‘The Center for Semiarid Agroforestry helps visitors from foreign countries get to know more about agroforestry research,
development and practice in the U.S. Pictured from left are: Koffi Bassan, an intern from Togo, Africa; Mike Rodell, CSA
information management assistant, Kande Matungulu, a scientist associate from ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya; and Michele Schoeneberger,
acting CSA research program leader.

International guests visit CSA

When it comes to agroforestry, different
countries are often worlds apart in research,
technologies and practices. Every region
has its own ideas on how to approach
agroforestry science and practice.
International exchanges can help to bring
these very different worlds a little bit closer
in sharing important information.

The Center for Semiarid Agroforestry
cooperates with the International Forestry
branch of the Forest Service. Several
visitors from around the world have checked
in on CSA in recent weeks.

One of these visitors will be getting an
“in depth" tour of CSA's research. Koffi
Bassan, a native of Togo, Africa, will be
working at CSA for the next four months.
His stay was made possible through an
internship funded by the African American
Institute.

Bassan finished his masters in Forestry
Research Management at SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry. His
stay will allow him to get practical training
in field service and agroforestry research.

Apart from adapting to all the differences
in the United States, Bassan says there are a
lot of advantages to studying here. "You
gain more and it's more challenging here,"
he says. "You are in contact with the latest
technologies and the best results from
research.”

Bassan hopes to take all the knowledge
he has gained in American agroforestry back

to Togo after he completes his education.

Also visiting the center was a member of
the International Center for Research in
Agroforestry (ICRAF). Kande Matungulu is
a scientist associate with the Nairobi, Kenya
based organization.

Matungulu, a native of Zaire, arrived for
atour of CSA August 11. He's busy
developing the Soils Center for ICRAF
through coordination with the National Soil
Survey Lab, USDA Soil Conservation
Service in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Prior to his work with SCS, Matungulu
recently completed his doctorate degree at
North Carolina State University under the
direction of Dr. Buol.

Matungulu came to find out more about
CSA and to look into possible international
cooperation and coordination with U.S.
based programs like this one.

The Center's program manager, Bill
Rietveld, appreciates the opportunity to meet
with international guests. He says that
although CSA is still developing its role in
international forestry, foreign visitors are
always welcome.

"Ultimately our goal is to be a satellite
part of the Forest Service International
Forestry program,” Rietveld said. "We want
our activities to be an integral part of their
program. We hope it will be of value to
international agroforestry scientists and of
value to the U.S. in terms of agroforestry
science and practice."

Agroforestry viable option
for today and tomorrow

Continued from Page 4

vegetative cover to improve wildlife habitat
on their CRP acres. This is a clear indica-.
tion that landowners are interested in
biodiversity and wildlife. Research is
needed to identify the true value of
biodiversity in sustainable agroecosystems.

Clearly, conservation trees can have a
larger role to play than just their tradi-
tional forestry role, or even their role in
sustainable agriculture.

With few exceptions, trees are a require-
ment for a sustainable culture. L.R. Brown
(1985, "Reforesting the Earth", American
Forests '91 (4):38-44) wrote: "one telling
measure of humanity's progress toward
sustainability is the extent of efforts to plant
trees." Trees are a vital component of
sustainable agricultural land-use systems.
Production and protection have become the
basis for the concept of sustainability, and
agroforestry is focused on addressing that
need, as well as enhancing other resource
and social values. We need to learn how to
integrate agroforestry practices with various
conservation farming practices and other
elements of the agriculture infrastructure in
ways that will most effectively attain the
goals of sustainable agriculture.

Get your
own copy of JA.

Please put my organization on 1's
mailing list so that we can receive
future issues of this informative
and entertaining publication.

Name of Organization:

Send to: Center for Semiarid Agroforestry
clo Inside Agroforestry

UN-L East Campus

Lincoln, NE 68583-0822

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Continued from Page 1

hands and exploring the future together holds the
most promise for the health of agriculture, the
environment, and agricultural economies.

Where barriers existed before, the concept of
sustainable agriculture is a door of opportunity for
natural resource scientists and practitioners to
contribute toward attaining solutions to major
environmental issues in agroecosystems. How-
ever, the "ticket" required to enter that door of
opportunity is to recognize the importance of
partnerships and cooperation among all interested
groups.

In this article I will present some of the roles
that agroforestry might play in the development
of sustainable land-use strategies, with the
assumptions that:

1) we have something significant to offer to help
attain sustainable agroecosystems AND,

2) that we will cooperate and work in partnership
with all interested groups.

Agroforestry is a specialized application of
conservation forestry--situations where trees (and shrubs) are added
to environments that are deficient in trees, and numerous values are
created or enhanced because of their introduction.

How does domestic agroforestry differ from agroforestry in
developing countries? In the latter case, traditional agroforestry is
growing multiple crops on the same land simultaneously to increase
the overall productive capacity of a limited and often degraded land
base. We don't have a limited landbase (yet), and our needs go
beyond basic supplies of food, fiber, and shelter. Thus, domestic
agroforestry emphasizes the contributions of conservation trees
toward sustainability, biodiversity, soil and water conservation,
environmental quality, and social values. There are some basic
differences between the two situations, yet there are some sobering
similarities.

A more complete definition of domestic agroforestry is: "the
use of conservation trees in agroecosystems to enhance agricul-
tural productivity and sustainability, natural resource conserva-
tion, and environments for people."

Examples of agroforestry practices include field windbreaks,
farmstead windbreaks, livestock windbreaks, streamside buffer
strips (or riparian habitat and filter strips), roadway buffer strips,
feedlot buffer strips, wildlife habitat, fuelwood plantations, high-
value hardwood plantations, growing trees with crops or pasture,
and municipal sludge disposal tracts. The list continues to grow as
new and innovative ideas emerge for applying conservation trees.

Our concept of agroforestry is very pragmatic. We emphasize
trees in support of agriculture; not conversion of productive agricul-
tural land to tree culture.

A key concept in agroforestry is "working trees"'--conserva-
tion trees must be planted in a particular place and configura-
tion, and for a specific purpose in order to add value to the
system. An example is field windbreaks; which may occupy 4-6%
of the land area, yet increase crop yields 15-50% overall. At the

4

gorecsiagatey Why Agroforestry?

A field windbreak of Eastern redcedars can improve crop yields by as much as 50%. (Photo courtesy of
USDA Soil Conservation Service)

same time, they protect crops from extreme weather.

Another example is filter strips; which are bands of trees, shrubs,
and grasses along waterways to intercept and immobilize sediments
and chemicals in runoff from adjacent fields or livestock enclosures.
Growing trees in pastures has the potential to grow a high-value tree
crop, while at the same time increasing forage production and
reducing animal stress.

Agroforestry also encompasses some more traditional forestry
practices. Opportunities abound to convert environmentally sensi-
tive or economically marginal farmland--such as CRP land, small
fields, and fields that frequently flood--to high-value tree crops such
as fuelwood plantations, woodlots, or fine hardwoods. With
competing uses excluding more and more public forest land from
intensive fiber production, the profit potential from forestry enter-
prises on private lands will continue to rise.

In environmentally-stressed areas, establishing a system of tree
buffers enables the growing of sensitive or specialty crops, such as
fruits, vegetables, and herbs. All of these practices will have a
positive and diversifying effect on rural economies.

People and communities are also an important component of
agroecosystems, and high quality environments and social benefits
of conservation trees for people are yet another important contribu-
tion from agroforestry. Trees provide visual screening and noise
abatement, reduce heating and cooling costs, and enhance wildlife in
farmsteads and communities. In agroecosystems, woody vegetation
may occupy only 5% of the land area, yet account for more than
50% of the biodiversity. Some people react to biodiversity by
saying they can't eat it or take it to the bank. But wildlife is a part of
biodiversity, and game species provide basis for profitable fee
hunting enterprises.

Ina recent survey of CRP enrollees by the Soil and Water
Conservation Society, nearly half (49.7%) were willing to plant

Continued Page §



SEMIARID

A new outlet:

CSA spreads
agroforestry news

By Kristin Ticknor
Technology Transfer Asst.

Welcome to the latest source of agro-
forestry information.

Inside Agroforestry is just one of several
publications produced by the Center for the
specific purpose of keeping natural resource
professionals informed and aware of the
changing face of agroforestry. This
quarterly update is designed to supplement
and enhance some of the news that we think
you need to know. But don't let all this
seriousness fool you--/A is set to entertain
with unique and unusual features that you
might not find in other professional publica-
tions.

This publication is set to
inform

This first issue will give you some
important background on the Center for
Semiarid Agroforestry. We'll tell you what
we're all about and what we're up to in the
world of agroforestry research, development
and technology transfer.

We hope you enjoy your first issue of
Inside Agroforestry. We encourage you to
provide any and all comments in order to
make upcoming issues even more informa-
tive and enjoyable. We also welcome any
ideas you or someone you know might have
for future articles that would be of interest to
our readers. Perhaps you know of a land-
owner, and/or a cooperator who is doing
some outstanding work in conservation
forestry--if so, let us know and we will
consider highlighting your idea in an
upcoming issue.

roforestry

USDA Forest Service, Lincoln, Nebraska

8

(photo courtesy USDA Soil Conservation Service)

"Sustainability is key"

By Bill Rietveld
Program Manager

These are historical times for natural
resource management issues. Yes, the
challenges create dilemmas, the process of
change is painful, and we may have to adjust
to anew paradigm when the dust clears. But
the silver lining lies in the opportunities that
unfold to make things better.

Such is the case in ecosystems domi-
nated by agriculture--agroecosystems.
Where production enhancement was
previously the dominant objective, now, due
to the high environmental costs, the public is
demanding "kinder and friendlier" land-use
management practices. In response, the

1992

| Agroforestry ‘opening doors' for agriculture

concept of “sustainable agriculture" was
born, which emphasizes enhancing environ-
mental quality and the resource base on
which agriculture depends, providing for
basic human food and fiber needs, economic
viability, and enhancement of life for
farmers.

We have come to realize the need for and
value of sustainability, and the fact that we
cannot have a sustainable system that
emphasizes one component at the expense ob
others. We have also come to realize that n¢
single discipline or agency working alone
will be successful in charting the future.
Discovering the means and ways of joining

See the Special Feature Section
“Forestry Find" on Page 4

| [nside | 1s I ssue

@ Message from the Manager: a behind-the-scenes look at CSA

| & Look into the interesting background of agroforestry

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Visitors from foreign lands learn about agroforestry in the U.S.
All trees are NOT created equal...page 2


Message from the Manager

\ CSA gearing up for busy future

Semiarid Agroforestry was
developed around a
broadened definition of
agroforestry that empha-
sizes the sustainability,
conservation, and social
values of trees in
agroecosystems, in oe
addition to the eco-
nomic opportunities for
converting marginal
farmlands to high-value
tree crops.

The science and practice of agroforestry may be
new for many of the readers of this connection, and for
many of our traditional customers. The Center for

This first issue of Inside Agroforestry is focused on
communicating the need for agroforestry, and the
Center's identity and purpose. Future issues will support
our role as an advocate, resource, and driving force for
agroforestry, and will provide useful information and
ideas, articles discussing issues, information on new
programs, and showcase your successes.

Acolumn of important events and programs as reported by CSA Program Manager Bill Rietveld

"We are entering a new
era of partnerships to

attain our goals...

partnerships.

CSA is still in its formative period. | am impressed
with the dedication of our small cadre of Center
employees; their innovation and support are vital to

needs, convening a steering committee, developing a
charter, and continuing to develop programs and

We envision component programs of the Center to
include in-house research, cooperative research,
technology adaptation and demonstration, tree

the success of CSA. Our
emphasis during this
period has been focused
on communication with
our partners, cooperators
and customers, as well as
planning appropriate
“ programs to meet the
goals of the Center. In
the next year we will be
conducting user surveys
of agroforestry research
and technology transfer

Continued Page 3

Research specialist: 'All trees are NOT created equal’

‘The following paper was written by Gi
Research Specialist and Geneticist, O:
Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN. The research was supported by
Biofuels Systems Division, U.S. Department of Energy, under
contract with Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. The
opinions and findings expressed in this article are not
necessarily the opinion Inside Agroforestry. This paper has
been reprinted by the authority of the U.S. Government.

Broad geographic adaptability is rare in
the plant world, even among non-selected,
natural populations. Differences among
geographic locations in early and late frosts,
extreme high and low temperatures, fre-
quency and severity of drought, day length
across latitudes, and soil characteristics
Testrict the movement of plant materials
from one loacation to another.

Given that there are environmental
restrictions on the movement of plant
materials, this article will address selecting

plant materials relative to three categories of
trees:
1) native non-selected and native

selected species
2) exotic species
3) species hybrids

Natural selection, the result of local
environmental stresses placed upon local
genotypes, typically results in genotypes
which are conservatively adapted to the
average growing conditions within a
particular location. Improved growth rates.
can therefore be obtained, with minimal risk
of environmentally caused damage or loss,
by replacing local populations with trees
from slightly southem origins. This rule-of-
thumb, "northward movement" of plant
materials, is also true of selected or im-
proved native plant materials.

There are additional concerns, however,
when dealing with selected populations.
Usually, but not always, selection for
improved growth or form results in a
reduction in genetic variation. As a result,
some geographic adaptability may be lost.
‘Thus, care should be taken in moving
selected and non-selected native plant
materials to locations drasticallly different
from the environment in which these
materials were developed.

Exotic plant materials, particularly those
from outside the U.S., generally perform ina
predictable manner--they fail. There are,
however, many notable exceptions. On the
negative side, some exotics have become
pests. For example, the tree of heaven in the
northeastern U.S., the paulownia in south-

Continued Page 3

2


Exotic tree plantings take different care, consideration

Continued from Page 2. ——————

eastem U.S., and the tamarisk in the western U.S.

Alternatively, other exotics have been used successfully. For
example the radiata pine in New Zealand and Australia, and the
eucalyptus in South America and South Africa.

When exotic species have been successful they typically have
exploited some aspect of the local environment that has not been
exploited by the native plant materials. When exotics have been
unsuccessful, it is usually the extremes in environment that eliminate
these species. Thus, care should be taken when selecting exotic
plant materials. Materials should be selected that are adapted to the
local environment but will not escape and become a pest.

Species hybrids are generally the result of a breeding program
operating under specific objectives related to a specific production
system. Species hybrids can perform very well when grown under

ized by high fertility and high moisture availability.

Hybrid com, for example, only expresses its superior capabilities
when grown under intensive agriculture. The same is generally true
for hybrid tree species. The hybrid will outperform either parent
under optimum growing conditions, but under average growing
conditions hybrid vigor is lost. Thus, care should be taken when
selecting hybrid plant materials, the use of hybrids has to be
accompanied with the selection and use of high quality sites and the
possible use of fertilizers and irrigation.

In conclusion, there are no miracle trees, each individual with
each species has a set of environmental conditions under which it
performs best. This is true of native, exotic, and hybrid plant
materials. Individual landowners need to be aware of the unique
environmental features of the areas they wish to plant, and then

conditions for which they were developed. These conditions,
sometimes referred to as "hybrid habitats," are typically character-

Partners team up on new conservation forestry program

There's another option available to
farmers who want to conserve their valuable
land. A new partnership between the
National Arbor Day Foundation and several
federal, state and private agencies will place
emphasis on planting and managing conser-
vation trees on America’s farms and ranches.

The program is called "CONSERVA-
TION TREES For Your Farm, Family
and Future." It's aim is to motivate
America's rural landowners to plant conser-
vation trees that will protect resources, save
energy, and provide new income opportuni-
ties.

The program emphasizes 12 separate
conservation practices: field windbreaks,
farmstead windbreaks, living snowfences,

riparina zone/filter strips, livestock wind-
breaks, wildlife habitat, fuelwood planta-
tions, alley cropping, specialty forest crops,
trees for recreation areas, woodland
management and multiple use plantations.

The conservation trees program will
feature a landowner recognition project and
provide public service education announce-
ments on television, radio, and in various
publications.

Watch for a new "how-to" publication
that will describe and encourage conserva-
tion practices. It will also provide informa-
tion on how and where to receive financial
and technical assistance.

Congratulations to the National Arbor
Day Foundation on this timely program!

~~ Source: Arbor Day, July/August, 1992

Natural tree chemical makes safe bug killer

Once again, the unlocked secrets of tree
chemistry are coming to our rescue. Ac-
cording to a report in Organic Gardening,
the seeds of an Asian evergreen, the neem
tree, yield a compound called azadirachtin.

The complex molecular structure of the
extract is proving deadly to some of our
most obnoxious insect pests, including the
Gypsy moth.

When ingested by leaf-eating larvae, this
natural chemical prevents the insect from
shedding its skin during molting, thereby
causing death within days.

Since there is no toxic effect on the
nervous system as with most insecticides,

there is no danger to birds, bees, earthworms
or mammals. In fact, neem oil is used in
toothpastes in parts of the world and Sanskrit
writings from 4,000 years ago describe it as
an herbal remedy.

While EPA continues the approval
process for broader use, neem is already
approved in the U.S. for control of 18 kinds
of insects on ornamental trees and shrubs.
Extensive testing continues.

For more information, contact Ringer
Corp., 9959 Valley View Road, Eden
Prairie, MN 55344.

Source: Arbor Day, July/August 1992.
Reprinted by permission.

select plant materials which are adapted to these features.

More notes from
CSA's manager

Continued from Page 2. —-——-~

health management, interna-
tional exchange, and training.
The target group for our pro-
grams is natural resource profes-
sionals, who in turn provide
technical assistance to landown-
ers.

1am really excited about the
interest and opportunities for
agroforestry that we have en-
countered throughout our
contacts with various agencies
and organizations. The opportu-
nities are overwhelming at times!

Since the Center will work
through cooperation and part-
nerships, and provide
agroforestry support to the
existing network of natural re-
source professionals, | truly
believe we have a formula for
success. We are entering a new
era of partnerships to attain our
goals of natural resources stew-
ardship and sustainability.

If your agency or organization
wants to be involved with CSA in
developing agroforestry systems,
or has suggestions on areas of
mutual interest, please feel free
to bring them to our attention.
We would like to hear from you.