Ebook: Agroforestry in Europe: Current Status and Future Prospects

While recent EU Rural Development policy clearly recognises the economic, ecological, and social advantages of agroforestry systems, to date the implementation of such systems remains poor throughout most of Europe. In light of this, this collection of peer-reviewed papers brings together some of the most important current research in European agroforestry, and evaluates the current scope and future potential of agroforestry across the EU.

While the majority of Europe’s agroforestry practices are currently focused in the Mediterranean, this volume draws together examples from a wide range of countries – including Greece, Spain, the UK, Hungary, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Slovenia. The book also covers a range of agroforestry types, including silvopastoralism – Europe’s predominant form of agroforestry – as well as alley cropping, forest farming, silvoarable systems and the use of trees for shelter. Through these examples the book also discusses the potential roles for these traditional land management systems in addressing both environmental issues such as water quality, biodiversity conservation, desertification, ecosystem services and socioeconomic issues such as rural population stabilization.

Augmented by detailed reviews of the main elements of European agroforestry and the issues that face it, this timely collection of research papers provides a valuable reference both for advanced students and researchers interested in a wide range of issues around land use, rural development, natural resource management, landscape ecology, and conservation across Europe, and for the agroforestry community – including research and extension organizations – worldwide.

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While recent EU Rural Development policy clearly recognises the economic, ecological, and social advantages of agroforestry systems, to date the implementation of such systems remains poor throughout most of Europe. In light of this, this collection of peer-reviewed papers brings together some of the most important current research in European agroforestry, and evaluates the current scope and future potential of agroforestry across the EU.

While the majority of Europe’s agroforestry practices are currently focused in the Mediterranean, this volume draws together examples from a wide range of countries – including Greece, Spain, the UK, Hungary, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Slovenia. The book also covers a range of agroforestry types, including silvopastoralism – Europe’s predominant form of agroforestry – as well as alley cropping, forest farming, silvoarable systems and the use of trees for shelter. Through these examples the book also discusses the potential roles for these traditional land management systems in addressing both environmental issues such as water quality, biodiversity conservation, desertification, ecosystem services and socioeconomic issues such as rural population stabilization.

Augmented by detailed reviews of the main elements of European agroforestry and the issues that face it, this timely collection of research papers provides a valuable reference both for advanced students and researchers interested in a wide range of issues around land use, rural development, natural resource management, landscape ecology, and conservation across Europe, and for the agroforestry community – including research and extension organizations – worldwide.

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While recent EU Rural Development policy clearly recognises the economic, ecological, and social advantages of agroforestry systems, to date the implementation of such systems remains poor throughout most of Europe. In light of this, this collection of peer-reviewed papers brings together some of the most important current research in European agroforestry, and evaluates the current scope and future potential of agroforestry across the EU.

While the majority of Europe’s agroforestry practices are currently focused in the Mediterranean, this volume draws together examples from a wide range of countries – including Greece, Spain, the UK, Hungary, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Slovenia. The book also covers a range of agroforestry types, including silvopastoralism – Europe’s predominant form of agroforestry – as well as alley cropping, forest farming, silvoarable systems and the use of trees for shelter. Through these examples the book also discusses the potential roles for these traditional land management systems in addressing both environmental issues such as water quality, biodiversity conservation, desertification, ecosystem services and socioeconomic issues such as rural population stabilization.

Augmented by detailed reviews of the main elements of European agroforestry and the issues that face it, this timely collection of research papers provides a valuable reference both for advanced students and researchers interested in a wide range of issues around land use, rural development, natural resource management, landscape ecology, and conservation across Europe, and for the agroforestry community – including research and extension organizations – worldwide.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii
Definitions and Components of Agroforestry Practices in Europe....Pages 3-19
Classifications and Functions of Agroforestry Systems in Europe....Pages 21-41
Agroforestry Systems in Europe: Productive, Ecological and Social Perspectives....Pages 43-65
Farmer Perceptions of Silvoarable Systems in Seven European Countries....Pages 67-86
Traditional Agroforestry Systems and Their Evolution in Greece....Pages 89-109
Silvopastoral Systems in Portugal: Current Status and Future Prospects....Pages 111-126
The Functioning, Management and Persistence of Dehesas....Pages 127-160
Silvopastoral Systems in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula: A Multifunctional Perspective....Pages 161-181
Agroforestry Systems in Southeastern Spain....Pages 183-210
Role of Livestock Grazing in Sustainable Use, Naturalness Promotion in Naturalization of Marginal Ecosystems of Southeastern Spain (Andalusia)....Pages 211-231
Role of Various Woody Species in Spanish Mediterranean Forest and Scrubland as Food Resources for Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica Schinz) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L.)....Pages 233-253
Agroforestry Systems in Italy: Traditions Towards Modern Management....Pages 255-267
Economics of Multiple Use Cork Oak Woodlands: Two Case Studies of Agroforestry Systems....Pages 269-294
European Black Truffle: Its Potential Role in Agroforestry Development in the Marginal Lands of Mediterranean Calcareous Mountains....Pages 295-317
Assessment of the Extent of Agroforestry Systems in Europe and Their Role Within Transhumance Systems....Pages 321-329
Agroforestry in the Netherlands....Pages 331-341
The Potential for Silvopastoralism to Enhance Biodiversity on Grassland Farms in Ireland....Pages 343-356
Wood Pastures in Germany....Pages 359-376
The Swiss Mountain Wooded Pastures: Patterns and Processes....Pages 377-396
In Slovenia: Management of Intensive Land Use Systems....Pages 397-414
The Traditions, Resources and Potential of Forest Growing and Multipurpose Shelterbelts in Hungary....Pages 415-433
Future Directions of Agroforestry in Europe....Pages 435-438
Back Matter....Pages 439-450