Agrobiodiversity vis-à-vis agroforestry: Cultivating a sustainable future

Abstract

Highly diverse ecosystems are confronted with persistent challenges including conversion, deforestation, and resource depletion driven by developmental projects, intensified land use, and expanded agricultural practices. Within this context, agricultural biodiversity, known as agrobiodiversity, emerges as a subset of overall biodiversity. Agrobiodiversity encompasses the genetic, species, ecosystem and even landscape diversity that sustains essential structures, functions, and processes in and around production systems. The consequences of losing agrobiodiversity within agroecosystems are profound, leading to ecosystem degradation, resource overexploitation, habitat disruption, and adverse effects. To confront the challenge, a promising solution lies in the adoption of time-tested agroforestry practices. This review article sheds light on the remarkable conservation value of agroforestry systems, characterized by their structural complexity, diverse plant life, and their similarity to natural forest ecosystems. Agroforestry systems play a pivotal role in preserving agrobiodiversity by reducing the need for further deforestation to accommodate agriculture. They also serve as vital habitats and resource reservoirs for native plant and animal species with partial dependence on forests while fostering landscape connectivity through corridors. Furthermore, agroforestry bolsters agrobiodiversity by creating concentrated, high-density zones near trees, due to favorable soil conditions, plant interactions, water resources, and microclimatic features. Therefore, agroforestry is a powerful tool for fostering agrobiodiversity, as it promotes a harmonious coexistence between trees and traditional agricultural elements, thereby enhancing the ecological richness and sustainability of farming systems.