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Trees play a crucial role in almost all terrestrial ecosystems and provide a
range of products and services to rural and urban people. As natural vegetation
is cleared for agriculture and other types of development, the benefits that
trees provide are best sustained by integrating trees into agriculturally
productive landscapes - a practice known as agroforestry.
Farmers have practised agroforestry for years.
Agroforestry focuses on the wide range of working trees grown on farms and in
rural landscapes. Among these are fetilizer trees for
land regeneration, soil health and food security; fruit trees for nutrition;
fodder trees that improve smallholder livestock production; timber and fuelwood trees for shelter and energy; medicinal trees to
combat disease; and trees that produce gums, resins or latex products. Many of
these trees are multipurpose, providing a range of benefits.
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