Editor's Note

This edition of The Overstory introduces the concept of agrodeforestation, and the important role that existing and remnant agroforests can play in agroforestry development. There are many regions of the tropics where agroforestry has been practiced traditionally, including the Pacific Islands. Traditional systems and species can provide a strong, locally-based framework for future agroforestry development. Emphasis should be placed on the conservation, strengthening, and expansion of the time-tested agroforestry species and systems that already exist. A ten step process for identifying and rehabilitating remnants of traditional agroforests is suggested.

Introduction

Agrodeforestation: the removal of trees or the de-emphasis on the planting and/or protection of trees in agricultural ecosystems.

Pacific Island peoples have always planted and protected trees as a part of their multi-species and multipurpose agroforestry and land use systems. They have also been willing to accept new trees that can improve their lives and island environments. Traditional Pacific Island agricultural and land use systems were agroforestry systems, built on a foundation of protecting and planting trees. These traditional agroforestry systems once made Pacific Islanders among the most self-sufficient and well-nourished peoples in the world.

Introduction

When planned and managed properly, animals can be key components in sustainable farming systems, enhancing important cycles of nature such as nutrient cycling and balancing of insect populations. A well-designed system with animals can also greatly reduce the human labor required to care for the animals and to prepare and maintain crop areas.

Animal tractor systems are a sustainable, cost-effective, and humane way to integrate animals into an agricultural system. Although the term "tractor" can be confusing, animal tractor systems do not involve draft animals.

Editor's note

Agroforestry was traditionally practiced in many parts of the tropics. Most traditional agroforestry species and techniques have not yet been subject to institutional scientific experiments. However, they have been well-tested by local farmers, often over many generations. These traditional systems and species can provide a strong, locally-based framework for future agroforestry development. Indigenous knowledge systems are now being regarded as an invaluable resource.

In this issue of The Overstory, guest author Dr. Randy Thaman highlights three traditional agroforestry systems from the Pacific Islands.

Traditional Pacific Island Agroforestry Systems

Trees have always been important to Pacific Island societies. Pacific Island peoples planted and protected trees as a part of their multi-species and multipurpose agroforestry and land use systems. They have also been willing to accept new trees that can make their life and their island environments better. Traditional Pacific Island agricultural and land use systems were agroforestry systems, built on a foundation of protecting and planting trees. These systems made Pacific Islanders among the most self-sufficient and well-nourished peoples in the world.

World demand for timber is steadily increasing, while availability of hardwoods from natural forests is decreasing. Some of the future timber supply will come from large plantations. However, timber and wood products can also be a sustainable, high-value yield from farms and agroforests.

Farm Forestry

Farm forestry is the management of trees for timber yields by farmers. Farm forestry can take many forms. Some farm forestry projects resemble small-scale forest plantations. Others are diverse agroforests, involving timber trees mixed with animals, crops, or other trees with nontimber products. Projects can range in size from very small (one acre) to very large (hundreds of acres). Farm forestry has the potential to produce quality timber products, increase farm incomes, support community development, and provide employment and environmental benefits.

Coppice-with-standards is a two-story woodland management system where among cut trees or "coppice" some trees are left to grow as larger size timber, called "standards". This traditional system supports sustainable production of timber and nontimber forest products, while enhancing ecosystem diversity and wildlife habitat.

Coppice-with-Standards: New Forestry with Ancient Roots

The forest-dwelling cultures of northern Europe developed cultural methods of woodland management well suited to sustaining both permanent forest and a continuous flow of woodland products to support their societies.

Editor's Note

During the past century, both the agricultural and health sciences have become compartmentalized, making great technical advances in relatively specialized technologies. These advances generated significant increases in food production and and reductions in human diseases. Although the primary purpose of agriculture is to maintain human health and human health depends on agriculture, there have been few efforts to integrate the two.

At a time when both health and agricultural workers are questioning the sustainability of their achievements, the concept is emerging that effective agroecosystem management may provide a cost-effective strategy to improve human health.