In Southeast Asia, the World Agroforestry Centre focuses its work on four main levels. We take a nested approach that considers trees within the farm, farms within the landscape, and the landscape within governance structures.
1. Governance processes
Facilitating institutional change and policy reform which secures land use rights, giving farmers access to forests.
Establishing mechanisms to reward poor communities for actions which improve or preserve the environment (known as ‘environmental services’).
Building the capacity of local governments and research and development organizations in integrated natural resource management.
2. Multifunctional landscapes
Gaining a better understanding of the role of agroforestry in protecting watersheds and biodiversity across landscapes.
Researching the interactions and impacts of land use change.
Facilitating negotiations at the landscape level between governments / policy-makers and farmers.
3. Farmers’ Land Management
Developing technologies at the plot-level which ensure productive landscapes.
Providing the tools, methods, science, and information about different options, that farmer’s need to make decisions about whether or not to adopt agroforestry.
Researching trade-offs between short-term profit and long-term productivity, with environmental considerations.
4. Trees & Markets
Informing farmers about available tree species.
Making quality planting material available to farmers.
Linking farmers to reliable tree product markets.
(link to more information about work in each of these theme areas plus project profiles)
