Harnessing Biodiversity Through Agroforestry
Abstract
This study underlines the importance of economic growth and preserving biodiversity to ensure long-term environmental and economic stability. Agroforestry, as a biodiversity-friendly land use system, integrates trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes, mimicking natural ecosystems and promoting ecological richness and sustainability. 2,564 documents from 119 countries in the world that have implemented agroforestry systems. 349 documents from 65 countries have shown the importance of agroforestry systems to economic value. Agroforestry integrates trees with crops and/or livestock to create sustainable agricultural systems based on ecological principles, providing environmental and economic benefits. Agroforestry systems play an important role in contributing to biodiversity-derived products and services in the bioeconomy, with a particular focus on providing non-timber forest products without harvesting timber. Successful agroforestry systems promote economic, environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation and the need of political support and community engagement.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
African Botany and Ecology Studies
Forest Ecology and Conservation
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IGI Global eBooks
- Pages
- 223–254
- Publication date
- 4 March 2026
- Language
- NG
- Document type
- Book chapter