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AGROFORESTRY:A REVIEW OF
CURRENT KNOWLEDGE
Bruce Pearce, Senior Programme Manager
The Organic Research Centre
Wakelyns Agroforestry, Suffolk
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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
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Agroforestry – a new name for an
old practice?
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Separation of agriculture, forestry and nature
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Silvoarable: trees and crops
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Silvopastoral: trees and livestock
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Products
Food Fuel
Fodder and forage Timber Fibre
Gums and resins Thatching and hedging
Gardening materials Medicinal products
Craft products Recreation
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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
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
Modelled relative tree and crop yields for 42 tree-crop combinations
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/naturalresources/research/projects/safe.jsp
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Productivity: design and management
Design:
Species selection:canopy
root systemallelopathyN fixers
Spatial and temporal arrangement
Management:
Thinning and pruning
Weed control in early years
Protection from animals in early years
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Environmental BenefitsAir
wind speed GHG Odour
Water ‘safety-net’ hypothesis flood control
Soil Erosion Structure Fertility
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Climate regulation – Global Climate
• Mitigation: C sequestration, GHG abatement
• Adaptation: extreme events, renewable energy
Schoeneberger, 2009Estimated 63 Mg C ha-1
in temperate agroforestry systems
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Biodiversity Benefits
• Pest & disease regulation
• Pollination
• Increased connectivity between habitat
remnants
• Reduced rates of conversion of natural
habitat and resource use pressure
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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?
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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.
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Information on AgroforestryBooks
• 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
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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