Agroforestry for Tropical Rain Forests : XIX. IUFRO-Weltkongress

1991

S. 19-27

Unselbständiges Werk

200045472

Agroforestry's remarkable achievements are mainly due to its contribution to food production in the tropics. Amongs its main objectives are soil conservation and soil improvement in order to promote crop production and animal husbandry. Thus, as a rule, the forestry components and management practices are primarily used to serve agriculture on agricultural lands. The integration of forestry and agriculture dates back many centuries and generally started with silvopastoral and crop cultivation practices within and at the expense of forests. Professional foresters have, therefore, always tried to push other land users out of their forests. The alarming destruction of tropical rain forests, however, calls for an urgent reorientation of land use in order to integrate different requirements and maintain overall sustainability. Deliberateadoption of agroforestry with the purpose of preservation and management of forests may help to serve both, people and the forests, in a balanced way.