Agroforestry practices such as silvopasture (the intentional integration of trees into rotational grazing-based livestock systems) are promising strategies for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience, and are well-suited to New England. Our team is leading the socio-cultural and livelihood dimensions of a broader, interdisciplinary project that brings together UNH, Dartmouth and Yale with farmers, nonprofit and community-based organizations, and service providers to advance the development of agroforestry systems and practices in the Northeast region. We are conducting in-depth interviews to understand the goals, motivations and driving values of the early adopters of agroforestry in the Northeast, and what kinds of personal resources, capital, and social networks have made it possible for these early adopters to implement agroforestry practices, and how these practices fit into their overall livelihood.
Funded by USDA NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Systems program grant: “Promoting Climate-Smart and Sustainable Agriculture in New England through Regionally Adapted Agroforestry Systems”