麻豆淫院

Research with smallholder farmers in Kenya shows that tree-planting schemes must account for complex local issues and preferences.

Tree planting is central to many countries' climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation goals, and Kenya alone .

Adding trees and shrubs to farmland (called agroforestry) can boost biodiversity, carbon storage, soil health, food production and income. But many tree-planting schemes overlook diversity and promote a narrow range of species.

A new study鈥攍ed by the University of Exeter鈥攅xamined the factors that enable or prevent Kenyan smallholders from increasing the diversity of trees and shrubs on their land. The paper, in the journal People and Nature, is titled: "Understanding smallholder decision-making to increase farm tree diversity: Enablers and barriers for forest landscape restoration in Western Kenya."

"In Sub-Saharan Africa, where most food is produced on small farms, many countries are promoting agroforestry to address climate change and protect biodiversity," said Ennia Bosshard, from the Center for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

"Farmers play a crucial role in this effort as guardians of the land and trees, making it important to understand their decision-making regarding tree growing."

The researchers interviewed 620 smallholder farmers in the Kakamega forest landscape in Western Kenya.

"Key factors in their decision-making included past experiences, the influence of other farmers, and the perceived ability to grow different tree species," Bosshard continued.

Kenyan farmers in the study were generally positive about increasing the diversity of trees on their farms, diversifying trees鈥攂ut the study identified several barriers.

Farmers were worried about negative consequences such as the risk of attracting harmful wildlife and harming the soil, farms being too small, lacking time and knowledge, and following local beliefs about trees.

Bosshard added, "We found that certain farmers were more likely to increase the tree and shrub diversity on their farms, especially if they had higher education (such as a university degree or a diploma), were heads of their households, had higher income, or relied fully on farming for their livelihoods."

To promote agroforestry that benefits people, nature and the climate, policies should address these barriers and support enabling factors raised by the farmers.

And a similar approach could be used around the world, ensuring that decision-making takes account of local factors.