So you want to cut down trees to make space for your farm? Not many of them. After all, agricultural expansion often means levelling forests so as to have enough land for farms. This makes it easier to till the land, plant seeds, irrigate and even use advanced machinery to maintain the land. This ensures food production is streamlined and cost-effective. However, in a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, forests are actually better for your farms.
Why retaining forests is good for farming
Most land in sub-Saharan Africa is facing soil degradation and water loss. According to the Global Forest Watch, Kenya lost 8340 hectares of natural forest land in 2024. Since 2001, the country has lost 4000 km2 of forest cover. The majority of this land is lost to agriculture. This leads to the increased risk of desertification, which in turn leads to lower yields from farms.
Practising agriculture within existing forests is better for your farm. Forests help retain moisture, reduce soil erosion and ensure regulated rainfall. This enables your farms to remain healthier for longer without needing to rely on synthetic interventions to maintain the integrity of the land. The biodiversity within forests is also better for farms. Forests attract pollinators like birds and bees. In addition, they enable pest control by attracting animals that control pests that can attack produce.
Agroforestry can also boost economic activities because forests provide products that aren’t wood. These include herbs, fruits, nuts and bark. Products like gum and rubber are also harvested from trees without having to cut them down. Algeria has cork oak forests. Cork oaks are known for being able to regenerate their bark. These are used to create wine stoppers and in the production of cricket balls.
How agroforestry works – with examples
Farming within forests doesn’t just happen for small-scale farmers. Commercial farming can also take place within a forest. Natural forests don’t have to be cleared for agriculture.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, a local coffee company, Lavazza, practices coffee production within the Amazon forest. This allows them to charge more for their coffee, which increases their profit margin. Additionally, the forest remains intact while the farm subsists within the forest. Preserving the forest doesn’t just serve the farm. It helps protect one of the world’s most important water catchment areas. This reduces the risk of droughts or flooding. It also helps maintain the cultures and customs of Indigenous people who live within the forest.
Ghana
Not only is forest preservation good for agriculture and controlling climate change, but it’s also a gender-based issue. Cutting down forests affects the livelihoods of many women in Africa. Women in African homes, especially in rural areas, manage food production, water sourcing and cooking. For many rural homes, cooking can only be done with firewood. Clearing forests can affect women’s capacity to provide for their families. But it also reduces the ways they can economically benefit from forests. In Ghana, there is a women-led initiative to restore shea trees in degraded land. Women gain economic empowerment from the growing, harvesting and processing of shea nuts.
Takeaway
Maintaining forests when setting up land for agricultural use is more beneficial for farmers, communities and the economic bottom-line. However, maintenance of forests is becoming an urgent need as the world moves closer to crossing the 2°C threshold. With rampant industrialisation, military conflict, unsustainable technological growth and the increased use of fossil fuels, climate change is no longer a future threat but a current crisis. However, maintaining forests even when farming can reduce CO₂ emissions. With collective effort, from the local farmer to global powers, the world can save itself.
Check out:
Climate Smart Agriculture: How Farmers Can Increase Food Security And Combat Climate Change
Agriculture: Why Farmers Should Add Unique Crops To Diversify Their Farms
Environment: How Small Scale Farmers Can Deal With Climate Change
