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African Tree Makes Soils Rich for Crops

Jessica Marshall, Discovery News

This finding shows that farmers rely on trees to serve a number of needs, from animal fodder to timber to fruit and nut crops to maintaining biodiversity on the land.

"Hopefully this will increase awareness of how important trees out of forests are," Verchot told Discovery News. "Just focusing on improved crop productivity is not going to meet all the livelihood needs."

Despite the presence of significant numbers of trees on farmland, clearing forest for agriculture is still a major conservation concern, Garrity and Verchot agreed.

But, they point out, as the world works to reduce deforestation to prevent climate change, the resources derived from forest trees will have to come from somewhere -- like from trees on farmland.

"Trees outside of forests are going to take on an even more important role as we start trying to reduce the deforestation emissions to the atmosphere," Verchot said.

Related Links:

World Agroforestry Center

Discovery Earth

HowStuffWorks.com: Organic Farming

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African Tree Makes Soils Rich for Crops

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