The challenge of HIV/AIDS: Where does agroforestry fit in? - World ...

PrefaceStanding where we are today, it is increasingly hard to believe that not so long ago agroforestrywas not a familiar word, let alone a recognized concept. It is a tribute to the vision ofmany thousands of professionals during the past quarter century that agroforestry has nowachieved such wide recognition as an integrative science and practice with enormous potentialto transform lives and landscapes in today’s and tomorrow’s world. Their hard work anddedication has meant that millions of people around the world now not only know aboutagroforestry but are also directly benefiting from it.Before the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) was launched in 1978, agriculture and forestrywere commonly treated as mutually exclusive endeavours in research and in practice. Buttropical small-scale farmers eventually taught us that the integration of trees in agriculturallandscapes has enormous untapped potential to benefit people and the environment. Whatremained was to deploy the power of science to accelerate the knowledge generation andproductivity increases that would effectively exploit this potential.From the outset, ICRAF scientists collaborated with rural people to learn how agroforestrysystems are evolved, and to find ways to better adapt and scale up the most successfulscience-based agroforestry innovations. They were pioneers of an integrated research modelthat works to blend different disciplines in order to tackle complex land management challengesand opportunities.Upon reaching the Silver Anniversary mark, The World Agroforestry Centre convened aninternational conference to reflect on the accomplishments of agroforestry research, and toconduct a forward-looking assessment of the role of agroforestry science in addressing thekey global and regional challenges in the future. Distinguished speakers were invited to sharetheir analysis and views on a wide range of topical issues. These were presented in sessionsthat were organized around the four global themes of the Centre’s work: Trees and Markets,Land and People, Environmental Services, and Strengthening Institutions.This volume contains a selection of those presentations that were subsequently written up andpeer-reviewed. It represents a snapshot of current thinking on the science of agroforestry andexciting future opportunities for its application. We want to thank all those that participatedin and contributed to the conference and to this volume. And I want to offer particular thanksto the Canadian International Development Research Centre for their financial contributionto the completion of this publication, and to all of the donor institutions that have invested inthe Centre over the years.