The current biodiversity paradigm, which focuses on maintaining pristine ecosystems while ignoring the agricultural landscape, is a failed strategy. Developing agricultural projects which use biodiversity as a key metric for their success is critical to addressing this problem.
Using World Tree’s project, La Cabaña, as a case study, we will explore how investing in biodiversity outcomes can be implemented on managed landscapes to create positive financial returns and significant social and environmental benefits.
In addition, establishing an impact-oriented agroforestry project requires the development of performance indicators appropriate for the project. In a traditional agroforestry project, metrics might include monitoring the survival and growth of planted trees and the development of canopy cover. However, for a project seeking to have positive social and environmental impacts, additional indicators must be developed.
Although it will require long-term commitment to realize its potential, La Cabaña has the potential to improve our knowledge of the biodiversity and productivity outcomes from incorporating native woody species into working agroforestry systems. During this session, we will discuss developing impact-focused agroforestry projects and the possible indicators that those projects might use to measure their success.
