Providing Opportunities for Enhancing Biodiversity, Medicinal and Other Flora And Fauna: Role Of Agroforestry In Planning Related To It | Forestry Optional Indian Forest Services (IFoS)

Introduction

Agroforestry is a sustainable land management approach that combines the cultivation of crops, livestock, or fish with the intentional planting of trees or other woody vegetation. This integrated system offers numerous opportunities for enhancing biodiversity, supporting medicinal plants, and benefiting other flora and fauna. There are multifaceted role of agroforestry in promoting biodiversity, medicinal resources, and the overall well-being of ecosystems.

This topic falls under this topic of the syllabus: “Role of Agroforestry in planning especially related to (i) soil and water conservation; (ii) water recharge; (iii) nutrient availability to crops; (iv) nature and eco-system preservation including ecological balances through pest-predator relationships and (v) Providing opportunities for enhancing biodiversity, medicinal and other flora and fauna”

Agroforestry for Providing Opportunities for Enhancing Biodiversity:

1. Habitat Diversification: 

Agroforestry systems provide diverse habitat niches for various species, including birds, insects, and small mammals, which enhances overall biodiversity.

In a tropical agroforestry system, farmers plant a mix of fruit trees like mangoes, coffee bushes, and cocoa trees alongside crops like maize and beans. This diversity of vegetation provides various niches for birds, insects, and mammals.

2. Species Richness: 

Mixing trees, crops, and other vegetation increases the number of plant and animal species in agroecosystems compared to monoculture farming.

A temperate agroforestry system may include oak trees, hazelnut shrubs, and berry bushes alongside wheat fields. This combination increases the number of plant and animal species compared to a monoculture wheat farm.

3. Wildlife Corridors: 

Agroforestry can create green corridors and connecting habitats that allow wildlife to move more freely, preventing isolation of populations.

In a large-scale agroforestry landscape, interconnected hedgerows of native trees and shrubs serve as corridors for wildlife movement, preventing isolation of populations. For instance, these corridors help deer and small mammals traverse the landscape.

4. Natural Pest Control: 

Increased biodiversity often leads to natural pest control, as diverse ecosystems support a variety of predators and beneficial insects that regulate pest populations.

In an agroforestry orchard, predatory insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps thrive among fruit trees. They prey on pests like aphids, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

5. Improved Soil Health: 

Agroforestry practices improve soil structure and nutrient cycling, providing a better environment for soil organisms and microorganisms.

An agroforestry plot with nitrogen-fixing trees, such as acacias, improves soil fertility and attracts earthworms, enhancing soil health.

6. Pollinator Attraction: 

Trees and flowering shrubs in agroforestry systems attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, supporting the reproduction of both wild and cultivated plants.

Rows of flowering shrubs like lavender and wildflowers in an agroforestry system attract pollinators like bees, supporting the reproduction of both wildflowers and nearby crops.

7. Genetic Diversity: 

Agroforestry can conserve genetic diversity of tree species, some of which may be threatened or endangered, helping to safeguard unique genetic resources.

Agroforestry projects may include rare tree species like the African baobab or the American chestnut, helping to conserve their genetic diversity.

8. Carbon Sequestration: 

Trees in agroforestry systems contribute to carbon sequestration, mitigating climate change and promoting the health of ecosystems, which indirectly benefits biodiversity.

An agroforestry plantation with a mix of fast-growing and slow-growing trees sequesters carbon in the soil and biomass, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting ecosystem health.

Case Studies:

1. Narmada Valley Agroforestry: 

In the Narmada Valley, farmers have adopted agroforestry practices by planting native tree species alongside their crops. This has led to increased biodiversity, as these trees provide habitat for various birds, insects, and small mammals. The presence of diverse plant species in agroforestry systems also attracts pollinators, further enhancing biodiversity.

2. Western Ghats Coffee Agroforestry: 

Coffee plantations in the Western Ghats region of India often employ agroforestry techniques. Shade trees, such as silver oak and jackfruit, not only protect the coffee plants from harsh sunlight but also provide habitat for a wide range of birds, including several endemic species. This enhances biodiversity within the coffee farms.

3. Taungya Farming in Myanmar: 

Taungya farming is a traditional agroforestry system in Myanmar. Here, farmers grow crops alongside newly established forest plantations. This approach not only boosts agricultural productivity but also contributes to forest regeneration, creating diverse ecosystems that support various wildlife species.

4. Alley Cropping in Ghana: 

In Ghana, alley cropping is a common agroforestry practice where rows of trees are planted within crop fields. These trees, such as shea and acacia species, not only provide valuable timber and non-timber forest products but also attract a variety of beneficial insects, birds, and mammals, enhancing biodiversity.

Agroforestry for Providing Opportunities for Medicinal Flora and Fauna:

1. Natural Pharmacy: 

Agroforestry can cultivate medicinal plants and herbs alongside trees and crops, providing a sustainable source of natural medicines.

In a tropical agroforestry garden, farmers cultivate medicinal plants like aloe vera, neem, and turmeric alongside fruit-bearing trees like papaya and guava.

2. Diversity of Medicinal Plants: 

Agroforestry systems can support a wide variety of medicinal plant species, ensuring a diverse range of remedies.

Agroforestry systems in Asia often include diverse medicinal herbs like ginseng, ashwagandha, and basil, providing a wide range of herbal remedies.

3. Traditional Medicine Preservation: 

Agroforestry can help preserve and protect traditional knowledge related to medicinal flora and fauna.

Agroforestry projects in Indigenous communities aim to preserve and protect traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants, like the use of willow bark for pain relief.

4. Pharmacological Research: 

Agroforestry provides a controlled environment for studying the medicinal properties of various plants and their interactions.

Agroforestry research centers can study the medicinal properties of plants, like the analysis of the compounds in ginkgo trees for cognitive health.

5. Sustainable Harvesting: 

By growing medicinal plants in agroforestry systems, the sustainable harvesting of these plants can be practiced, preventing overexploitation.

Agroforestry cooperatives cultivate plants like echinacea and goldenrod sustainably, preventing overharvesting and ensuring a continued supply of medicinal herbs.

6. Conservation of Medicinal Species: 

Agroforestry can contribute to the conservation of threatened or rare medicinal plant species by cultivating them in controlled settings.

Agroforestry nurseries may propagate and conserve endangered medicinal plants, such as the American ginseng or Himalayan yew.

7. Community Health: 

Agroforestry systems can promote community health by making medicinal plants more accessible to local populations.

Agroforestry initiatives can educate communities on the uses of local medicinal plants, promoting self-reliance and community health.

8. Economic Opportunities: 

Growing medicinal flora in agroforestry systems can create economic opportunities for farmers and herbal practitioners, promoting local economies.

Farmers in agroforestry systems can sell medicinal herbs and plants, creating economic opportunities and supporting local herbal medicine markets.

Case Studies:

1. Ayurvedic Agroforestry:

In India, traditional Ayurvedic medicine relies heavily on the use of medicinal plants. Agroforestry systems are used to cultivate a variety of these medicinal plants, including neem, amla, and ashwagandha. This ensures a sustainable source of medicinal flora while also conserving these species.

2. Western Himalayan Medicinal Plants: 

In the Western Himalayan region, agroforestry is employed for cultivating medicinal plants like yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) and rhubarb. The integration of these plants with agroforestry practices not only supports local livelihoods but also preserves valuable medicinal resources.

3. Peruvian Amazon Agroforestry: 

Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon practice agroforestry to cultivate medicinal plants like cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and camu camu (Myrciaria dubia). These practices not only provide medicinal resources but also protect the rich biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest.

4. Traditional Chinese Medicinal Agroforestry: 

In China, agroforestry systems are used to grow traditional medicinal plants like ginseng, goji berries, and licorice. These practices ensure a sustainable supply of medicinal flora while promoting biodiversity conservation.

Agroforestry for Providing Opportunities for Other Flora and Fauna:

1. Restoration of Native Species: 

Agroforestry can incorporate native tree and plant species, aiding in the restoration of local flora.
Agroforestry projects may involve reforestation with native tree species, like the reintroduction of oak and hickory trees in degraded landscapes.

2. Wildlife Habitats: 

Agroforestry systems provide nesting sites, food sources, and shelter for various wildlife species, contributing to their conservation.

Wildlife Habitats: Agroforestry farms with mixed vegetation types provide homes for diverse wildlife, from tree-nesting birds like owls to ground-dwelling animals like rabbits.

3. Erosion Control: 

Trees and shrubs in agroforestry systems help prevent soil erosion, preserving habitats for many plant and animal species.

In hilly regions, agroforestry terraces with trees, shrubs, and cover crops help prevent soil erosion, preserving habitats for plants and animals downstream.

4. Water Quality: 

Agroforestry buffers along water bodies improve water quality, benefiting aquatic ecosystems and the species within them.

Riparian agroforestry buffers along streams and rivers filter pollutants, benefiting aquatic ecosystems and species like fish and amphibians.

5. Beekeeping: 

Bee-friendly plants in agroforestry systems support bee populations, which, in turn, pollinate various wildflowers and crops.

Agroforestry systems that incorporate bee-friendly plants like clover and buckwheat support healthy bee populations, aiding in the pollination of wildflowers and crops.

6. Seed Dispersal: 

Birds and mammals in agroforestry systems aid in seed dispersal, helping propagate native plants.

Birds and small mammals forage in agroforestry areas and help disperse seeds of native plants, contributing to the propagation of local flora.

7. Climate Resilience: 

Agroforestry contributes to climate resilience by maintaining a mosaic of diverse vegetation types that can adapt to changing conditions.

Agroforestry's diverse vegetation types can adapt to changing climate conditions, ensuring the survival of species like certain drought-resistant tree varieties.

8. Genetic Reservoirs: 

Agroforestry can serve as genetic reservoirs for rare or threatened plant species, aiding in their long-term survival.

Agroforestry projects may include the cultivation of rare or threatened plant species, such as the American chestnut, preserving their genetic diversity for future generations.

Case Studies

1. Muga Silk Agroforestry: 

In Assam, muga silkworms are reared in agroforestry systems that incorporate mulberry trees. This symbiotic relationship between silkworms and trees supports silk production while fostering biodiversity by providing habitat for various insects and birds.

2. Rubber-Agroforestry in Kerala: 

In Kerala, rubber plantations often include diverse tree species such as coconut and areca nut palms. This mixed agroforestry approach not only enhances rubber production but also promotes biodiversity and supports various flora and fauna.

3. Cocoa Agroforestry in Ghana: 

Cocoa farming in Ghana frequently involves planting shade trees like cocoa, plantains, and timber trees in close proximity. This agroforestry system preserves forest cover, maintains soil health, and sustains a rich diversity of wildlife, including birds and mammals.

4. Mediterranean Olive Agroforestry: 

In Mediterranean countries like Spain and Italy, olive groves are often interspersed with native trees like cork oaks and carob trees. This agroforestry practice preserves the Mediterranean ecosystem, benefiting species like the Iberian lynx and various bird species.

Conclusion