1.
Perceived multifunctionality of
agroforestry trees in smallholder
farming systems of Northern
Ethiopia
A participatory case study of the perceived functions and associated
personal values of trees in Northern Ethiopia’s agricultural landscape
Johannes Ernstberger – MSc student in Agroecology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
jser0003@stud.slu.se 2016-06-07

2.
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)
Outline
• Background to Ethiopia & Agroforestry
• Means-End Chain theory
• “Measuring” Multifunctionality
• Multifunctional trees & the importance of multiple functions
02/03/2017 2

3.
Environmental
degradation
Low economic output
Food
insecurity
Introduction
Background
• Multiple problems
-> Need a multifunctional
solution!
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 3

4.
ssa
Agroforestry as a
multifunctional
solution?!
• But who plants or
manages those trees?
Soil fertility
(organic matter)
Clean air (carbon
sequestration)
Wood products
>
Food &
Medicine
>
Shade
>
Fodder
>
N2-fixation
>
Soil stabilization
>
Agroforestry
Habitat for
beneficial
organisms
Introduction
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 4
Source: Vi-Skogen, 2016

5.
Research Questions
• Which trees are prevalent?
• Which functions do these trees
fill?
• Why are these functions
important for households?
Aim
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 5
Source: Author.

6.
Methods
• Case study in Tigray
• 2 sites (sub-districts)
• Semi-structured interviews
• 55 household heads
• 5 informants
Methods
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 6
Source: GoogleMaps.

7.
How to evaluate functions?
Methods
• Multiple functions -> Multiple values?
• Means-End Chain (MEC) framework
• Origins in Marketing Research
• Attributes
• Consequences (Functions)
• Personal values
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 7
Independence
Inputs costs
saving
Improve water
holding capacity
Goat manure
use
Value
Consequences /
Functions
Attribute
Source: Adapted from Okello et al., 2014.

8.
Agroforestry trees in the sites
Tree species
No. of HH
(N=55)
No. of HH Site 1
(N=28)
No. of HH Site 2
(N=27)
Avg. no. of
trees per
HH
Eucalyptus spp. 46 28 18 285.36
Faidherbia albida 38 28 10 22.09
Acacia lahay 26 0 26 37.76
Cordia Africana 26 4 22 4.77
Croton macrostachyus 18 1 17 5.12
Acacia etbaica 10 10 0 37.57
Ziziphus mucronata 9 0 9 2.47
Ficus thonningii 6 0 6 3.40
Sesbania sesban &
Leucena leucocephala 3 0 3 102.33
Results
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 8

9.
Most mentioned functions per HH across
trees
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Results
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 9

10.
Excerpt: F. Albida – Hierarchical Value Map
Results
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 10
Pods
Palatable for
all livestock
NutritiousLarge amount
Fodder
More livestockImproved growth
Cash
Education
Leaves
Sheds in summerNutritiousFast decomposing
Fertilizing
Replace mineral fertilizer
Improved crop
performance
More harvest
Less risk of shortage
Safety
Capital
Solving crisis
Better life
Consequences/
Functions
AttributesValues

11.
“So what?”
• Multiple functions relate to multiple values
• Drawbacks MEC: What about basic needs?
• Farmers’ perspective: Which role does it play in the multifunctionality
of landscapes?
Conclusion
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 11

12.
References
Vi-Skogen Agroforestry – så fungerar det [2016-06-06].
Okello, J.J., Largerkvist, C.J., Ngigi, M.W. & Karanja, N. (2014). Means-
End Chain Analysis Explains Soil Fertility Management Decisions by
Peri-Urban Vegetable Growers in Kenya. International Journal of
Agricultural Sustainability, 12(2), pp. 183-199.
Johannes Ernstberger (jser0003@stud.slu.se)02/03/2017 12