Forest farming: an agroforestry practice
| Authors: | Samuel Feibel, J.L. Chamberlain, Katherine Favor, Annabelle Moore, Katherine MacFarland |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Type: | Miscellaneous |
| Station: | Washington Office |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/NAC-AN-7 |
| Source: | Agroforestry Note 7. [Revised]. Lincoln, NE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center. 12 p. |
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Forest Farming Conservation Practice Standard (379) defines forest farming as “managing or establishing stands of trees or shrubs in coordination with the management and/or cultivation of understory plants or nontimber forest products [NTFPs]” (USDA NRCS 2022a). The intentional management of vertical space and the interactions of plants and microclimate distinguish forest farming from recreational or opportunistic harvesting.
Forest farmers may create intensive, cultivated systems or manage existing plant populations in more extensive systems to enhance production, yield, and marketability of desired species. In different contexts, many terms such as multistory cropping, forest gardening, tree home gardens, and food forests are used to describe forest farming practices. These terms reflect the different emphases, uses, or designs of these systems.