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AGROFORESTRY: A REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

AGROFORESTRY: A REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE. Wakelyns Agroforestry, Suffolk. Bruce Pearce, Senior P rogramme Manager The Organic Research Centre. Agroforestry: a multifunctional land-use system.

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AGROFORESTRY: A REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

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  1. AGROFORESTRY:A REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE Wakelyns Agroforestry, Suffolk Bruce Pearce, Senior Programme Manager The Organic Research Centre

  2. Agroforestry: a multifunctional land-use system “Land-use systems in which woody perennials (trees, shrubs etc.) are grown in association with herbaceous plants (crops, pastures) or livestock; there are usually both ecological and economic interactions between the trees and the other components of the system” Lundgren, 1982

  3. Agroforestry – a new name for an old practice?

  4. Separation of agriculture, forestry and nature

  5. Silvoarable: trees and crops

  6. Silvopastoral: trees and livestock

  7. Products Food Fuel Fodder and forage Timber Fibre Gums and resins Thatching and hedging Gardening materials Medicinal products Craft products Recreation

  8. Productivity Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) the ratio of the area needed under sole cropping to the area of intercropping at the same management level to obtain a particular yield Modelled relative tree and crop yields for 42 tree-crop combinations http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/naturalresources/ research/projects/safe.jsp • Agroforestry systems LER’s: • Annual LER 1.6 in early stages to 1.0 in later stages • Over rotation LER 1.2 i.e. 4ha of AF = 5 ha of sole crops

  9. Productivity: design and management Design: Species selection: canopy root system allelopathy N fixers Spatial and temporal arrangement Management: Thinning and pruning Weed control in early years Protection from animals in early years

  10. Environmental Benefits Air • wind speed • GHG • Odour Water • ‘safety-net’ hypothesis • flood control Soil • Erosion • Structure • Fertility

  11. Climate regulation – Global Climate • Mitigation: C sequestration, GHG abatement • Adaptation: extreme events, renewable energy Estimated 63 Mg C ha-1 in temperate agroforestry systems Schoeneberger, 2009

  12. Biodiversity Benefits • Pest & disease regulation • Pollination • Increased connectivity between habitat remnants • Reduced rates of conversion of natural habitat and resource use pressure

  13. Agroforestry in UK policy • Eligibility for SFP • Agri-environment schemes • Recommendations for changes: • Valid land use for SPS - Definition of agroforestry • Adoption of Article 44 • AES options • Other options – community supported agriculture, carbon credits, payments for ecosystem services?

  14. Eco-Agroforestry Network aims • Collate, manage and, through research, provide evidence on the benefits of eco-agroforestry to balance production with delivery of ecosystem services. • Identify and promote clear market and policy reasons for adopting an eco-agroforestry approach. • Support knowledge transfer to land managers and farmers, policy makers, conservation organisations and researchers. • Improve conditions for establishing agroforestry in the UK and Europe.

  15. Information on Agroforestry Books • Agroforestry in the UK (2000). Eds. Hislop, M. and Claridge, J. Forestry Commission Bulletin 122 • Temperate Agroforestry Systems (1997). Eds. Gordon, A.M. and Newman, S.M. CAB International, Wallingford Journals • Agroforestry Systems www.springerlink.com Websites • Farm Woodland Forum www.agroforestry.ac.uk • Agroforestry Trust www.agroforestry.co.uk • Silvoarable Agroforestry For Europe www1.montpellier.inra.fr/safe/ • FarmSAFE and PlotSAFE: spreadsheet models for comparing the growth and profitability of arable, forestry and agroforestry systems • myForest – linking the woodchain: http://www.sylva.org.uk/myforest/ DVD: Agroforesterie Produire Autrement (Agroforestry - Alternative Production) by Fabian Liagre & Nicolas Girardin www.green-shopping.co.uk

  16. Interested in getting involved? • Web-site: www.sustainable_agroforestry.org • Agroforestry: Reconciling Production with Protection of the Environment. A Synopsis of Research Literature • Contact Jo Smith, Agroecology Researcher, Organic Research Centre jo.s@organicresearchcentre.com

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