Addressing Deforestation-Agroforestry

Agroforestry is defined as a kind of agricultural practice where woody trees are grown together with crops on the same plot of land. This is an aim to combat climate change and to better cope with natural disasters such as floods and droughts. Communities around the world have understood the benefits of agroforestry and have resorted to this practice to also help in the environmental crisis situation while at the same time, reaping the benefits of agriculture. This practice reduces the pressure on natural forests as it increases the tree cover on lands meant for cultivation while at the same time providing fuel and food sources. Thus this is deemed as a reliable method for conservation and development. Source: What is Agroforestry?

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Trees are planted in between crops
Image source: NationalGeographic.com

Wikipedia reports that a survey conducted by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) research program found that at least 50% of more than 700 household in East Africa had begun to adopt this agroforestry agricultural system. They understood that the trees that were planted together with these crops helped in reducing the effects of climate change by decreasing soil erosion and enhancing biodiversity in the region as they also help to maintain wildlife habitat. It can also increase and stabilize food production and can thus also be useful in decreasing poverty levels in the Philippines.

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Grassy strips across Slopeland Field, Philippines
Image Source: Agnet.org

One such organization that is influential in implementing this practice in the Philippines is the Word Agroforestry Center (ICRAF). Some of their aims are to address poverty, hunger and environmental needs in the Philippines and to introduce this method to slash-and-burn farmers who are some of the main culprits for massive deforestation. Some of the places in the Philippines that have adopted this practice are in Mindanao and in the Cental Philippines (the Visayan area, where rate of endangerment of wildlife habitats are high). Source: World Agroforestry Center

Though some places in the Philippines have adopted this approach to promote a biodiverse environment, the proportions that are currently making use of this practice is very small compared to the massive amounts of forest being cleared every year for cultivation.

The reason agroforestry may not be as widespread as it should be in the Philippines might be due to the need for education about agroforestry practices. The implementation of this practice requires more skill and training than traditional agricultural practices. The lack of sufficient funds was one of the reasons mentioned to exacerbate the environmental crisis in the Philippines. Thus it will be a challenge to the Philippine government and locals to make this system a rampant one in the Philippines. Source: Mission 2013