Agroforestry Preserves 250,000 Hectares Annually in Southeast Asia
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📰 The quick summary: New research shows agroforestry practices in Southeast Asia reduced annual deforestation by over 250,000 hectares between 2015-2023, offering a viable solution for climate change mitigation while supporting farmer livelihoods.
📈 One key stat: Agroforestry prevented between 43.3 million and 74.4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually by reducing deforestation across Southeast Asia, demonstrating its significant climate impact.
💬 One key quote: “These diverse [agroforestry] systems can provide alternative sources of income [for farmers] — fuelwood, timber, fruits, and other products — reducing the economic pressure to clear more forests” says study lead author Steve Hoong Chen Teo.
1️⃣ The big picture: A groundbreaking study published in Nature Sustainability reveals how agroforestry – growing crops alongside trees and shrubs – can help combat deforestation in Southeast Asia. The research analyzed data across 38 subnational units between 2015-2023, finding that agroforestry reduced forest loss in 22 regions, particularly in countries like Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. The practice helped preserve over 250,000 hectares of forest annually by providing farmers alternative income sources and reducing pressure to clear new land. However, the study also found that agroforestry’s success depends heavily on local social, economic and policy conditions, with some regions actually seeing increased deforestation.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Agroforestry offers multiple benefits beyond just reducing deforestation – it helps boost local biodiversity, improves soil health, and provides diverse income streams for farmers through products like timber, fruits and other forest goods. The practice significantly cuts greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining high biomass levels compared to conventional farms. Southeast Asia’s agricultural lands already store the highest levels of above-ground carbon globally, making the region ideally positioned to expand this climate-friendly farming approach. The findings demonstrate that with proper implementation, agroforestry can simultaneously address both biodiversity loss and climate change while supporting rural livelihoods.
3️⃣ What’s next: Success requires careful policy design focusing on securing land rights for smallholders and indigenous communities. Programs need to include thorough land-use planning and provide technical support on sustainable practices. Incentives to improve productivity on existing farmland will be crucial. Indonesia’s recent expansion of social forestry areas to 5 million hectares serves as an example of supportive policy that could be replicated elsewhere.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Agroforestry can reduce deforestation, but supportive policies matter, study finds
