The dynamic relationship between forests and agriculture, tempered with the alarming need to put in place sustainable measures to ensure the future of these resources, continues to be an exciting field of interest for scientists and researchers the world over. Thus, we bring you, in this issue, a number of articles that deal with the matter.
A study in Thailand reveals a startling insight into children’s perceptions regarding the link between forests and food security. It found that while the rural children clearly understood the role of the forests in food security, those in the urban areas thought of the forest as basically a source of fuelwood rather than a source of food. Results indicated the need for stronger environmental education in schools, particularly in urban areas, to promote knowledge on the importance and sustainable management of forests.
Finding funding for community-based approaches engaging indigenous people to develop sustainable forest-based livelihoods combined with indigenous forest management practices is difficult. The problem is being addressed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-managed Small Grants Programme for Promoting Tropical Forests (SGP PTF) in South and Southeast Asia. The programme is supported by the European Union and has been funding projects in the Philippines, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. It will soon be expanded to include Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao PDR.
Forage production for livestock is becoming increasingly important in Nepal, especially in areas where there are land shortages. The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), is implementing a forage production project, in which around 800 forest user groups, including the landless, women and the disadvantaged, have been given the technical know-how and material inputs such as seeds to develop 80 ha of forage blocks.
Farmers are the real innovators in agroforestry. A survey in Bangladesh revealed a diversity of agroforestry farming practices in rural villages, including the semi-urban areas of Bangladesh. Agroforestry increased the productivity of the land in a sustainable manner, ensuring increased biodiversity and reducing rural poverty and environmental degradation.
This issue of APANews also contains a variety of news articles and information on future conferences and training workshops as well as web sites and new publications that may be of interest to you.
As this is our last issue for the year, we wish you peace and a continuing passion in your work on and interest in agroforestry. -The Editors
