The mountainous region of Fouta Djallon in Guinea is the water tower of West Africa. Farmers and pastoralists have occupied this area of poor soils for at least a thousand years. As they became sedentary the famous herder Fulani practiced agriculture by creating all around their houses an innovation of homegardens, the so-called "Tapade", in which they cultivate an association of staple crops, fruit trees and numerous useful plants. The tapade system is a model of how skilful management can transform a poor soil into a fertile field, where intensive cultivation is possible. To allow coexistence of crops and animals the tapades are always fenced. However, the old practice of using dead wood for fences has become unsustainable as it takes too much wood from the shrinking forest. It is, therefore, essential to adopt alternative fencing practices, such as live agroforestry fences, which, additionally to saving more forest for wildlife and water conservation, also further enhance the productivity of the tapade system.