Northern Upland Agro-forestry system is characterised by a structural diversity as a strategy adopted by farmers to achieve higher efficiency of resource use by efficiently harvesting solar energy and using soil nutrients and moisture. It also helps to exploit the space, both temporally and spatially in order to meet the many demands of food, fodder, fuel, timber, organic mulch, and medicinal plants.

Growing a high diversity of crops and trees but also animals, the agroforestry system is highly integrated to its environment. It also participate to maintain the soil fertility but mainly to regulate the the water flow from the Mt. Kilimanjaro as a water-tower for the region.

Satisfying the needs of local communities from Northern Tanzania, this systemic system is nowadays threatened mainly due to land scarcity, population growth and migration of younger generations. Beyond its feeding role, this system is an example of synergy between human, plants and animals contributing to keep a sustainable environment.