About this Research Topic
Agroforestry systems (AFS) as part of the practice, science, and movement of agroecology, are forms of land-use that combine wild and domesticated plants, crops and/or animals with trees, shrubs or other arborescent forms of life. These types of land-use mimic, to some degree, the structure, composition, and functions of natural ecosystems, allowing them to offer a range of environmental services. This is particularly the case for AFS with perennial crops, which are mainly valued as producers of commodities.
Mainstream approaches have predominantly focused on the monetary benefits of agroecosystems as ecosystem services (ES), as a way to overcome global environmental problems. However, there is still a gap in their contributions to ecosystem services with local benefits, such as those related to the provisioning for family and local farmers or farm laborers (provisions including food, remedies, fuelwood). This includes analysis of regulating services (heat regulation, flood control, and pest prevention) and cultural services (recreation opportunities, aesthetic or spiritual benefits).
In general, these systems have undergone a simplification process due to the market pressures that encourage productivism, regardless of the environmental and/or social advantages, and have consequently lost the capabilities of AFS to offer local benefits. This Research Topic will emphasize the importance of understanding the links that result from the interaction of AFS with perennial crops and the wellbeing of local people.
We welcome original research, reviews, and perspective papers. We encourage submissions focused on the contributions of AFS with perennial crops and which emphasize the tensions, trade-offs and mutual benefits between AFS ability to produce commodities and their capacity to deliver:
a) Goods and services for family farmers, and farmer's laborers (food, remedies, fuelwood);
b) Regulating services (heat regulation, flood control, and pest prevention);
c) Cultural services (recreation opportunities, aesthetic or spiritual benefits).
Mainstream approaches have predominantly focused on the monetary benefits of agroecosystems as ecosystem services (ES), as a way to overcome global environmental problems. However, there is still a gap in their contributions to ecosystem services with local benefits, such as those related to the provisioning for family and local farmers or farm laborers (provisions including food, remedies, fuelwood). This includes analysis of regulating services (heat regulation, flood control, and pest prevention) and cultural services (recreation opportunities, aesthetic or spiritual benefits).
In general, these systems have undergone a simplification process due to the market pressures that encourage productivism, regardless of the environmental and/or social advantages, and have consequently lost the capabilities of AFS to offer local benefits. This Research Topic will emphasize the importance of understanding the links that result from the interaction of AFS with perennial crops and the wellbeing of local people.
We welcome original research, reviews, and perspective papers. We encourage submissions focused on the contributions of AFS with perennial crops and which emphasize the tensions, trade-offs and mutual benefits between AFS ability to produce commodities and their capacity to deliver:
a) Goods and services for family farmers, and farmer's laborers (food, remedies, fuelwood);
b) Regulating services (heat regulation, flood control, and pest prevention);
c) Cultural services (recreation opportunities, aesthetic or spiritual benefits).
Keywords: Agroforestry systems, Perennial Crops, Commodity Production, Local Benefits
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
