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“Johnny Pineseed” near Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada.

“Johnny Pineseed” near Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada.

Credit: Jacob Lund / Alamy Stock Photo

Agroforestry

Call to action:

Expand the use of agroforestry to restore ecosystem health, produce higher yields of sustainable crops, increase water quality, improve wildlife habitat, and boost soil carbon sequestration.

Agroforestry(link is external) is the intentional integration of forestry with agriculture(link is external). It combines trees, shrubs, and vines with crop and animal farming systems in ways that mimic natural ecosystems(link is external). Used by millions of people worldwide both as a traditional source of food, fiber, and wood(link is external) and a modern regenerative farming practice, agroforestry mixes annual crops and perennial trees and plants(link is external) in different combinations in order to sustain short and long-term financial and ecological returns. Agroforestry provides shade(link is external), protects plants and animals from wind, and builds soil health. It can sequester carbon(link is external) and help end the climate crisis(link is external). It is a strategy for restoring degraded land(link is external) and protecting against drought(link is external). It feeds millions of people(link is external). It maintains cultural traditions(link is external). Agroforestry is a science (link is external)that studies the interactions between people, trees, and agriculture at a range of scales, from field to forest.

Nexus Rating SystemBeta

Solutions to the climate emergency have unique social and environmental effects, positive and negative. To develop a broader understanding of the solutions in Nexus, we rate each solution on five criteria.

Sources for each Nexus are graded numerically (-3 through 10), and the average is displayed as a letter grade. You can explore each source in depth by clicking “view sources” below. For more information, see our Nexus Ratings page.

Agroforestry
8.08
8.09
7.10
8.50
7.00

Agroforestry

Culture
A-
Women
B+
Biodiversity
A-
Carbon
B+
Reference Social Justice Culture Women Biodiversity Carbon
How agroforestry can restore degraded lands and provide income in the Amazon(link is external) 8.0 9.0
Agroforestry systems may play vital role in mitigating climate change(link is external) 9.0
Importance of agroforestry systems in carbon sequestration(link is external) 8.0 8.0
Fire and agroforestry revive California indigenous groups traditions(link is external) 9.0 9.0 9.0
How farming in forests could sustain the planet(link is external) 8.0 8.0 8.0
Agroforestry: An ancient indigenous technology with wide modern appeal(link is external) 9.0 9.0 8.0 9.0
Indigenous Women Empowerment and Agroforestry Systems in a Changing Climate - Guatemala(link is external) 8.0 8.0 8.0 9.0
Return to agroforestry empowers women in Nepal(link is external) 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0
Gender and agroforestry in Africa: a review of womens participation(link is external) 8.0 8.0 7.0
Agroforestry Systems: A Systematic Review Focusing on Traditional Indigenous Practices Food and Nutrition Security Economic Viability and the Role of Women(link is external) 8.0 9.0 7.0 9.0
Gender roles decision-making and challenges to agroforestry adoption in Northwest Vietnam(link is external) 6.0
Indias drylands agroforestry: a ten-year analysis of gender and social diversity tenure and climate variability(link is external) 7.0 7.0 7.0
Indigenous forest gardens remain productive and diverse for over a century(link is external) 8.0 8.0
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/news/why-gender-equality-and-women%C2%B4s-empowerment-are-crucial-successful-agroforestry-carbon-farming(link is external) 5.0
For Costa Ricas Indigenous Bribri women agroforestry is an act of resistance and resilience(link is external) 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0
Interaction between agroforestry and womens land tenure security in sub-Saharan Africa: A matrilocal perspective(link is external) 7.0 7.0 7.0
Multistrada Agroforestry - Project Drawdown(link is external) 7.0
Tree Intercropping - Project Drawdown(link is external) 7.0
Global carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry and increased tree cover on agricultural land(link is external) 7.0
Quantifying carbon stocks and sequestration potential in agroforestry systems under divergent management scenarios relevant to India’s Nationally Determined Contribution(link is external) 7.0
Carbon sequestration by forests and agroforests: a reality check for the United States(link is external) 7.0
8.1 8.1 7.1 8.5 7.0

Action Items

Individuals

Learn why agroforestry is a productive and regenerative system of food production and land management. Agroforestry(link is external) is a new word for old practices(link is external) used by millions of people around the world. It is a type of agroecology(link is external), a nature-based food system(link is external) that views farms as ecosystems(link is external) (see Agroecology Nexus). It has produced food and wood regeneratively for centuries(link is external) and combines Indigenous and traditional agriculture(link is external) with scientific research(link is external)Types of agroforestry(link is external) include forest farms, alley cropping, buffers, and silvopasture(link is external) (see Farmers below). In much of the industrialized world, forestry and agriculture have been separate disciplines for research, policy, and implementation. Today, agroforestry leads innovation(link is external) in regenerative food production(link is external)carbon sequestration(link is external), and land restoration(link is external) (see Regenerative Agriculture Nexus and Degraded Land Restoration Nexus). Benefits include:

Learn about the diversity of agroforestry systems around the world. Agroforestry(link is external) can be utilized in any ecosystem that can support trees and shrubs. Elements can include trees with edible leaves(link is external), freshwater fish(link is external), chickens(link is external), timber trees, milpas(link is external), cactus(link is external), pigs(link is external), hedgerows(link is external), and vineyards(link is external). The integration of different elements must be in alignment with an area’s ecology. Examples:

Support agroforestry by buying directly from farmers and ranchers who practice regenerative agriculture or from retailers who support them. Purchasing products from regenerative farms and ranches encourages other farmers and ranchers to adopt similar practices and goals. See Regenerative Agriculture Nexus, Perennial Crops Nexus, Agroecology Nexus, and Plant Diversity Nexus for more suggestions.

Grow a forest garden or food forest at home. Organize your garden to grow like a forest. The idea was introduced by Robert Hart in his book Forest Gardening(link is external). In a traditional garden, plants and trees are kept separate, but in a forest garden(link is external), they are combined in a manner resembling nature.

Donate to or join organizations that support agroecology. There are many choices, including volunteer projects and other community-based initiatives that preserve biodiversity (see Key Players).

Groups

Farmers and Ranchers

Adopt or expand agroforestry practices. Agroforestry(link is external) enables farmers and landowners, small and large, to become sustainably profitable(link is external) for long periods of time. It can mitigate disaster risk(link is external), including the effects of climate change(link is external), by improving environmental conditions. It supports families, communities, and nations. The integration of trees and crops needs to be carefully designed and managed(link is external) over time so they don’t compete for sunlight and water(link is external). Some types of agroforestry are more intensive than others, requiring pruning, irrigating, cultivation, and careful control of livestock. All agroforestry practices(link is external) take advantage of interactions between crops, animals, and trees, creating a synergy this is productive and resilient (see Regenerative Agriculture NexusAgroecology Nexusand Plant Diversity Nexus).

Adopt new practices and technology. New agricultural technology (link is external)and training programs have the potential to boost agroforestry yields and make farming more efficient and profitable.

Scientists

Extend agroforestry research into practices and customs that build resilient and equitable food systems, particularly at scale. Agroforestry needs to expand outside of ecology and forestry(link is external) and study the interconnections(link is external) between sustainable farming practices, social sciences, cultural heritage, and their potential for ending the climate crisis(link is external). By studying agroforestry’s social, ecological, and economic benefits, researchers can make their work more useful to farmers, ranchers, and other types of agriculturalists. New research includes Indigenous and marginalized voices(link is external) and addresses how agroforestry can be scaled to feed more people(link is external).

Companies

Support agroforestry as an economically viable, ecologically beneficial, and resilient system of farming. Companies can support agroforestry(link is external) in diverse ways, particularly in their efforts to improve access to agroforestry products or onset carbon in their supply chain. Onsets are carbon credits that create a net reduction in greenhouse gases.

Governance

Remove barriers to farmers seeking to transition to an agroforestry system, including obstacles to obtaining access to necessary land, water, and crop seed. Policies that support agroforestry, particularly in regions with chronic poverty and hunger, need to be adopted and implemented.

Increase funding for research, outreach, and education programs. Support on-farm innovation, incentive programs, training, and improved capacity to support farmers transitioning to agroforestry systems.

Learn

Watch

What Is Agroforestry?(link is external) by Trees Woods & Forest Gardens - Agroforestry Arboriculture (3 mins.)

Introduction to Agroforestry(link is external) by Mizzou Agroforestry (21 mins.)

The Benefits of Agroforestry(link is external) by World Agroforestry (4 mins.)

Alley Cropping(link is external) by University of Wisconsin Extension (8 mins.)

Alley Cropping Webinar(link is external) by WI Land+Water (55 mins.)

Read

Edible Forest Gardens(link is external) (2 volumes) by David Jacke and Eric Toensmeier / Chelsea Green Publishing

Food Rebellions: Crisis and the Hunger for Justice(link is external) by Eric Holt-Gimenez and Raj Patel / Food First Books

Ecoagriculture: Strategies to Feed the World and Save Wild Biodiversity(link is external) (2nd ed.) by Sara Scherr and Jeffrey McNeeley / Island Press

The Overstory(link is external), an online agroforestry journal for practitioners, researchers, students, and professionals

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