sequestration potential is 2.7 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year. The plausible scenario uses 10% of this area (6,642 hectares), yielding 15 kton reduction plus 18 kton sequestration; the ambitious scenario uses 40% (26,567 hectares), reaching 58 kton reduction plus 72 kton sequestration — 130 kton together.
Co-benefits
Wooded pastures give livestock protection from sun and wind and a more varied food supply; there are indications that ruminants digest their feed better and therefore emit less methane. Yield per hectare can be 5 to 10% higher, while less feed, manure and weed control are needed.
Provincial policy
The province of Utrecht has no explicit target for silvopasture. Within the protein transition, however, reducing the climate impact of livestock farming is discussed, to which silvopasture can make a relevant contribution.
In practice
The citizens’ initiative Land van Ons buys farmland to restore biodiversity and landscape. On various plots, shrubs and trees are added to grassland for livestock, with a tailored long-term vision per plot.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ can silvopasture deliver in Utrecht?
According to this assessment, up to 130 kton CO₂-eq per year by 2030 combined (58 kton reduction plus 72 kton sequestration, ambitious scenario), or 33 kton in the plausible scenario.
Why do wooded pastures store more carbon?
Pastures with trees store five to ten times more carbon than treeless pastures, both in above-ground biomass and in the soil.
Is silvopasture good for livestock?
Yes, trees provide protection from sun and wind and a more varied food supply; there are indications that livestock emit less methane.
Source: Preliminary Climate Solutions Assessment for the province of Utrecht (Drawdown Europe & New Economy, 2021), based on the Project Drawdown methodology. Part of the sector-based climate action plan for the province of Utrecht.