|
Agroforestry hits the newsMedia coverage of the Congress has already reached France, Spain, India and China as well as hitting the pages and airwaves of Kenyan and African media. PRESS CONFERENCE
HOW MANY TREES ON FARMS ACROSS THE GLOBE? The World Agroforestry Centre released a new study which shows that almost half of all farmed landscapes worldwide include significant tree cover. This is the first study to quantify the extent to which trees are a vital part of agricultural production in all regions of the world. It reveals that on more than 1 billion hectares-which make up 46 percent of the world's farmlands and are home to more than half a billion people-tree cover exceeds 10 percent. The Trees on Farm report online press room contains the full media release and report. FERTILIZER TREE HOLDS PROMISING NEWS FOR AFRICA
With its nitrogen-fixing qualities, Faidherbia (Mgunga in Swahili) could limit the use of fertilizers; provide fodder for livestock, wood for construction and fuel wood, and medicine through its bark, as well as windbreaks and erosion control to farmers across sub-Saharan Africa. The tree illustrates the benefits of growing trees on farms, as scientists at the Congress reported, and is adapted to an incredibly wide array of climates and soils from the deserts to the humid tropics. Read the full media release at http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/?q=node/390 MEDIA COVERAGE Here are some links to media coverage of the Congress and the above highlight stories so far. Reuters Reuters—French Bloomberg Servimedia (Spain) Xinhua—English (China) Scientist says trees can help reverse hunger, global warming Actualites-news-environnement (France) Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Asian News International (India) Indo-Asian News Service (India) allAfrica.com: Kenya Mongabay Blog Daily Nation (Kenya) Zimbabwe Star (Zimbabwe)
|
|||||
There is considerable buzz amongst some participants to the Congress and it involves a very special tree; Faidherbia albida. This type of acacia which has an unusual growth habit—unlike virtually all other trees—holds particular promise for farmers in Africa as a free source of nitrogen for their soils that could last generations.| The 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry was organized by the World Agroforestry Centre with assistance from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). |