A free email agroforestry journal for practitioners, extension agents, researchers, professionals, students, and enthusiasts. One edition is sent each month focusing on a concept related to designing, developing, and learning more about trees and agroforestry systems. Focuses on trees and their roles in agriculture, natural ecosystems, human culture and economy.
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This page is merely a placeholder in the journal's numbered sequence for a previously published edition, informing subscribers of updated reference links and changes in the Agroforester's Library.
Please visit the Agroforester's Library consisting of recommended books, periodicals, species references and other links one may find useful in the agroforestry field.
Crops planted under forest, orchard, or other trees are called "understory crops." Understory crops can be vines, shrubs, herbaceous plants, or shorter trees. When integrated with tree crops, they can provide earlier returns and diversify farm yields. Understory cropping systems can also make more efficient use of land, labor, and resources, while increasing the total productivity of an area.
However, combining understory crops with tree crops is complex, and requires careful planning. The needs of the species to be planted should be well understood, as well as the effect each species will have on the other species in the system. Planning helps to avoid problems, minimize risks, and maximize benefits in crop combinations.
Key practical issues in planning understory cropping systems are introduced below.
Nontimber Forest Products (NTFPs), also known as non-wood forest products or special forest products, represent a means for rural communities to meet their needs without endangering forest ecosystems. NTFPs are an important aspect of sustainable economic growth, resource management, and conservation.
The Overstory #53 introduced the subject of NTFPs. This edition provides more practical information about starting an NTFP enterprise. Key issues that rural entrepreneurs should explore when considering on an enterprise involving NTFPs are discussed. Additional resources of books, web sites, and periodicals about NTFPs are included for further information.
NTFPs have been traditionally important worldwide. In many areas, animal and plant resources derived from forests remain central to subsistence and local economies. The FAO estimated that eighty percent of the population of the "developing" world use NTFPs to meet some of their health and nutritional needs (FAO 1997).
This page is merely a placeholder in the journal's numbered sequence for a previously published edition, informing subscribers of updated reference links and changes in the Agroforester's Library.
Please visit the Agroforester's Library consisting of recommended books, periodicals, species references and other links one may find useful in the agroforestry field.
Nontimber forest products represent an important aspect of sustainable economic growth, conservation, and resource management. This edition of The Overstory provides a brief introduction to the subject of nontimber forest products (NTFPs). A resource section with books, periodicals, and web links about NTFPs is included for further information.
Nontimber forest products (NTFPs) refers to a wide array of economic or subsistence materials that come from forests, excluding timber. Similar terms include "nonwood," "minor," "secondary," and "special" or "specialty" forest products.
There are many kinds of animal and plant resources that are derived from forests, including fruits, nuts, mushrooms, essential oils, florals, medicinal products, herbs and spices, dyes, resins, and animal products such as honey and wild game. These products are often gathered from natural forests. Others may be produced with varying degrees of cultivation and domestication, either within a forest ecosystem or as part of a planted forest system such as an agroforestry or forestry project.
This page is merely a placeholder in the journal's numbered sequence for a previously published edition, informing subscribers of updated reference links and changes in the Agroforester's Library.
Please visit the Agroforester's Library consisting of recommended books, periodicals, species references and other links one may find useful in the agroforestry field.
