Forest restoration is more than just replanting trees in cleared or degraded forests. It involves improving landscapes that are deforested, degraded, or underutilized, often through agroforestry.

An article by the World Resources Institute on Forest Bioenergy Review outlines how agroforestry, when combined with improved with soil and water management practices, can improve the productivity of rural landscapes, take pressure off natural forests and provide benefits that range from food security to clean air and water, carbon sequestration and job creation.

For example, new agroforestry systems on five million hectares in Niger increased annual agricultural production by around 500,000 tons. In Zambia, maize yields have increased by 88 to 190 per cent when grown in an agroforestry system under the canopies of Faiderbia albida trees.

In South Korea, China’s Loess Plateau, and other areas, increased tree cover provides environmental benefits such as landslide prevention, water storage enhancement, reduced flooding, and enhanced recreational opportunities.

The restoration of degraded lands for agricultural productivity can involve sustainably intensifying the production of annual crops, tree crops, fruit tree orchards, and other perennials. “This sort of climate-smart agriculture, along with agroforestry, can help reduce emissions while also preparing rural communities for the effects of climate change,” says the article.

Read the full story: Restoration: It’s About More than Just the Trees