Agroforestry is globally recognised as a key nature-based solution for achieving net zero and biodiversity goals. However, land use decisions at the farm level often focus on single outcomes, missing the broader public and private benefits. There is a growing need for frameworks that make these multiple benefits explicit and connect local decisions with global imperatives. To develop and demonstrate farm-level natural capital accounting (NCA) as a mechanism for informing agroforestry decisions on farms, enabling alignment of local actions with both local and global sustainability needs. Farm-level NCA was implemented across nine Tasmanian farms (total 12,420 ha), using spatial models to predict key ecosystem services from agroforestry (biodiversity habitat, carbon sequestration, forest products, shade, shelter, pollination, and agricultural productivity). The study established 221 ha of new trees in various configurations and developed forward-looking natural capital accounts to be used alongside financial accounts. The new plantings delivered marked improvements in both private and public benefits. Private benefits included increased animal welfare and productivity (25 ha more shade, 501 ha more shelter), and 52,000 m 3 additional timber, with only a small loss of production area (12 virtual ha). Public benefits included 102 kt CO₂-e sequestered, 716 ha of additional threatened species habitat, and 11.4 ha of new pollinator habitat. The NCA tools allow strategic planning of agroforestry assets to better meet farm, value chain, and public/environmental objectives. This is the first demonstration of forward-looking, farm-level NCA for agroforestry, providing a practical framework to integrate natural capital into farm decision-making. The approach enables transparent accounting of multiple benefits, supporting both local farm viability and global sustainability targets, and offers a pathway for better informed farm decision-making to deliver global benefits at scale. • We produced the first farm level natural capital accounts to link farm land use decisions to global goals. • 221 ha of new trees boosted both private and public benefits across 9 Tasmanian farms. • New plantings sequestered 102 kt CO₂-e and added 716 ha of threatened species habitat. • Agroforestry plantings increased sheltered land by 500 ha and timber by 52,000 m 3 . • NCA tools enable strategic planning for multi-benefit agroforestry at farm scale.
Mendham et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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