Agroforestry for Biodiversity Conservation and Food Sovereignty Advances in Agroforestry
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Advances in Agroforestry 12 Florencia Montagnini Editor Integrating Landscapes: Agroforestry for Biodiversity Conservation and Food Sovereignty Advances in Agroforestry Volume 12 Series editor P.K. Ramachandran Nair, Gainesville, USA Aims and Scope Agroforestry, the purposeful growing of trees and crops in interacting combinations, began to attain prominence in the late 1970s, when the international scientific community embraced its potentials in the tropics and recognized it as a practice in search of science. During the 1990s, the relevance of agroforestry for solving problems related to deterioration of family farms, increased soil erosion, surface and ground water pollution, and decreased biodiversity was recognized in the industrialized nations too. Thus, agroforestry is now receiving increasing attention as a sustainable land-management option the world over because of its ecological, economic, and social attributes. Consequently, the knowledge-base of agroforestry is being expanded at a rapid rate as illustrated by the increasing number and quality of scientific publications of various forms on different aspects of agroforestry. Making full and efficient use of this upsurge in scientific agroforestry is both a challenge and an opportunity to the agroforestry scientific community. In order to help prepare themselves better for facing the challenge and seizing the opportunity, agroforestry scientists need access to synthesized information on multi-dimensional aspects of scientific agroforesty. The aim of this new book-series, Advances in Agroforestry, is to offer state-of- the art synthesis of research results and evaluations relating to different aspects of agroforestry. Its scope is broad enough to encompass any and all aspects of agrofor- estry research and development. Contributions are welcome as well as solicited from competent authors on any aspect of agroforestry. Volumes in the series will consist of reference books, subject-specific monographs, peer-reviewed publica- tions out of conferences, comprehensive evaluations of specific projects, and other book-length compilations of scientific and professional merit and relevance to the science and practice of agroforestry worldwide. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/6904 Florencia Montagnini Editors Integrating Landscapes: Agroforestry for Biodiversity Conservation and Food Sovereignty Editor Florencia Montagnini School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Yale University New Haven, CT, USA ISSN 1875-1199 ISSN 1875-1202 (electronic) Advances in Agroforestry ISBN 978-3-319-69370-5 ISBN 978-3-319-69371-2 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69371-2 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017962631 © Springer International Publishing AG 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland This book is dedicated to Adriana who would be so proud. Preface Agroforestry systems (AFS) are becoming increasingly relevant worldwide as soci- ety has come to recognize their multiple roles and services: biodiversity conserva- tion, carbon sequestration, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, restoration of degraded ecosystems, and tools for rural development. This book summarizes advances in agroforestry research and practice and raises questions as to the effec- tiveness of AFS to solve the development and environmental challenges the world presents us today. Currently AFS are considered to be a land use that can achieve a compromise among productive and environmental functions. Apparently, AFS can play a signifi- cant role in rural development even in the most challenging socioeconomic and ecological conditions, but still there is a lot of work to do to reach these goals. Considerable funding is spent in projects directed to enhancing productivity and sustainability of smallholders’ forestry and agroforestry practices. These projects and programs face many questions and challenges related to the integration of tra- ditional knowledge to promote the most suitable systems for each situation, access to markets for AFS products, and scaling up of successful AFS. These complex questions need innovative approaches from varying perspectives and knowledge bases. This book gathers fresh and novel contributions from a set of Yale University researchers and associates who intend to provide alternative and sometimes depart- ing insights into these pressing questions. The book focuses on the functions that AFS can provide when well designed and implemented: their role in rural develop- ment as they can improve food security and sovereignty and contribute to provision of energy needs to the smallholders; and their environmental functions: contribution to biodiversity conservation, to increased connectivity of fragmented landscapes, and adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The chapters present conceptual aspects and case studies ranging from traditional to more modern approaches, from tropical as well as from temperate regions of the world, with examples of the AFS functions mentioned above. vii viii Preface The chapters discuss current challenges faced today by agroforestry researchers and practitioners and proposes innovative approaches to tackle them. There is an emphasis on Latin America and North America with case studies from other parts of the world. Contributors are an assemblage of researchers, academicians, and practi- tioners from agroforestry, environmental management, and related fields who approach the issues from unique perspectives. This book comprises three parts: Part I, Agroforestry Challenges and Alternatives, sets the stage by presenting the major challenges for agroforestry in the new millennium; describing how agroforestry can contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture), with regional (tropical dry forests, temperate) perspectives; as well as showing the social-ecological frame- work needed when approaching these issues at the landscape level. Part II, From Subsistence to Market Oriented Systems, discusses the concept of sustainability in the context of AFS, including descriptions of indigenous and more modern AFS from several locations of the world, along with case studies demonstrating how AFS products can earn economic value while still maintaining their sustainability and provision of environmental services and energy needs, from small and medium to larger scales, offering recommendations for success. Part III, Environmental Services in Multifunctional Landscapes, focuses on the role of AFS on provision of carbon storage, climate change mitigation, and conservation of biodiversity, with examples from both tropical and temperate systems of the Americas. The Conclusions chapter summarizes the lessons learned while compiling this volume and lays out the pending challenges and potential solutions ahead. A holistic, multidisciplinary perspective was taken in approaching each theme, encompassing factors and variables from multiple disciplines. This book is directed to professionals and students in a variety of fields related to agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, rural development, restoration, environmental management, ecology, and agroecology. The main ideas originating the structure and contents of this book were born dur- ing meetings and conversations with students and colleagues whose enthusiasm, energy, and joyful attitude supporting this book made it possible from start to end. The contributors’ dynamism, dedication, and persistence drove the rest. Numerous colleagues and friends also helped with their intellectual input and moral support. The contributors acted as independent reviewers of other colleagues’ chapters. In addition, other external reviewers generously gave their time to read and offer use- ful suggestions to improve the chapters. The following is a list of chapter reviewers: Miguel Altieri, Mark Ashton, Kjell E. Berg, Graeme Berlyn, Asha Berstch, Gillian Bloomfield, Louise Buck, Zoraida Calle D., Frank Sullyvan Cardoza Ruiz, Julián Chará, Ian Cummins, Emily Dolhansky, Beatriz I. Eibl, Carl F. Jordan, Thomas