Agroforestry
Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems. -National Agroforestry Center (NAC)
The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) made this definition in 1993: "Agroforestry is a collective name for land use systems and practices in which woody perennials are deliberately integrated with crops and/or animals on the same land management unit. The integration can be either in a spatial mixture or in a temporal sequence. There are normally both ecological and economic interactions between woody and non-woody components in agroforestry". It means that trees are intentionally used within agricultural systems. Knowledge, careful selection of species and good management of trees and crops are needed to maximize the production and positive effects of trees and to minimize negative competitive effects on crops.
Alternatively, agroforestry might be defined as simply: trees on farms [1]. Hence, agroforestry, farm forestry and family forestry can be broadly understood as the commitment of farmers, alone or in partnerships, towards the establishment and management of forests on their land. Where many landholders are involved the result is a diversity of activity that reflects the diversity of aspirations and interests within the community.
Agroforestry is a land-use method that allows trees to grow in crop and livestock areas. It is one way to conserve biodiversity. Human activity and specifically habitat destruction have dramatically increased rates of biodiversity loss. It is extremely important to maintain the proper functioning of ecosystems and society. It is the diversity of life that makes this planet extraordinary. Oil, coal, cement, and limestone are all part of the past biodiversity on which our economies depend. The majority of our medicines and agricultural crops come from the environment. It is also important for providing ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control.
Alley cropping
Agroforestry is a land-use method that allows trees to grow in crop and livestock areas. It is one way to conserve biodiversity. Alley cropping or Intercropping is a strategy used by farmers to combat soil erosion. In this method, several crops are planted together in strips or alleys between trees and shrubs. This design provides shade (reducing water loss from evaporation), ensures retention of soil moisture, and can also produce fruit, fuelwood, fodder, or trimmings to be made into mulch.waaa
See also
- Sustainable agriculture
- Permaculture
- Forest gardening
- Home gardens
- Biomass
- Forest farming
- Analog forestry
References
- The Springer Journal, "Agroforesty Systems" (ISSN 1572-9680) [2]
External links
- The Green Belt Movement
- Vi-Skogen
- World Agroforestry Centre
- Silvoarable Agroforestry for Europe
- Agroforestry Research Trust
- Plants For A Future
- Agroforestry parklands in sub-Saharan Africa
- Willow Biomass Project
- Salix Project
- NPR Science Fridays Podcast - Conservation and Renewable Energy in New York State
- Michigan Biomass Energy Program
- Nut tree agroforestry 1 2 3
- Trees for the Future
- Australian Agroforestry and Farm Forestry [3]