Laura Anderson
Agroforestry. What is it? And can it progress us towards a carbon neutral Britain?
There is no doubt that as a nation we need to start working towards decreasing our carbon emissions if we are to save our planet - so how do we go about it? In England, 70% of our land is used for agriculture, and the emissions from these agricultural practises make up around 1/10 of UK greenhouse gas emissions - with around 45.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being released from farms each year. It is clear that if we are to work towards our net zero goal by 2040, we are going to have to tackle our tactics of farming. So what makes our agricultural practises so harmful to the environment? 10,000 years ago, our land was dominated by forests and nature, but in recent years we have become one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. As our population grew, so did our need for food security, and so began the UK’s urban sprawl. Deforestation is a major problem all across the globe, including the UK. As we cut down trees to make room for our pastures and fields, we destroy habitats and increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air. Less trees results in less photosynthesis taking place, an important chemical reaction which removes CO2 from our atmosphere. Not only that, but the cows in our pastures produce methane, a greenhouse gas, through the natural process of digesting food; and when we disturb the soil to plant our crops, the carbon in the soil reacts with the oxygen in the air, producing more carbon dioxide. On top of that, the transportation of our foods releases further greenhouse gas emissions. So, how do we work towards a carbon neutral Britain? Since 1990, agriculture emissions have decreased by 16%, but this is not enough to save the future of our planet. There are many ways we can decrease our own carbon footprint, a well known example is purchasing food products from local areas, to reduce the emissions made from transportation. However, a particular practice has become increasingly popular over the years: Agroforestry. Agroforestry is combining agriculture with forests. To put it simply, the process where trees are deliberately planted in agricultural land, usually grown around or among pastureland; and there are several examples of this. Silvopastures is the combination of forests and livestock. These pastures involve the rearing of livestock, most commonly cattle, in forested areas, or planting trees in existing fields. Not only do these trees reduce the concentration of CO 2 in our atmosphere, but they have a range of benefits on the welfare of our animals. These trees and shrubbery provide an additional food source, which is full of nutrients, and allows the livestock to regulate their temperature by taking shelter underneath them during cold or wet weather. The animals are also able to take care of their skin, by rubbing dead skin, hair and external pathogens on the tree bark. Silvoarable is another form of agroforestry, where crops are grown among trees. This increases the conversation of soil, as the recycling and utilisation of nutrients is improved. The planting of these trees and hedgerows increases our biodiversity, as it provides more habitats for our birds and insects. Farmers are also benefited by this process, as the trees provide a second source of income, as they may grow nuts or can be used for timber, and the crop quality and yield is increased by enhancing microclimatic conditions. However, the trees need to be pruned and nursed correctly, otherwise they may grow crooked and prevent sunlight from reaching the crops below. Hedgerows are a more well known form of agroforestry that has seen a rise in popularity all across Britain. This is where rows of shrubbery and trees are grown to border land, which is usually utilised for crops, and are often surrounded by field margins. These pieces of land provide habitats for our animals, increasing our biodiversity, whilst also removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees don’t just have to be used for farming, in fact, they can be used in a multitude of ways. Riparian Forest Buffers are areas of vegetation along the edges of banks through the riparian zone. These serve as a buffer to pollutants entering a stream, control erosion and provide habitats and nutrients to the species in the area. These are just a few of the ways we can move towards a carbon neutral Britain. It’s time that we started taking action, and began decreasing our carbon footprints. Let’s start moving towards a greener England.
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