Agroforestry for biodiversity conservation

Abstract

Habitat loss and environmental degradation decrease biodiversity (BD), thereby affecting food security, agricultural sustainability, environmental quality, and other ecosystem services (ES). Based on an extensive review we conclude that integration of agroforestry (AF) improves floral, faunal, and soil microbial diversity compared to monocropping, adjacent crop lands, crop alleys, and some forests. Birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and other animal counts have shown an increase in AF. Soil organisms including fungi (and mycorrhizae), bacteria, enzyme activity, and insects are generally significantly greater in AF than crop and livestock practices. The greater BD in nearly all cases has been attributed to features of AF such as heterogeneous vegetation, favorable microclimate, diverse food sources, organic carbon, improved soil conditions (physical, chemical, and biological), protection, and spatial distribution of perennial vegetation. This synthesis demonstrated that AF can conserve and improve BD.