THE POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR

AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN IRELAND

byJim McAdam

1. Issues

2. Agroforestry in Ireland

3. Benefits of Agroforestry Systems

4. Farm Suitability

5. Support and Opportunities

ContentsContents

RURAL ISSUES IN IRELANDRURAL ISSUES IN IRELAND

Environmental - intensification of grassland farming has resulted in loss of biodiversity,low carbon storage potential, reduced water quality and a degraded rural landscape.

blanket cover of conifers on peat

Socio-economic - poor incomes from farming

- decoupling of support

- declining rural population

Regulation - conformation to various directives, mainly for soil, water, biodiversity, carbon.

Need to address environmental problems and diversify income source i.e. need to find land use systems which are

SUSTAINABLE

This paper aims to show that This paper aims to show that SilvopastureSilvopasture as a as a form of form of AgroforestryAgroforestry can help address some of can help address some of these issues and offer a sustainable land use these issues and offer a sustainable land use option to livestock farmers or foresters in Irelandoption to livestock farmers or foresters in Ireland

What is Agroforestry?

Agroforestry is a collective name for land use practices where trees are combined with crops and/or animals on the same unit of land and where there are significant ecological or economic interaction between the tree and the agricultural components.

Silvopasture – where trees are grown in grazed pasture in a regular or varied pattern.

Examples of Silvopastoral Systems

I. Tree culture on swards where widely spaced, protected trees are planted into established swards

Examples of Silvopastoral Systems

II. Grazing in forests following thinning and reseeding

Silvopastoral Systems can be achieved by either:

• Planting trees into grazed pasture• Respacing an established woodland

Examples of systems: N. Ireland

Note: tree protectionNote: tree protection

Examples of systems

Agroforestry in IrelandVery few examples – most are recent

• Old Poplar plantations for matchsticks

• Estate ‘parklands’

• Experimental trials at AFBI’s field station in Loughgall, Co. Armagh.

Agroforestry in Ireland

• Ash and Sycamore silvopasture planted in 1989

• Mixtures planted in 1995

• Silvoarable area planted in 1997

Agroforestry in IrelandAgroforestry in Ireland

Johnstown Castle, Wexford

• Silvopastoral trial with cattle

• Little developedLittle developed

• Encouraging research findingsEncouraging research findings

• Ash at 400 stems/ha (5x5 metres)Ash at 400 stems/ha (5x5 metres) best best

• Compatible with farming systemsCompatible with farming systems

• Significant environmental improvementsSignificant environmental improvements

• Enhances the landscapeEnhances the landscape

• Animal welfare benefitsAnimal welfare benefits

Main FindingsMain Findings

Benefits of Agroforestry Systems

• Landscape

• Environmental

• Climate change mitigation

• Production

• Economic

• Social

• Animal Welfare

• Sustainability

• Introduce trees to the farmed landscape• Variety of scale and species can be used• No need to clear fell• Animals through trees are an attraction

LANDSCAPE

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Create habitat diversity

• Absorb nutrients• Lock – up carbon

• Encourage biodiversityBirds, worms, insects, plants

ENVIRONMENTAL

Biodiversity Benefits

0

500

1000

1500

2000

Grassland Ash Agroforestry Ash Woodland

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spid

ers

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Grassland Ash Agroforestry Ash Woodland

No.

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bird

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2

4

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8

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Grassland Ash Agroforestry Ash Woodland

No.

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cara

bid

beet

les

Spiders

Birds

Beetles

PRODUCTION/ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Tree growth at Loughgall

02468

1012141618

89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06Year

Height (m)Woodland Sycamore 2500 trees/ha

Agroforestry Sycamore 400 trees/ha

Agroforestry Ash 400 trees/ha

Woodland Ash 2500 trees/ha

0

5

10

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30

89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

Year

Dbh (cm)

Woodland Sycamore 2500 trees/haAgroforestry Sycamore 400 trees/haAgroforestry Ash 400 trees/haWoodland Ash 2500 trees/ha

Economic forecasts• Complex• Decline in stocking rate; increase in timber;

increase in non-market values.• Sample price scenario (net benefit €/ha)

Values of silvopasture over agriculture (2000)

Food prices

Constant Constant -1% -2%

Timber prices

+1% +2% +1% +2%

€ 125 229 146 266

Reduction in grazing

Current support

No support Subsidy removed in 2010

25% -21.87 -12.31 11.48

10% 53.50 19.50 69.13

Value of Silvopasture Over Agriculture

• Year 13 (ash) at 400 stems/ha – Year 13 (ash) at 400 stems/ha – 7.21m7.21m3 3 hurley quality ash butts hurley quality ash butts sold @ sold @ €272/€272/mm3 3 from 1.87ha.from 1.87ha.

i.e. i.e. €1048/ha€1048/ha

ANIMAL WELFARE

Animal WelfareAnimal Welfare

SOCIAL

Agroforestry is a very sustainable systemAgroforestry is a very sustainable system

• Supports cultural rural industries

Impacts on FORESTRY/WOODLAND

Provide MARKET & NON-MARKET outputs

Negative Impacts Catastrophic events have major impacts Increase in frost damage, arthropod pests &

fungal diseases Native trees with long cold-season

requirement (eg ash) will decline Ancient heritage and native woodlands under

greater threat eg wind damage & selected removal

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

Longer growing season = more productivity Wider range of species available Carbon storage opportunities More scope on the ‘margins’ – ie land use

systems which can adapt better, enhance landscape and biodiversity

Biomass, scrublands, agroforestry

Some Positive Impacts

Climate Change Mitigation- Forestry.

Move from conifers on peat to broadleaved woodlands and find more novel ways to introduce trees into farmed landscape

Connectivity and expansion of native and heritage woodlands

Need contingency plans for catastrophies Need to think now about broadening species base Renewable energy systems Emphasise carbon storage opportunities

Carbon Storage

Gordon et al, (2007) in Canada compared C dynamics in Silvopasture (Poplar at 111 trees/ha) vs. Pasture.

Land Use Practice Species tC/ha/yr

Silvopasture Poplar 2.8*

Pasture Perennial ryegrass 1.0

Forest Plantation (Ireland)

Sitka spruce (yc 18) 3.8

* This rate is equivalent to an immobilised rate of 9.9 t of atmospheric CO2/ha/yr.

Net Annual C sequestration potential (tC/ha/yr) in different land use practices

Farm SuitabilityFarm Suitability

• Current uptake is lowCurrent uptake is low

• An unproven technologyAn unproven technology

• Limited short to medium term goalsLimited short to medium term goals

• Agroforestry not promoted as a timber systemAgroforestry not promoted as a timber system

• Delivers; Delivers; CConservation, onservation, AAmenity, menity, RRecreation, ecreation, EEnvironmental (CARE) goods nvironmental (CARE) goods

• Fits with organic farming and rural community Fits with organic farming and rural community objectives objectives

Summary of Farmer AttitudesSummary of Farmer Attitudes

• Huge lack of awareness of agroforestry – need for education

• Environmental benefits are more important to farmers

• System flexibility is attractive• Most want more information • The more farmers are shown about the

system, the more interested they become• Challenge for researchers and extension

workers

Support and Opportunities

Tree Planting in N. Ireland

• Currently at 400 ha/year (c.f. 1000 ha 10 yrs ago)• Below Forest Service targets• N.I. has lowest tree cover in Europe (6%)• Over 70% timber imports• Need to increase incentive

• Decrease livestock productionDecrease livestock production

• Decoupling of subsidy paymentDecoupling of subsidy payment

• Stabilize rural communitiesStabilize rural communities

• Enhance biodiversityEnhance biodiversity

• Reduce pollutionReduce pollution

• SustainabilitySustainability

EU PolicyEU Policy

Support and Opportunities

Tree Planting and the Single Farm Payment

• Farmers can consolidate their SFP to facilitate new tree planting

• The procedure will reduce the number of entitlements but increase their unit value so SFP unaffected

• Will increase viability of planting• Potential for rural community involvement• Helps gain access to agri-environment schemes

Support and OpportunitiesSupport and Opportunities

Agroforestry and the SFP

• Woodland grant payable pro rata at €2720 for 1100 trees/ha

• Establishment costs are approx €1620/ha• Farm Woodland Premium not payable• Silvopasture will be considered as forage area and

eligible for SFP as long as agriculture remains the predominant use

• Silvopasture as an option in REPS 4

Silvopasture offers a real, sustainable land use option in a post – decoupling, climate change scenario.