The development of agroforestry as an integrated land use management strategy

This chapter demonstrates linkages between emerging integrated management systems for agriculture and forestry and indicates possible roles that agroforestry could play in the continuing development of the new land use strategies. It identifies opportunities for the development of domestic agroforestry practices and highlights progress toward meeting them. The chapter suggests possible approaches to overcoming constraints limiting the development of agroforestry in the United States. It provides thoughts on new management systems that are emerging to help account for the complex demands currently being placed on the nation’s rural lands. Specifically, agricultural and forestry land use practices is examined relative to certain biophysical and socioeconomic principles basic to natural resources management. The chapter also provides a historical perspective of the evolution of forest management, agricultural production practices, and the development of domestic agroforestry activities. It encourages the inquiry into innovative approaches to maintaining the long-term ecological integrity and productivity of the nation’s farm and forest lands.