Organic yerba mate : an environmentally, socially and financially suitable agroforestry system

Paper presented at the 12th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 4-9, 2011 in Athens, Georgia.In Ashton, S. F., S.W. Workman, W.G. Hubbard and D.J. Moorhead, eds. Agroforestry: A Profitable Land Use. Proceedings, 12th North American Agroforestry Conference, Athens, GA, June 4-9, 2011.Trade in yerba mate (YM) (Ilex paraguariensis) is a lucrative business in Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. YM leaves are locally consumed as a tea with a market expanding to the USA, Europe and Asia, as it contains nearly twice the antioxidant levels of green tea and is energizing, making it an alternative to coffee. Approximately 5 percent of Misiones province, Argentina is in YM production. Many small farmers do not reach acceptable production levels due to lack of adequate technology. Organic YM producers can get up to 20 [percent] price surplus and most YM cooperatives have organic YM as one of their products. Typically grown in monocultures, its management can cause erosion and soil exhaustion, however YM naturally grows in subtropical forest and is shade tolerant thus it is adequate for agroforestry systems (AFS). We examined organic AFS of YM with other native trees by conducting semi-structured interviews with farmers in Misiones, including smaller, family-operated farms as well as larger farms, private companies, and private reserves. We recorded a substantial number of individuals of native species. Many farmers have their own nurseries to produce seedlings to use with YM and to sell for additional income. The extra work involved in using the organic practices and planting and tending for the native species is compensated by higher YM prices. YM AFS with native trees improve soil fertility of degraded areas without relying on fertilizers, while providing additional income from the timber of native trees. We conclude that AFS that combine YM with indigenous trees can favor the spread of organic YM production and diversify income in Argentina and elsewhere.Florencia Montagnini (1), Beatriz I. Eibl (2) and Sara R. Barth (2,3) ; 1. Yale University, Forestry and Env. Studies. 2. Facultad Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones. 3. Instituto Nacional de Tecnolog�a Agropecuaria, INTA.Includes bibliographical references

Significance of sacred sites for riparian forest conservation in Central Benin

Ibu odo, or sacred pools or points in the river, are generally respected by Tchabe communities along the Oueme and Okpara Rivers of Central Benin (West Africa). Ibu odo are governed by rules that may influence conservation practices, including bans on fish poisoning, over-fishing and pollution and discouragement of cattle grazing and cultivation in their vicinity. Riparian forest structure and diversity was examined in three sites adjacent to sacred pools as well as in riparian areas adjacent to various land uses in the region. Diversity in riparian forest tree species was highest in areas adjacent to sacred forests, while tree basal area was larger in areas adjacent to village uses or to sacred lands. The most remote site had the most diverse riparian forest with the largest basal area. Concurrent interviews with elders and hunting chiefs revealed the significant cultural importance of sacred pools and riparian resources. Ibu odo were respected not only by resident populations but also by migrants to the area. Riparian forests were valued for their many ecosystem services including soil fertility and their functions as windbreaks and hunting grounds. Ibu odo should be incorporated into a long-term management strategy for the Oueme River basin that will prevent the destruction of vegetation while conserving riparian forests. This would be crucial to flood control and biodiversity conservation in central Benin

Diversity-dependent temporal divergence of ecosystem functioning in experimental ecosystems

The effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning generally increase over time, but the underlying processes remain unclear. Using 26 long-term grassland and forest experimental ecosystems, we demonstrate that biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships strengthen mainly by greater increases in functioning in high-diversity communities in grasslands and forests. In grasslands, biodiversity effects also strengthen due to decreases in functioning in low-diversity communities. Contrasting trends across grasslands are associated with differences in soil characteristics

Forests for the New Millennium - MAKING FORESTS WORK FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE

THE WAYS IN WHICH FORESTS ARE PERCEIVED AND USED HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY OVER RECENT YEARS. FORESTS ARE NO LONGER SEEN SIMPLY AS A SOURCE OF TIMBER, BUT AS COMPLEX ECOSYSTEMS WHICH SUSTAIN LIVELIHOODS AND PROVIDE A RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. IT IS NOW WIDELY RECOGNISED THAT FORESTS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION.Forest, economics, livelihoods

Des Forêts pour le Nouveau Millénaire - DES FORÊTS À GÉRER DANS L’INTÉRÊT DES GENS ET DE LA NATURE

LA FAÇON DONT LES FORÊTS SONT PERÇUES ET LEURS UTILISATIONS ONT BEAUCOUP CHANGÉ AU COURS DES DERNIÈRES ANNÉES. LES FORÊTS NE SONT PLUS CONSIDÉRÉES COMME ÉTANT UNIQUEMENT DES SOURCES DE BOIS MAIS DES ÉCOSYSTÈMES COMPLEXES QUI PERMETTENT À DES COMMUNAUTÉS DE SE DÉVELOPPER ET OFFRENT TOUTE UNE GAMME DE PRODUITS ET DE SERVICES ENVIRONNEMENTAUX. ON RECONNAÎT AUJOURD’HUI QUE LES FORÊTS PEUVENT CONTRIBUER AU DÉVELOPPEMENT RURAL ET À LA LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ.Forêt, économie

Bosques para el Nuevo Milenio - BOSQUES QUE BENEFICIEN A LA GENTE Y SUSTENTEN LA NATURALEZA

LAS MANERAS DE PERCIBIR Y USAR LOS BOSQUES HAN CAMBIADO DRAMÁTICAMENTE DURANTE LOS ÚLTIMOS AÑOS. YA NO SE CONSIDERA MÁS A LOS BOSQUES SÓLO COMO UNA FUENTE DE MADERA, SINO COMO ECOSISTEMAS COMPLEJOS QUE SUSTENTAN LAS FORMAS DE VIDA HUMANA Y SUMINISTRAN UNA GAMA DE PRODUCTOS Y SERVICIOS AMBIENTALES. AHORA ES AMPLIAMENTE RECONOCIDO QUE LOS BOSQUES PUEDEN CONTRIBUIR AL DESARROLLO RURAL Y AYUDAN A ALIVIAR LA POBREZA.Forest, economics, livelihoods

Los sistemas agroforestales y su contribución para la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático

Los sistemas agroforestales (SAF) y los sistemas silvopastoriles (SSP) tienen potencial para la adaptación y mitigación (AyM) del cambio climático (CC), debido al uso como sombra que aminoran el microclima, además de promover la diversificación, y por la acumulación del carbono en biomasa aérea de cultivos, árboles asociados, y partes subterráneas del sistema. Se ha estimado que existen aproximadamente 1000 millones de ha de SAF a nivel global. Los SAF se encuentran ampliamente difundidos en América Latina, con un total de 200-357 millones de ha. La toma de C en SAF con cultivos perennes es mayor que en los SAF con cultivos anuales. Los sistemas de producción ganaderos son fuente de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) sin embargo existen opciones para disminuir estos impactos, entre ellas el uso de SSP. El potencial para la captura de C por los SAF en su componente aéreo ha sido estimado en 0,29 a 15,21 Mg C/ha/año y para los SSP, se dan cifras de 1,1 a 6,55 Mg C/ha/año, dependiendo de características del sitio, diseño, especies, edad y manejo. Se destaca la importancia de la toma de C en suelos en SAF con valores de 30 a 300 Mg C/ ha hasta 1 m de profundidad y de 130 a 173 Mg/ha para los SSP. Tendencias actuales de la agricultura, desarrollo y ambiente promueven sistemas de producción alternativos, tales como los SAF como herramienta efectiva para adaptación y mitigación del cambio climático.     ABSTRACT Agroforestry systems (AFS) and silvopastoral systems (SPS) have potential for adaptation and mitigation (A&M) of climate change (CC), due to the use of shade trees that ameliorate the microenvironment, in addition to promoting diversification, and because of carbon accumulation in aboveground biomass of crops, associated trees, and belowground components of the system. AFS have been estimated to be practiced in approximately 1000 million ha worldwide. AFS are broadly disseminated in Latin America, with a total of about 200-357 million ha. C accumulation rates are larger in AFS with perennial crops than in AFS with annual crops. Cattle production systems are sources of greenhouse gases (GHG); however, there are alternatives to decrease these impacts, among those, the use of SPS. The C capture potential by AFS aboveground components has been estimated in the of 0.29 and 15.21 Mg C/ha/year, and for SPS, values range between 1.1 to 6.55 Mg C/ha/year, depending on site characteristics, design, species, age, and management. The importance of C accumulation in soils is stressed, with values in AFS ranging between 30 to 300 Mg C/ha to 1 m depth, and from 130 to 173 Mg/ha for SPS. Current trends in the agriculture, development and environmental sectors are promoting alternative production systems such as AFS as effective tools for climate change adaptation and mitigation