What is Agroforestry?
The term ‘agroforestry’ was coined in the 1970’s to describe a wide range of production practices that integrate trees and shrubs into crop and livestock farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits.
Such practices have been applied to the landscape in varying forms for millennia by indigenous land stewards the world over. In many instances these methods and corresponding ecological knowledge, along with the people who practiced them, were systematically and violently oppressed at the hands of colonial powers. Despite centuries of colonial rule and countless attempts to erase these cultures all together, indigenous experts still exist today, and their collective knowledge serves as the basis for modern day agroforestry.
In the Western Hemisphere, agroforestry has historically been practiced primarily in the tropics. While temperate agroforestry is in its infancy by comparison, growing interest and utilization of temperate tree crops is on the rise in North America.
Agroforestry takes many forms internationally. The U.S. government currently recognizes these 5 practices:
Silvopasture - the intentional integration of trees, forages, and livestock managed as a single system where each component’s requirement to thrive is met
Alley Cropping - the cultivation of crops in the alleys between rows of trees and/or shrubs
Forest Farming - the cultivation of non-timber forest products (e.g. maple syrup, log-grown mushrooms, ginseng) under existing forest canopy
Windbreaks - strips of trees & shrubs designed to mitigate the negative effects of wind on crops and livestock while providing conservation benefits such as pollinator and wildlife habitat
Riparian Forest Buffers - strips of permanent vegetation alongside bodies of water and wetlands that integrate trees & shrubs and are designed to mitigate soil erosion and nutrient runoff into waterways and provide wildlife habitat
Why Agroforestry?
The many benefits of trees on farms!
Carbon Sequestration
Trees & shrubs serve as a carbon sink by capturing carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis and storing it in plant tissue. Recent research suggests that well-managed silvopasture systems have a higher carbon sequestration potential than any other form of agricultural production.
Climate & Farm Resilience
Trees & shrubs are able to withstand extreme weather events more effectively than annual crops. They can also favorably influence the farm microclimate during periods of extreme weather. Incorporating perennials into production systems diversifies farm income across space and time, further strengthening farm resiliency.
Soil Health
Fallen tree leaves and mast decompose, feeding the soil and increasing soil organic matter (SOM) which results in greater water holding capacity on the farm landscape. Tree roots also build SOM and support underground fungal communities that make nutrients available that are otherwise locked up in the soil. Perennial crops and agroforestry systems require significantly less tillage and soil disturbance as compared to annual cropping systems.
Biodiversity & Wildlife Habitat
Adding perennial crops to agricultural systems not only diversifies human diets, it also improves structural diversity on the farm to the benefit of wildlife. Trees & shrubs placed strategically on the landscape and planted in polyculture provide a variety of habitat types for resident and migratory wildlife, improving overall farm ecology. Forest riparian buffers contain stream side plants that stabilize stream banks and cool the water surface to the benefit of aquatic life.
Human Health & Safety
Working in a shaded mushroom yard or silvopasture on a hot summer day is a far preferable task to toiling away in an open field under the sun. But the benefit of working among trees extends beyond improvements in farm working conditions. A growing body of research suggests that spending time around trees can lead to a host of mental and physical health benefits.
Air & Water Quality
Tree branches and roots slow the flow of water as it moves across the landscape, improving water infiltration and reducing erosion. Trees & shrubs are able to absorb and neutralize air and water pollutants, essentially serving as living bio-filters on the farm landscape. Riparian forest buffers are particularly effective at reducing nutrient and sediment runoff into waterways.