Smallholder agroforestry options for degraded soils: Tree establishment in cropped fields (SAFODS)

The Smallholder AgroForestry Options for Degraded Soils (SAFODS) project targeted deforested landscapes with degraded soils that were created by people moving into the forest margin. It was hypothesized that when economic, institutional and policy conditions are right, a 'spontaneous' rehabilitation phase can follow that increases profitability as well as public environmental goods. Smallholder options for degraded soils have to balance short term profitability and a medium term escape from further soil degradation occurring under pure crop-based land use systems. Establishing timber and/or fruit trees in cropped fields provides such dual functions. The project identified conditions under which such 'agroforestation' can take place, and provided support at technical and policy level to facilitate the transformation of landscapes and livelihoods. The SAFODS consortia consisted of researchers from the University of Hohenheim, Germany, Brawijaya University and University of Lampung, Indonesia, University of the the Philippines Los Baños, The Philippines, University of Cordoba, Spain, INRA, France and World Agroforestry Centre SE Asia. Activities were based on 5 work packages: WP1 - Farmer typology and market analysis, WP2 - Tree by site matching, WP3 - Tree-soil-crop interactions, WP4 - Improved array of management option and WP5 - Risk, profitability and dissemination. For further information please click here