This has been an extraordinary year for the World Agroforestry Centre. Most significantly, we hosted—along with the United Nations Environment Programme—the hugely successful 2nd World Congress of groforestry, which brought together close to 1200 participants from 96 countries.

During the four-day Congress in Nairobi, we had the unique opportunity to showcase recent advances in agroforestry research and raise the profile of agroforestry worldwide. The Congress helped to create stronger networks among researchers, policy makers and practitioners. There is no longer any doubt that agroforestry has come of age as a robust, science based discipline, as well as a major land use at the global scale.

A new study, described in the following pages, provides definitive quantitative evidence of agroforestry’s importance. Over 1 billion hectares of agricultural land – almost half of the world’s farmland – are observed to have more than 10% tree cover, and 160 million of these hectares have more than 50% tree cover.

These new results, combined with the increasing density of trees on farms observed in many countries, show that farmers across the tropics are relying These new results, combined with the increasing density of trees on farms observed in many countries, show that farmers across the tropics are relying more on agroforestry to shape a better future for their families and for the environment. The evidence is clear: agroforestry can enhance food security and improve rural livelihoods, and it can increase soil fertility and crop yields. Indeed, trees on farms are now seen as one of the most promising means known to better adapt farming systems to climate change, and to absorb carbon dioxide in the battle to moderate global warming worldwide. This was a particularly important year

not just for us, but for the planet, with all eyes on the international climatechange negotiations, culminating in Copenhagen in December 2009. Deforestation accounts for some 20% of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is now widely accepted that REDD – reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation – should be a key component of the climate change agreement that replaces the Kyoto Protocol. Our research strongly suggests that the agreement will only be successful, however, if it recognises the critical role that smallholder farmers can play in reducing emissions, and in sequestering carbon by planting trees on farmland.

It is this message that the African Biocarbon Initiative, launched by the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the World Agroforestry Centre, is promoting in the lead up to the Copenhagen climate negotiations. If poor farmers are able to capture just a small fraction of the investment flow in projected carbon markets, agroforestry projects could dramatically reduce poverty, and at the same time remove billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This report highlights the breadth of our exciting agenda and achievements, from research on nitrogen-fixing trees that increase crop yields to the domestication of indigenous fruit trees; improving market access for smallholder farmers; providing evidence for crucial policy reforms; developing new ways of measuring soil health; and researching the best ways to disseminate information to farmers.

We made considerable progress during the year in implementing our new strategy. Our scientists have responded vigorously, with the number of peer-reviewed journal publications rising by over 43% in 2008. Our financial situation has remained healthy and stable. And we continue to wholeheartedly support and contribute to the CGIAR Change Management Initiative. Building on this highly successful year of creating broad awareness about the role of agroforestry and about our own work in addressing global challenges, we are in a stronger position than ever before to continue providing science-based solutions that transform lives and landscapes. We thank our many donors and partners for their strong and unrelenting support to these important joint efforts.

Lynn Haight
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Dennis Garrity,
Director General