agroforestry in the northeast
TRANSCRIPT
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Agroforestry in the Northeast
Tree Crops -- Ecosystem Management --Whole-systems Regeneration
Huge Thanks to Kat Anderson; Dave Jacke; Ethan Roland; and Jon Young.
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What is Agroforestry?
Agroforestry is land use integrating trees and/or tree crops with other types of agriculture.
--Agroforestry is older than annual agriculture.
--Agroforestry can be multifunctional, overyielding ecosystem management.
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Characteristics of AF
• The three I’s:– Intentional– Intensive– Interconnected
• The Rule of 3: An AF system must have at least 3 “layers” or managed functional elements.
(i.e., an orchard with grass understory is not AF.)
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The Roots – Indigenous AF Worldwide
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Tropical AF – Ubiquitous, Invisible to the West
• Read 1491 by Charles Mann. Current Amazonian rainforest diversity is a result of thousands of years of native agroforestry.
• Hawai’ian Ahupua’a – whole-watershed management from mountain to sea, cared for by extended family networks.
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Temperate & Mediterranean Agroforestry
Wherever acorns are found….
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Balanoculture
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Tending the Wild Across North America
• Kat Anderson spent 17 years interviewing native elders from around California.
• Their stories illustrate whole-ecosystem caretaking based on agroforestry and managing wild plant and animal populations for harvest.
• Analagous patterns are found in the history (and sometimes present day) of every inhabited ecosystem in North America.
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Soaproot – Chlorogalum spp.• A “wild” plant physiologically adapted to human harvesting and use.
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Cork Oak Savanna
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Paradigm Shifts
• Not just harvesting crops or wild foods – managing the (complex and changing) ecosystems that support those species in abundance.
• Native land use patterns result in heritage ecosystems.
• With regenerative land use practices, human economic activities increase ecosystem health.
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References on Indigenous AF
• Tending the Wild – M. Kat Anderson• It Will Live Forever – Julia Parker & Beverly Ortiz• 1491 – Charles Mann• Changes in the Land – William Cronon• Enduring Seeds – Gary Paul Nabhan• The Voice of the Dawn – Frederick Matthew
Wiseman• …and ultimately, the elders themselves.
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Coppice: Traditional European Agroforestry
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The Coppice Cycle
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Coppice Products: Unlimited Potential
• Baskets – Furniture – Buildings – Tools – FUEL• …..and more!
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Coppice and Standard
• Understory: coppice• Overstory: mast trees.• Other yields: wild plant & fungus food & medicine, wild game, silvopasture…
Whole Ecosystem Management
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So….
What the heck does all this mean in the Northeast US???
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Northeast US Forest Characteristics
• Temperate forest ecosystem; 40+ inches of rain distributed evenly through the year.
• Most forests are under 100 years old – old-growth very rare and extremely fragmented.
• Coastal prairies and savannas almost completely gone – huge loss of diverse early-succession habitats.
• Near-complete fire suppression.• And…
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A 10,000+ Year History of Agroforestry in the Northeast
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Why Implement AF Now?• Overyielding Polycultures• Perennial Staple Crops• Carbon Sequestration• Erosion Control & Soil Fertility Renewal• Sustainable, Local, Carbon-Neutral Fuel• Habitat Regeneration• Productive Use of Marginal/Degraded Land• Enhancement of Existing Farm Systems
= BIOREGION REPAIR
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4 Strategies for AF Implementation
• 1. Enhance Existing Farm Systems & Solve Problems with Agroforestry Elements
• 2. Implement Proven AF Crop Systems• 3. Trial, Research, and Develop Commercially
Unproven AF Crop Systems• 4. Manage Existing Landscapes as Heritage
Ecosystems
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1. Enhance Existing Farm Systems & Solve Problems with Agroforestry Elements
– Windbreaks
– Riparian Buffers
– Hedgerows
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2. Implement Commercially Proven AF Crop Systems
• Alley Cropping
• Forest Farming
• Silvopasture
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3. Trial, Research, and Develop Commercially Unproven AF Crop Systems & Techniques
• A few ideas:– Fruit/nut orchard with diverse perennial crop understory– Prescribed fire management in nut tree-based AF systems– Trial uncommon fruits for small commercial markets within
AF systems, such as:• Juneberry• American Persimmon• Pawpaw• Jujube• Honeyberry• Hardy Kiwi
– 4-part controlled experiment with biochar and mycoculture in an AF crop system.
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4. Manage Existing Landscapes as Heritage Ecosystems
• Shifting baselines – long-term declines in biodiversity & ecological health are invisible in the short term. Look to traditional land use for appropriate baselines of health and diversity.
• Many keystone species are gone or highly restricted. Design for apex predators.
• Heritage ecosystems require management and commitment on the part of an entire community. Invest in and heal family and neighbor relationships. Ensure that the children are connected with the land.
• Ancestral diets were many times more diverse than our current diet. Renew a wide diversity of heritage foods. Celebrate and share them with seasonal festivals.
We are the ultimate keystone species – the future of the earth’s living systems literally rests in our hands.