Timber production in tropical agroforestry systems of Central America
Two of the most important changes in the agroforestry research agenda over the last 20 years have been with respect to the attention given to perennial rather than just annual crops, and the commercial productivity of trees in addition to their service functions. Interest in the potential of timber trees on tropical farms has increased, and in the humid tropics more emphasis is now given to agroforestry systems with perennial crops. Partially as a result of this shift of focus agroforestry is now widely studied and promoted for diversifying and sustaining productivity of high quality agricultural land in addition to the previous emphasis on the recovery of degraded land or making productive use of marginal land. Interest in alley cropping systems has been reduced drastically, especially in the dry tropics, while there is an increasing recognition of the existing role and potential of silvopastoral systems and agrisilvicultural timber plantations, both for diversified production (in order to improve cash flow and reduce risk) as well as a means to improve site conditions; i.e., the potential contributions of trees to both ecological and economical sustainability of Central American farms has been recognized. In this paper, three examples of tropical agroforestry systems, which produce timber products, are discussed: multistrata agroforestry systems with perennial crops (e.g., coffee, cocoa); small woodlots on private farms, established with the Taungya systems; and silvopastoral systems which include a timber component. After presenting data from case studies, emphasizing the regional importance of timber productivity from these systems, some of the lessons learned from these medium-long term experiences are discussed. These include research methods (both experimental and survey approaches) and the selection of components and systems. The integration of socioeconomic and biophysical research, and of the results obtained at different scale levels, is also discussed.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
Viena (Austria)
2000
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| Subjects: | CORDIA ALLIODORA, SOMBRA, AGROFORESTERIA, PRODUCCION FORESTAL, ARBOLES MADERABLES, PLANTAS DE SOMBRA, SISTEMAS DE CULTIVO, SISTEMA TAUNGYA, METODOS, INVESTIGACION, SISTEMAS SILVOPASCICOLAS, ENTORNO SOCIOECONOMICO, AMERICA CENTRAL, |
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