Experts and farmers now agree that suitable environmental conservation practices must be put in place to ensure that sustainable agriculture is kept well and good into the future. Tree-based crop production systems are proven effective in improving soil fertility.
In this issue, you will find a variety of topics that slant toward agroforestry as an approach in improving the health of the natural resource base. Indeed, farmers are realizing the value of growing trees on their farms, not only for food and livelihood, but more so for sustaining their immediate environment and the lands they till. With the help of experts, they are now determined to find the right mix of food crops and trees to cultivate, using indigenous species, appropriate soil and water conservation measures and other supportive technologies. Considering existing conditions, they are now putting together new learnings, their indigenous practices and discovering other possible products and livelihood opportunities that can be integrated into their agroforestry farms.
You will also find articles that focus on participation and the strength of the community in addressing its own crop productivity and resource conservation problems. Experiences from India, Indonesia and the Philippines emphasize the critical role of partnerships between and among farmers, researchers and line agencies in scaling up or replicating agroforestry efforts in other areas. There are also articles on the socioeconomic impacts of agroforestry and agroforestry and biodiversity conservation--two areas that have long been identified as among the research gaps in agroforestry.
Again, our thanks to all our contributors for this issue. We look forward to more interesting stories on agroforestry efforts and concerns from you and from those who will be contributing articles for the first time soon. -- The Editors
