Читать книгу North American Agroforestry - Группа авторов - Страница 10

Perhaps more so than at any time in the history of mankind, we are faced with problems that threaten our very existence. Climate change, regardless of its cause, is resulting in unprecedented changes in events ranging from dramatic shifts in world weather patterns and the consequences thereof, to the melting of the earth’s glaciers and its ultimate effects on world populations. Humanity has become a victim of its own success. We have conquered the wilderness, and in our attempt to meet the needs of the world’s ever‐growing population, we have endangered many of the ecosystem services upon which our livelihood depends. Our streams and rivers are contaminated with sediment, nutrients and pesticides, mostly products of our success in producing more food at cheaper prices, but also from the privileges success brings such as subdivisions with luxurious lawns requiring large amounts of agrochemicals. Our oceans become the final destination for these and other contaminants, and in combination with the warming of their waters, our oceans too are in a transition towards endangered.

With today’s understanding of the consequences of current land‐use systems, it is time for a new approach—alternatives must be found. One alternative that was quickly adopted in tropical regions in the 1970’s and 80’s but has been slower in gaining support in the temperate regions of the world, is agroforestry. Agroforestry exploits the positive interactions between trees and crops (including livestock) when they are carefully designed and integrated, they bridge the gap between production agriculture and natural resource management. Supported by four decades of research and demonstration agroforestry practices have been found to provide environmentally and economically sound alternatives to many of our unsustainable forestry and agricultural systems. While if offers opportunities for small farms to regain their relevance and viability it also provides humanity the opportunity to heal our planet by constructively addressing climate change, improving the quality of our air, our waters, and protecting and enhancing soil health.

The 3^rd edition of North American Agroforestry‐‐An Integrated Science and Practice (now shortened to North American Agroforestry) comes at a critical time as the nations of the world debate the pros and cons of making forestry and agriculture production system decisions based more on economics than on the future health of our planet. In addition to updating the topics found in the 2^nd edition, this edition adds to the science with a new 6th practice of “Urban Food Forests” and chapters on: Agroforestry for Air Quality Benefits; Agroforestry for Soil Health; Agroforestry at the Landscape Level; An Overview of Agroforestry and its Relevance in the Mexican Context and Agroforestry Training and Education.

The chapter authors are all recognized authorities. Their writings, when taken collectively, are meant to provide a state‐of‐the‐art understanding of agroforestry. Agroforestry is rapidly becoming recognized as a science that has great merit in helping address many of our nations’ environmental problems while serving to the economic benefit of our nations’ small farms.

Harold E. “Gene” Garrett

School of Natural Resources

The Center for Agroforestry

University of Missouri

Columbia, Missouri

Shibu Jose

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

University of Missouri

Columbia, Missouri

Michael A. Gold

School of Natural Resources

The Center for Agroforestry

University of Missouri

Columbia, Missouri