Key Actors’ Perspectives on Agroforestry’s Potential in North Eastern Germany

Johannes Litschel, Ferréol Berendt (), Hanna Wagner, Simon Heidenreich, David Bauer, Martin Welp and Tobias Cremer
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Johannes Litschel: Department of Forest Utilization and Timber Markets, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, 16225 Eberswalde, Germany
Ferréol Berendt: Department of Forest Utilization and Timber Markets, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, 16225 Eberswalde, Germany
Hanna Wagner: Department of Forest Utilization and Timber Markets, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, 16225 Eberswalde, Germany
Simon Heidenreich: Bauhaus Erde gGmbH, 12161 Berlin, Germany
David Bauer: Habitat Unit, Institute for Architecture, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Martin Welp: Department of Socioeconomics and Communication, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, 16225 Eberswalde, Germany
Tobias Cremer: Department of Forest Utilization and Timber Markets, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, 16225 Eberswalde, Germany

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: As a land use management system, agroforestry has environmental, economic and societal benefits over conventional agriculture or forestry. Important benefits of combining tree growth with agricultural crops and/or forage production systems include higher biodiversity through more diverse habitats, the control of runoff and soil erosion, the augmentation of soil water availability, the creation of microclimates, carbon sequestration and provision of a more diverse farm economy. As the climate changes, north eastern Germany is likely to be particularly prone to severe effects from droughts and wind erosion in the future. However, the area of land under agroforestry makes up less than 2% of the total agricultural area in Germany. Through qualitative interviews with key actors, this study analyzed the benefits of, potentials for and barriers to implementing agroforestry systems in the federal state of Brandenburg. Results showed that agroforestry systems have significant potential in relation to several benefits, particularly the mitigation of soil erosion and stabilization of microclimate regimes. Additionally, agroforestry has the potential to provide wood for energy production or material uses. Although a small but highly innovative and interlinked community exists, administrative barriers and high start-up costs currently hamper the transition from conventional agriculture to agroforestry systems.

Keywords: agroforestry; timber products; semi-structured interviews; barrier; opportunity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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