Читать книгу North American Agroforestry - Группа авторов - Страница 38

In a short span of four decades, agroforestry in the United States has transitioned from a little‐used name and practice to a science‐based technology that is widely recognized. While the United States lacks a consistent national policy on agroforestry, the establishment of the USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework for 2011–2016 (revised in 2019) has advanced agroforestry from a fragmented effort on the part of a few to an area of focus on the part of many. The question is no longer, do we need agroforestry, but rather what will agroforestry look like in the United States over the next four decades? The professional community continues to be focused on providing the biophysical and socioeconomic specifics needed to implement agroforestry on the ground. Such details comprise the rest of this volume, showing strong promise for the further development of agroforestry in the United States as well as for other developed, temperate regions of the world.

Although progress has been good, specific challenges still face the development of domestic agroforestry. First, we must continue to increase the amount of research being conducted, and this work must be interdisciplinary and focused on specific opportunities where agroforestry practices can be applied. Second, we must educate and train professionals who are capable of applying agroforestry research methodologies and results to real‐world situations and, of course, assure employment opportunities for them at the end of their schooling. Third, we must cultivate and support a group of practitioners willing to work with researchers to test and evaluate new technologies. Fourth, we must educate the general public to understand the need to support the development of sustainable land use management systems like agroforestry and to appreciate the unique value of products from such systems. Lastly, collaboration must be stimulated among key individuals and organizations to further the ideals and practice of domestic agroforestry: extension personnel, researchers, and practitioners; different disciplines, departments, and colleges; and different public and private organizations, agencies, and institutions. In practice, the development of these technological and organizational components of a domestic agroforestry program should occur simultaneously and proceed in parallel rather than in series. Hopefully, an emerging national policy on agroforestry will provide the framework needed to address these challenges.

It is important that the research, extension, federal and state agencies, NGOs, associations, cooperatives, and the private sector continue to build and develop the knowledge network and infrastructure to support the growth of agroforestry. With dedicated, collaborative efforts, agroforestry practices will become increasingly important within North America’s food, forage, and fiber production systems. It is hoped that this text provides support for innovative approaches to maintaining the long‐term ecological integrity and productivity of the nation’s farm and forest lands. Such is the essence of our society’s quest for sustainability.