1. THE POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN IRELAND by
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Jim McAdam

2. Contents Issues Agroforestry in Ireland
Benefits of Agroforestry Systems
Farm Suitability
Support and Opportunities

3. RURAL ISSUES IN IRELAND
Environmental - intensification of grassland farming has resulted in loss of biodiversity,low carbon storage potential, reduced water quality and a degraded rural landscape.
blanket cover of conifers on peat
Socio-economic - poor incomes from farming
- decoupling of support
- declining rural population

4. Regulation -. conformation to various directives,
Regulation - conformation to various directives, mainly for soil, water, biodiversity, carbon.
Need to address environmental problems and diversify income source i.e. need to find land use systems which are
SUSTAINABLE

5. This paper aims to show that Silvopasture as a form of Agroforestry can help address some of these issues and offer a sustainable land use option to livestock farmers or foresters in Ireland

6. What is Agroforestry?
Agroforestry is a collective name for land use practices where trees are combined with crops and/or animals on the same unit of land and where there are significant ecological or economic interaction between the tree and the agricultural components.
Silvopasture – where trees are grown in grazed pasture in a regular or varied pattern.

7. Examples of Silvopastoral Systems
I. Tree culture on swards where widely spaced, protected trees are planted into established swards

8. Examples of Silvopastoral Systems
II. Grazing in forests following thinning and reseeding

9. Silvopastoral Systems can be achieved by either:
Respacing an established woodland
Planting trees into grazed pasture

10. Examples of systems: N. Ireland
Note: tree protection

11. Examples of systems

12. Agroforestry in Ireland
Very few examples – most are recent
Old Poplar plantations for matchsticks
Estate ‘parklands’

13. Agroforestry in Ireland
Experimental trials at AFBI’s field station in Loughgall, Co. Armagh.

14. Agroforestry in Ireland
Ash and Sycamore silvopasture planted in 1989
Mixtures planted in 1995
Silvoarable area planted in 1997

15. Johnstown Castle, Wexford
Silvopastoral trial with cattle

16. Main Findings Little developed Encouraging research findings
Ash at 400 stems/ha (5x5 metres) best
Compatible with farming systems
Significant environmental improvements
Enhances the landscape
Animal welfare benefits

17. Benefits of Agroforestry Systems
Landscape
Environmental
Climate change mitigation
Production
Economic
Social
Animal Welfare
Sustainability

18. LANDSCAPE Introduce trees to the farmed landscape
Variety of scale and species can be used
No need to clear fell
Animals through trees are an attraction

19. ENVIRONMENTAL Create habitat diversity Absorb nutrients
Lock – up carbon

20. ENVIRONMENTAL
Encourage biodiversity
Birds, worms, insects, plants

21. Biodiversity Benefits
Spiders
Birds
Beetles

22. PRODUCTION/ECONOMIC BENEFITS

23. Tree growth at Loughgall

24. Economic forecasts Complex
Decline in stocking rate; increase in timber; increase in non-market values.
Sample price scenario (net benefit €/ha)
Values of silvopasture over agriculture (2000)
Food prices
Constant
-1%
-2%
Timber prices
+1%
+2% €
125
229
146
266

25. Value of Silvopasture Over Agriculture
Reduction in grazing
Current support
No support
Subsidy removed in 2010
25%
-21.87
-12.31
11.48
10%
53.50
19.50
69.13
Year 13 (ash) at 400 stems/ha – 7.21m3 hurley quality ash butts
€272/m3 from 1.87ha.
i.e. €1048/ha

26. ANIMAL WELFARE
Animal Welfare

27. SOCIAL
Agroforestry is a very sustainable system

28. Supports cultural rural industries

29. Impacts on FORESTRY/WOODLAND
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
Impacts on FORESTRY/WOODLAND
Provide MARKET & NON-MARKET outputs
Negative Impacts
Catastrophic events have major impacts
Increase in frost damage, arthropod pests & fungal diseases
Native trees with long cold-season requirement (eg ash) will decline
Ancient heritage and native woodlands under greater threat eg wind damage & selected removal

30. Some Positive Impacts
Longer growing season = more productivity
Wider range of species available
Carbon storage opportunities
More scope on the ‘margins’ – ie land use systems which can adapt better, enhance landscape and biodiversity
Biomass, scrublands, agroforestry

31. Climate Change Mitigation- Forestry.
Move from conifers on peat to broadleaved woodlands and find more novel ways to introduce trees into farmed landscape
Connectivity and expansion of native and heritage woodlands
Need contingency plans for catastrophies
Need to think now about broadening species base
Renewable energy systems
Emphasise carbon storage opportunities

32. Carbon Storage
Gordon et al, (2007) in Canada compared C dynamics in Silvopasture (Poplar at 111 trees/ha) vs. Pasture.
Net Annual C sequestration potential (tC/ha/yr) in different land use practices
Land Use Practice
Species
tC/ha/yr
Silvopasture
Poplar
2.8*
Pasture
Perennial ryegrass
1.0
Forest Plantation (Ireland)
Sitka spruce (yc 18)
3.8
* This rate is equivalent to an immobilised rate of 9.9 t of atmospheric CO2/ha/yr.

33. Farm Suitability Current uptake is low An unproven technology
Limited short to medium term goals
Agroforestry not promoted as a timber system
Delivers; Conservation, Amenity, Recreation, Environmental (CARE) goods
Fits with organic farming and rural community objectives

34. Summary of Farmer Attitudes
Huge lack of awareness of agroforestry – need for education
Environmental benefits are more important to farmers
System flexibility is attractive
Most want more information
The more farmers are shown about the system, the more interested they become
Challenge for researchers and extension workers

35. Support and Opportunities
Tree Planting in N. Ireland
Currently at 400 ha/year (c.f ha 10 yrs ago)
Below Forest Service targets
N.I. has lowest tree cover in Europe (6%)
Over 70% timber imports
Need to increase incentive

36. EU Policy Decrease livestock production Decoupling of subsidy payment
Stabilize rural communities
Enhance biodiversity
Reduce pollution
Sustainability

37. Support and Opportunities
Tree Planting and the Single Farm Payment
Farmers can consolidate their SFP to facilitate new tree planting
The procedure will reduce the number of entitlements but increase their unit value so SFP unaffected
Will increase viability of planting
Potential for rural community involvement
Helps gain access to agri-environment schemes

38. Support and Opportunities
Agroforestry and the SFP
Woodland grant payable pro rata at €2720 for 1100 trees/ha
Establishment costs are approx €1620/ha
Farm Woodland Premium not payable
Silvopasture will be considered as forage area and eligible for SFP as long as agriculture remains the predominant use
Silvopasture as an option in REPS 4

39. Silvopasture offers a real, sustainable land use option in a post – decoupling, climate change scenario.