Agroforestry has gained prominence in the Philippines in recent years for its potential to alleviate many of the country’s environmental and agricultural issues.
In this context, agroforestry researchers and advocates gathered in Bohol, the Philippines from 19-21 March 2014 for the country’s first International Agroforestry Congress. They discussed how integrating trees with livestock and annual crops can increase productivity and farmer incomes while at the same time ensure healthier soils and store carbon.
With the theme, Agroforestry: Greening and feeding the nations in the 21st century, the conference included presentations from leading researchers from the World Agroforestry Centre. Dr Ravi Prabhu, Deputy Director General of Research, spoke about how agroforestry can green and feed the nations of the world by returning trees to farm landscapes. Dr Rodel Lasco, coordinator of the Centre’s Philippines program, outlined how agroforestry can help farmers adapt to changes in climate.
Other topics at the conference included conservation agriculture with trees, sugar palm as a fuel source, shelterbelts, the role of trees and agroforestry in adaptation to climate change and sustainable management in Bohol through agroforestry.
A number of the conference presentations have been summarized on the Agroforestry World blog:
- A sweet waterway to food and fuel security
- ASAP: Agroforestry Shelterbelts for an Adapting Philippines
- More vulnerable than most? Farmers know that trees can help
- Five tips for producing more food, saving the planet and making more money
- Grow a green economy with your agroforest
- Dark clouds ahead but we can shelter beneath the trees
