the organic research centre © the organic research centre agroforestry: a review of current...

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre

© The Organic Research Centre

AGROFORESTRY:A REVIEW OF

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

Bruce Pearce, Senior Programme Manager

The Organic Research Centre

Wakelyns Agroforestry, Suffolk

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


Agroforestry – a new name for an

old practice?

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


Separation of agriculture, forestry and nature

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


Silvoarable: trees and crops

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


Silvopastoral: trees and livestock

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


Products

Food Fuel

Fodder and forage Timber Fibre

Gums and resins Thatching and hedging

Gardening materials Medicinal products

Craft products Recreation

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


Environmental BenefitsAir

wind speed GHG Odour

Water ‘safety-net’ hypothesis flood control

Soil Erosion Structure Fertility

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


Biodiversity Benefits

• Pest & disease regulation

• Pollination

• Increased connectivity between habitat

remnants

• Reduced rates of conversion of natural

habitat and resource use pressure

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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?

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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.

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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

Th

e O

rgan

ic R

esea

rch

Cen

tre


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

[email protected]

the organic research centre © the organic research centre agroforestry: a review of current...

Documents