Module 5 - Agroforestry Systems

Agroforestry technology investment choices balance forestry and agricultural production and conservation and production goals. Agroforestry is not appropriate in all areas, however, because trees take up space on a more-or-less permanent basis and may compete with crops for water, sunlight, and nutrients, thereby limiting crop production.

Benefits

Poverty reduction. Agroforestry projects can reduce poverty directly by providing lumber, fuelwood, fruit and nuts, and livestock fodder, all of which can be sold to generate income or fulfill basic family needs (box 5.18). The sale of timber is particularly important to poverty reduction, as returns are long term. Indirectly, agroforestry can increase crop production and incomes through conservation of soil and soil moisture.

Reducing vulnerability. Agroforestry has long been a traditional coping mechanism to reduce production-related risks, particularly during times of drought or crop failure. Trees store biomass during good production seasons and, when annual crops fail, can be harvested to provide income to purchase food and other needs.

Environmental sustainability. Agroforestry is associated with positive environmental outcomes because of the role trees play in larger ecosystem functions. Trees can improve soil quality in various ways: root systems prevent soil erosion, leguminous species fix nitrogen and improve nutrient recycling, and detritus from trees increases the organic content of soil. Well-developed agroforestry systems provide habitat for wild animals and contribute to biodiversity. Agroforestry affects climate change by storing carbon and offsets deforestation by providing an alternative source of wood products. Finally, agroforestry can act as a buffer between protected forests and surrounding agricultural land and minimize edge effects in natural forests.