Suva, Fiji — The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) have jointly launched ‘Raising Trees & Livelihoods’.
The book offers a comprehensive insight into the community-scale and national-scale potential of agroforestry, should it be more widely adopted across the tropical regions of the world.
Supported by ACIAR, the book draws on a decade’s worth of findings from more than 15 ACIAR-supported projects in tropical countries around the world.
It also provides a holistic analysis of how agroforestry can address challenges faced by smallholders who, according to statistics, manage less than two hectares of land yet produce about one-third of the world’s food in the face of climate change, land degradation, and market volatility.
Co-edited by Professor Digby Race, the Dean of the Graduate School at USP, the book aims to bridge the gap between traditional forestry and agriculture practices by showcasing the benefits of integrating trees into farming systems. It draws on South Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Latin America case studies.
Launching the book alongside ACIAR general manager partnerships, Laura Timmins, USP Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Gurmeet Singh says USP acknowledged the Centre’s (ACIAR) continuous support and generosity in funding this project.
“This strengthens our relationship further for providing the best services to our students, staff and governments in the region. The co-production of this book – ‘Raising Trees & Livelihoods’, illustrates the long and strong collaboration between ACIAR and USP,” Professor Singh said.
Timmins adds the prospect of embracing agroforestry in smallholder farming systems not only promises enhanced livelihoods for farmers but also echoes the urgent call for sustainable land management practices and building greater resilience to climate change.
“ACIAR is proud to support the production of this book, which will enhance the understanding of policymakers, research program managers, project staff, and community leaders about potential livelihood outcomes from investments in smallholder forestry research.”
For more information and to order your copy, please visit the University of the South Pacific Book Centre or contact Professor Digby Race on digby.race@usp.ac.fj
