A new study by ICRAF and Princeton University proposes payment schemes for rural communities to protect and restore China's native forests on collectively owned land. The researchers argue that existing policies neglect these lands and fail to promote biodiversity and ecosystem health.
A new study analyzed high-resolution satellite data to quantify the impact of China's afforestation programs, finding that most new tree cover consists of sparse, low-density plantations. The research provides valuable insights for policymakers and researchers, enabling them to track returns from tree-planting investments and identify ...
Research highlights trees' crucial role in retaining water and producing cooling moisture, enhancing food security and climate change adaptation. The study suggests a new perspective on the relationship between trees and water in addressing climate change.
A recent study reveals that tree cover on agricultural land has increased globally, capturing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and potentially playing a significant role in mitigating climate change. The research highlights the importance of agroforestry systems in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
A new project promotes agroforestry in Myanmar's uplands as a sustainable alternative to shifting cultivation, which harms livelihoods and ecosystems. The project aims to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides while boosting yields and diversifying income sources.
The new vegetationmap4africa version provides a smartphone application and website to help users identify tree species and their uses. It aids in agroforestry and landscape restoration by providing information on suitable tree species for specific goods and services, as well as tools for regenerating degraded land.
The DPR Korea has launched a national agroforestry strategy and action plan to restore degraded landscapes, enhance soil quality, and increase crop yields. The initiative aims to alleviate food insecurity and reduce the frequency of natural disasters, with a focus on empowering local villagers through legal and institutional frameworks.
Gathering data on specific questions is the most effective way to support SDGs, says Keith Shepherd and colleagues. They propose five key principles: replacing targets with measures of return on investment and modeling intervention decisions.
New research suggests that rubber expansion is environmentally unsustainable, causing widespread deforestation, loss of carbon stocks, and reduction in biodiversity. Smallholder farmers' livelihoods are also at risk due to price fluctuations and narrowing income sources.
The formation of the ASEAN Economic Community will likely lead to more deforestation, large-scale commercial monoculture crops, and environmental degradation if nations fail to address gaps in policies and enforcement. The region's agricultural land covers 1.26 million hectares, with forests covering 50% of ASEAN's total area.
A new publication provides standardized descriptors for the African baobab tree, enabling accelerated research into its nutritional value and potential to increase local incomes. The descriptors will aid in domestication and cultivation, supporting sustainable development of baobab value chains.
The State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources report highlights the importance of tree genetic resources for food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. The report calls for establishment and strengthening of information systems to support decision-making on forest resource management.
Trade formalization in urban areas is expected to increase medicinal tree species cultivation, benefiting poor smallholder farmers. The study found that most traders prefer wild-sourced materials due to perceived higher potency, but farm-grown options are gaining acceptance.
A study by the World Agroforestry Centre found that collective action improves market access for smallholder farmers of agroforestry products, reducing transaction costs and increasing income. The experience from Cameroon offers an opportunity to implement effective collective action to benefit smallholder producers.
A study by World Agroforestry Centre found that Jathropha, promoted for its energy potential, failed in Kenya due to lack of market access and proper cultivation practices. The researchers emphasize the importance of analyzing the crop's impact before promotion.
A study in the Gabayan watershed, Philippines, found that agroforestry reduces sediment yield by 20% and increases income for farmers. Agroforestry also helps communities adapt to climate change by improving water management and ecosystem services.
A new report promotes REDD+ and Green Economy as a pathway to sustainable development, benefiting all nations. Forests are the foundation of sustainable societies, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, regulating water flows, and reducing soil erosion.
Agroforestry is key to increasing food production in Africa by replenishing soils, improving biodiversity, and conserving natural resources. By adopting sustainable agricultural intensification techniques, farmers can meet the growing population's needs without degrading the environment.
Crop intensification through agroforestry can improve soil fertility, biodiversity, and water quality, increasing food production in Africa. By reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers, farmers can maintain nutrient cycling, organic matter build-up, and ecosystem resilience.
African smallholder farmers can benefit from agroforestry practices to increase storage of carbon, enhance agricultural productivity, and improve resilience to climate change impacts. Agroforestry is a win-win solution that addresses both mitigation and adaptation needs in food-focused production systems.
The IFAD-ICRAF Programme will develop and scale up pro-poor, sustainable biofuel production models in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It aims to create energy, food security, livelihood, and income-generating opportunities for poor households.
The Vision for Change project aims to increase cocoa yields and improve farmer livelihoods through agroforestry practices, research on improved varieties, and market support. By leveraging private-public partnerships, Mars Inc. and ICRAF hope to scale up the initiative to millions of farmers across West Africa.
Zacharie Tchoundjeu, a forestry conservationist in Cameroon, and Martha Ruiz Corzo, an environmental activist in Mexico, win the National Geographic/Buffett Award. They are recognized for their outstanding work in conservation and community-based management of protected areas.
Participatory agroforestry has restored land and secured the food supply in DPR Korea, increasing tree cover and productivity. The user groups' involvement and rights-to-use agreements contributed to the project's success.
A historic workshop in Indonesia aimed to develop a national strategy on agroforestry research, identifying key challenges such as government partiality, land tenure insecurity, and trade-offs between conservation and development. Opportunities for agroforestry were also highlighted, including international support and knowledge sharing.
Climate-smart agriculture encourages tree-based farming systems to reduce deforestation and promote carbon sequestration. By improving farmers' incomes, it can enhance food security and mitigate climate change through greenhouse gas emission reductions.
A new study by Steve Franzel and colleagues found that only 40% of expert farmers are effective disseminators, highlighting the importance of selecting farmer trainers based on their teaching skills. The study, conducted in Kenya with 225,000 smallholder farmers, suggests that extension programs should prioritize trainer selection over...
Fertilizer trees have been adopted by hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers in Southern Africa, resulting in doubling of maize yields and significant increases in incomes and food security. The trees' natural ability to draw nitrogen from the air improves water efficiency and reduces soil erosion.
Restoring forests and planting trees on farms can greatly improve food security by providing a source of income, food, and fuel for households. In dryland areas like the Horn of Africa, forests serve as a crucial defense against poverty and provide critical sources of moisture and nutrients in the soil.
An integrated approach combining agriculture and forestry is more effective than sparing land for forests through agricultural intensification. Agroforestry enriches soil conditions and acts as a carbon stock, helping mitigate climate change.
African nations participated in a workshop to document the status of forest genetic resources, essential for conserving and sustainably managing forests. The project aims to cover over 3,000 species and gather comprehensive data on genetic diversity before it is lost forever.
Indonesia aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but contradictions in laws, regulations, and customary norms hinder progress. The country's forest management policies create hotspots of confusion over what constitutes 'peat' and 'natural forest', leading to ongoing conflicts between industry, government, and local communities.
Growing trees on farms enhances soil health, conserves water, and provides a range of products including food, medicine, and energy. Agroforestry is crucial for meeting global challenges such as food security and climate change.
The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) emphasizes the need for a whole landscape approach in REDD+, considering land uses beyond forests to address deforestation drivers. This approach can help reduce problems like carbon leakage and improve forest governance.
The World Agroforestry Centre calls for a radical transformation in agriculture to address climate change, food security, and sustainability. Evergreen Agriculture promotes sustainable crop yields, carbon storage, and income generation through fertilizer trees integrated into farming systems.
A pioneering project in North Korea has successfully implemented agroforestry systems on marginal sloping lands, increasing tree cover and crop diversity. The project has made a significant impact on people's lives, providing them with food, vitamins, and income through sustainable land management.
The Faidherbia acacia tree has the potential to revolutionize African farming by providing a free source of organic nitrogen, increasing crop yields, and improving soil health. Its unique growth habit and adaptability to various climates make it an ideal solution for reversing soil degradation and supporting farmers' livelihoods.