AlertNet: Farmers to help combat climate change

A new study from the World Agroforesty Centre in Nairobi revealed that farming and forestry are not mutually exclusive, AlertNet reported. This is very important news in the ligtht of the upcoming climate change negotiations to be held in Copenhagen this December. The report showed that on an area of agricultural land twice the size of the amazon, 10% was covered with trees - which would amount to the definition of a 'forest' used by the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation, if it weren't for the fact that it is located on farmland. If farmer's role in combating deforestation would be acknowledged, the report claims that farmers could cover up to 20% of their land with trees.

The report said that farmers keep or plant trees for uses such as production of fruit, nuts, medicines, fuel, building materials, gums or resins. Trees also provide shade for crops, work as windbreaks, boundary markers or to help avert erosion. And trees are often hardier than crops or livestock so can be a backup for farmers on marginal land in hard times.