Chapter 7 Forestry: Reforestation, Natural Forest Management

The following points should be kept in mind when monitoring agroforestrysystems:• Assessments of the needs and opportunities of the farming system andagro-ecological conditions require thorough documentation with goodhistorical baseline data. This requires a significant commitment on thepart of the project, as the fragmented nature of farm plots and thesequential approach to harvest can make data collection difficult formixed smallholder farming systems. It is also important to monitorecological factors that would indicate resource degradation—soilerosion, fertility loss, climatic extremes that affect productivity, etc.• The ultimate test of the sustainability of agroforestry technologies isfarmer satisfaction. Lead farmers should be identified, closelymonitored, and used as para-technicians to disseminate technologyamong their peers. Annual post-harvest evaluations involving allparticipating farmers can be especially valuable in gauging theirperceptions of the success (or otherwise) of the technology. Theseevents can be scheduled as part of the extension program and also serveas training and promotional activities.EGSSAA: FORESTRY • March 2009 • download from www.encapafrica.org28 of 30