Agroforestry set to grow even more in Viet Nam
Published on by Markus Pahlow, University of Canterbury - Senior Lecturer
Agroforestry set to grow even more in Viet Nam
(December 24, 2013 Posted by Rob Finlayson on Agroforestry World)
The World Agroforestry Centre and the Viet Nam Academy of Forest Sciences have signed a formal agreement to work more closely together on agroforestry research, says Robert Finlayson
On 16 December 2013 in the offices of the World Agroforestry Centre's Viet Nam program in Hanoi, the president of the Viet Nam Academy of Forest Sciences, Dr Trieu Van Hung, and the country coordinator of the Centre's program in Viet Nam, Dr Delia Catacutan, signed a formal agreement to increase cooperation between the two organizations.
To read more:
2 Comments
-
Dear James, agroforestry combines agricultural and forestry. It is an integrated approach, as opposed to the monoculture approach. Trees and shrubs or other woody species are integrated into farming landscapes (i.e. with crops and also with livestock; but possibly also with aquaculture) for conservation and profit. The overall aim is to improve the environmental, social and economic values of the farmland. But in general it should be said that there are several specific forms of agroforestry, used with different intentions. A quick overview is given eg. in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agroforestry Benefits include, but are not limited to: Nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling, Maintaining vegetative soil cover, Weed suppression, Enhancing soil structure and water infiltration and penetration, Food, fodder, fuel, fiber and income from tree products, Carbon storage, Biodiversity conservation, Wind breaks, ... The dust bowl has shown what healthy soils and combinations of plants, trees, shrubs, etc. are worth. I hope this helps somewhat. Best, Markus
-
Markus, with agroforestry, is their a specific aim or frame of reference that the average person would understand ?