EcoLogic promotes sustainable agroforestry
September 15, 2008
EcoLogic encourages conservation by working with partner communities to help them meet their basic needs, including food security. Demand for agricultural land poses one of the greatest threats to forest resources. Traditionally, farmers in developing countries have clear-cut forests in order to plant subsistence crops, moving on to the next plot of land when the soil degrades. EcoLogic works to reverse this destructive trend. By improving soil conditions and crop yields, sustainable agriculture and agroforestry techniques provide opportunities for a community to prosper without having to chop down forests to support their families.
Photo credit USDA
One of the techniques Ecologic has successfully introduced to local farmers in the Sarstun region of Guatemala and in Olanchito, Honduras is alley cropping. Alley cropping is a method of planting where rows of a crop are sown in between rows of nitrogen-fixing plants, the roots of which enrich the soil. In particular, the fast-growing nitrogen-fixing tree commonly known as guama (scientific name Inga Edulis) has offered promising results in Central America.
Pioneered in Costa Rica and Honduras by ecologist Michael Hands, alley cropping with guama provides numerous benefits. It is a large, fast growing species that when sown in between basic grains, spices, and cacao creates shade that eliminates weeds, maintains humidity, fixes nitrogen in the soil, and provides wood that can be used as fuel. By improving soil conditions, it serves to increase crop yields significantly and reduce the search for new areas to cultivate. Moreover, guama increases ground cover and is welcoming to diverse species of birds and other wild animals. Given its promising results to date, EcoLogic will soon expand the use of guama to our partner communities in Belize and Mexico.