New policies needed to promote agroforestry
Millions of people could escape poverty, hunger and environmental
degradation if countries put more effort into promoting agroforestry, an
integrated approach combining trees with crop or livestock production,
the FAO said.
Advancing agroforestry
The agroforestry sector is a significant source for local commodities
such as fuelwood, timber, fruit and fodder for livestock and global
commodities such as coconut, coffee, tea, rubber and gum. Almost half
the world's agricultural land has at least 10 percent tree cover, making
agroforestry critical to the livelihoods of millions.
In a new guide published and aimed at decision-makers, key policy
advisors, NGOs and governmental institutions, FAO shows how agroforestry
can be integrated into national strategies and how policies can be
adjusted to specific conditions. The policy guide provides examples of
best practices and success stories and lessons learned from challenges
and failures.
"In many countries the potential of agroforestry to enrich farmers,
communities and industry has not been fully exploited," said Director of
FAO's Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division, Eduardo
Mansur.
"Despite the numerous benefits of agroforestry, the sector is largely
hampered by adverse policies, legal constraints and lack of coordination
between the sectors to which it contributes, namely, agriculture,
forestry, rural development, environment and trade." New opportunities
provided by agroforestry are emerging, for example, within the Miombo
woodlands of central, eastern and southern Africa, which cover three
million square kilometres over 11 countries and contribute significantly
to the livelihoods of some 100 million low-income people.
Among these new opportunities is the potential to curb greenhouse gas
emissions by slowing forest conversion to farmland and to sequester
carbon in trees on farms, as a result of the financial incentives
offered by carbon trade and the REDD+ initiative.
Similarly, the expansion of natural regeneration of over five million
hectares of dry degraded land in Niger will contribute to mitigating
climate change and increase rural income.
Policy action
The guide provides 10 major tracks for policy action, raising
awareness of agroforestry systems to farmers and the global community;
reforming unfavourable regulations in forestry, agricultural and rural
codes and clarifying land-use policy regulations.
Providing environmental services
Farmers introducing trees on farms should be rewarded for the
ecosystem services they provide to society through financial or other
incentives in the form of grants, tax exemptions, cost sharing programs,
microcredit or delivery in kind, especially extension services and
infrastructure development, according to the guide.
Long-term credit is also crucial, as benefits to farmers planting
trees reach them only after some years.
The value of carbon sequestered and other environmental services
provided by the trees could even be applied to paying the interest.
The guide was developed by FAO in cooperation with the World
Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the Tropical Agricultural Research and
Higher Education Centre (CATIE) and the Agricultural Research Centre for
International Development (CIRAD).
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