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THE POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN IRELAND by Jim McAdam Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Issues Agroforestry in Ireland Benefits of Agroforestry Systems Farm Suitability Support and Opportunities 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 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 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 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. Examples of Silvopastoral Systems I. Tree culture on swards where widely spaced, protected trees are planted into established swards Examples of Silvopastoral Systems II. Grazing in forests following thinning and reseeding Silvopastoral Systems can be achieved by either: • • Respacing an established woodland Planting trees into grazed pasture Examples of systems: N. Ireland Note: tree protection Examples of systems Agroforestry in Ireland Very few examples – most are recent • Old Poplar plantations for matchsticks • Estate ‘parklands’ Agroforestry in Ireland • Experimental trials at AFBI’s field station in Loughgall, Co. Armagh. Agroforestry in Ireland • Ash and Sycamore silvopasture planted in 1989 • Mixtures planted in 1995 • Silvoarable area planted in 1997 Johnstown Castle, Wexford • Silvopastoral trial with cattle 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 Benefits of Agroforestry Systems • • • • • • • • Landscape Environmental Climate change mitigation Production Economic Social Animal Welfare Sustainability 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 ENVIRONMENTAL • Create habitat diversity • Absorb nutrients • Lock – up carbon ENVIRONMENTAL • Encourage biodiversity Birds, worms, insects, plants Biodiversity Benefits No. of spiders 2000 1500 1000 Spiders 500 0 Grassland Ash Agroforestry Ash Woodland 30 No. of birds 25 20 15 Birds 10 5 0 Grassland Ash Agroforestry Ash Woodland No. of carabid beetles 10 8 6 Beetles 4 2 0 Grassland Ash Agroforestry Ash Woodland PRODUCTION/ECONOMIC BENEFITS Tree growth at Loughgall Height (m) Woodland Sycamore 2500 trees/ha 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Agroforestry Sycamore 400 trees/ha Agroforestry Ash 400 trees/ha Woodland Ash 2500 trees/ha 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 Year Dbh (cm) 30 Woodland Sycamore 2500 trees/ha Agroforestry Sycamore 400 trees/ha Agroforestry Ash 400 trees/ha Woodland Ash 2500 trees/ha 25 20 15 10 5 0 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 Year 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 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 Timber prices € Constant Constant -1% -2% +1% +2% +1% +2% 125 229 146 266 Value of Silvopasture Over Agriculture Reduction in grazing Current support 25% -21.87 No support Subsidy removed in 2010 -12.31 11.48 10% 53.50 19.50 • Year 13 (ash) at 400 stems/ha – 69.13 7.21m3 hurley quality ash butts sold @ €272/m3 from 1.87ha. i.e. €1048/ha ANIMAL WELFARE Animal Welfare SOCIAL Agroforestry is a very sustainable system • Supports cultural rural industries 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 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 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 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* Perennial ryegrass 1.0 Sitka spruce (yc 18) 3.8 Pasture Forest Plantation (Ireland) * This rate is equivalent to an immobilised rate of 9.9 t of atmospheric CO2/ha/yr. 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 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 Support and Opportunities Tree Planting in N. Ireland • • • • • Currently at 400 ha/year (c.f. 1000 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 EU Policy • Decrease livestock production • Decoupling of subsidy payment • Stabilize rural communities • Enhance biodiversity • Reduce pollution • Sustainability 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 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 Silvopasture offers a real, sustainable land use option in a post – decoupling, climate change scenario.