There is growing interest in modern agroforestry systems as a response to climate change and for other benefits such as food security, farm diversification, increased income, risk management, and soil and water conservation. The value of agroforestry systems in addressing these priorities has been established by several decades of research worldwide. Producers are now increasingly asking how to begin the process of establishing agroforestry systems. This project addresses that question by providing training in the agroforestry design process. 

Re-establishing productive agroforests that also can repair soil damage and be profitable for growers requires careful planning. This project includes training in design of agroforests that regenerate productivity, while building soil and serving other essential ecological functions.  

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-38640-23779 through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number EW16-008. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Agroforestry Net is a primary project collaborator.

Agroforestry Design Manual

edited by Craig R. Elevitch

with Neil Logan, Sopha J. Bowart, and J. B. Friday

This project is producing a unique manual to guide growers in designing a multistory agroforestry system tailored to their goals and environment. Agroforestry Design for Regenerative Production is geared toward profitable agroforestry that creates regenerative outcomes: building soil, retaining and percolating water, enhancing biodiversity, strengthening resiliency, and storing carbon. Species lists, examples, and design worksheets allow the user to use the book as a design workbook for their project. The book guides the user through six major steps of the design process:

• Goals, skills, and site assessments [download chapter pdf]
• Planting configuration 
• Species selection 
• Implementation, Management, and Scheduling 
• Economic analysis [download chapter pdf]

Additionally, Agroforestry Design for Regenerative Production gives the reader the background information needed to optimize their agroforestry design in two additonal chapters:

• Introduction to regenerative agroforestry
• Managing tree-crop competition [download chapter pdf]

Agroforestry Design Workshops 2019

Designing and growing an agroforest: Creating regenerative and profitable landscapes

Guam: Nov. 12–13 Information and registration
Saipan: Nov. 15–16 Email for information
Pohnpei: Nov. 21–22 Email for information
Marshall Islands: Nov. 26–27 Email for information
Oahu, Hawaii: Dec. 11–12 Information and registration
Kauai, Hawaii: Dec. 14–15 Information and registration

Workshop participants will learn about planning, establishing, and managing an agroforest step-by-step using a new workbook.

Workshop participants will learn the latest strategies for reaching their goals in agroforestry. Hands-on activities during the workshop will give participants experience in the planning process from open land to managing an agroforest at any scale. 

Participants will:

• Gain experience planning an agroforest from scratch
• Learn how to customize an agroforest to the site and production/conservation goals
• Discover and apply fundamental design principles
• Develop a project budget and management plan 
• Learn about resources and tools for successful outcomes
• Gain field experience
• Receive an agroforestry planning workbook

The workshop series will be presented November-December 2019 in Guam, Saipan, Pohnpei, Marshall Islands, and Hawaii by a team of experienced professionals. Presenters will share their unique set of skills and knowledge in traditional agroforestry, ethnobotany, systems engineering, organic agriculture, and economic analysis acquired over decades of study and field experience. 

Workshop presenters

Workshop sponsors

The "Designing and growing an agroforest: Creating regenerative and profitable landscapes" workshops are presented by Permanent Agriculture Resources with support from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, Agroforestry Net, FARM Center, Hawaii Homegrown Food Network, Olohana Foundation, and the Global Biodiversity Heritage Council. Generous support from local partners is gratefully acknowledged: University of Guam Western Pacific Tropical Research Center; The Pacific Farmers Together Cooperative; Pacific Islands SBDC Network; Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services; College of Micronesia-FSM/CTEC; RMI Ministry of Natural Resources & Commerce; College of the Marshall Islands; Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program at UH CTAHR; Regenerations Botanical Garden; and the Kauaʻi Food Forest. 

Contact information