Agroforestry for a Climate-Smart Future

Author Biography

Anjana J. Atapattu is an internationally recognized authority on sustainable agriculture and agroforestry systems whose career bridges scientific innovation and practical implementation across tropical ecosystems. As the Acting Head of the Agronomy Division at the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, he has pioneered research that transforms conventional coconut plantations into biodiverse, climate-resilient agroforestry systems that simultaneously enhance productivity, carbon sequestration, and farmer livelihoods. Following his doctoral research in Ecology at the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Atapattu has devoted more than a decade to developing evidence-based agroforestry models that address the interconnected challenges of climate change, food security, and environmental degradation. His groundbreaking work on biochar application in tropical agroforestry systems has demonstrated significant improvements in soil health and carbon storage capacity, establishing protocols now implemented across South and Southeast Asia. Dr. Atapattu's research portfolio spans multiple dimensions of agroforestry science—from intercropping optimization and biodiversity enhancement to soil microbiome dynamics and ecosystem service valuation. His interdisciplinary approach has yielded innovative methods for quantifying the climate mitigation potential of tree-crop integration in tropical agricultural landscapes. This work has earned him recognition through multiple international awards, including the Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Innovation Excellence Award and the Climate Adaptation Research Fellowship. Beyond his scientific contributions, Dr. Atapattu is distinguished by his commitment to knowledge exchange between research institutions and farming communities. He has developed participatory research methodologies that honor indigenous agricultural wisdom while introducing context-appropriate innovations. His farmer field schools have empowered thousands of smallholders to transition from monoculture to diversified agroforestry systems, significantly improving their climate resilience and economic stability. As an editor of this comprehensive volume, Dr. Atapattu brings a unique synthesis of scientific rigor, cultural sensitivity, and practical experience to the global discourse on climate-smart agriculture. His work exemplifies the book's core philosophy: that the integration of trees into agricultural landscapes offers our most promising pathway toward ecological sustainability and agrarian prosperity in an era of climate uncertainty.