Agroforestry Facts Quiz: How Much Do You Know About These Systems?

Natália G.R. de Mello holds doctorate and masters degress in environmental science and works as a contributor for 8 Billion Trees.Written by Natalia Mello

Quizzes Tests | October 3, 2024

An 8 Billion Trees illustration of agroforestry facts, with a woman and a farm with cows.

Agroforestry systems have a number of social and ecological benefits.

How much do you know about these systems?

Answer the Questions Below and Find Out!

 

Question 1) What are agroforestry systems?

A land sparring strategy: monoculture crops are grown intensively in small areas
Systems that integrate trees and horticultural crops (or trees and livestock). All elements in these systems have a specific function and support each other.
Systems in which only fruit trees are grown
Areas in which food cultivation is forbidden

Question 2) What is one example of an agroforestry system?

Mixing soy and corn
Mixing corn and livestock
Mixing fruit trees and coffee
None of the above
  • Planting coffee plants in the shades of fruit (or other) trees is one example of a simple agroforestry system.2 

Question 3) True or False? Agroforestry helps to mitigate climate change.

True
False
  • Trees in agroforestry systems capture CO2 from the atmosphere, which is also stored in the soil.3

Question 4) True or False? Agroforests compete with croplands, thus they do not contribute to food security.An overlook at a Kenya reforestation site, with rolling hills and some visible cropland.

True
False
  • The main purpose of agroforestry systems is actually to improve food security and, at the same time, promote forest conservation or restoration.1

Question 5) Besides storing carbon, agroforestry systems can __________.

Improve soil fertility
Increase local biodiversity levels
Promote watershed protection
All of the above
  • The integration of diverse tree species and crops or livestock promotes a wide array of environmental benefits.3

Question 6) True or False? Agroforestry is a modern invention.

Yes, it was created in the past decade to mitigate climate change
No, it is a millennia old indigenous technology
  •  Indigenous populations have been observing and sustainably using nature throughout millennia. They have been implementing agroforestry systems as a result of these observations and knowledge about different species.4

Question 7) True or False? Agroforests are only suited to tropical areas.

True
False
  • Agroforestry systems can be implemented anywhere trees grow – from wet to dry and tropical to temperate areas.5 

Question 8) What are complex agroforestry systems?

Agroforests that are too difficult to manage
Agroforests that require chemical inputs
Agroforests that are more diverse, and whose economic and environmental qualities are considered higher than simple agroforestry systems
Agroforests that have started to decline
  • Complex agroforestry systems have diverse tree species and many different crops, yielding superior social-ecological results than less diverse agroforests.6

Question 9) Which of the issues below represents one of the main challenges for up-scaling agroforestry systems?

Small-scale farmers are not interested in expanding their agroforestry systems
There are many technological constraints, despite the growing number of studies on how to improve agroforestry practices
Systems that integrate trees and horticultural crops must only be implemented across small areas
Consumers are not interested in agroforestry products
  •  Even though more and more research efforts focus on agroforests, advancements in agricultural technologies mainly favor large-scale monoculture plantations.7 

Question 10) True or False? Implementing agroforestry systems is an important strategy when it comes to preventing and counteracting deforestation.A cross-section of a cut tree, victim of deforestation in Brazil, with an 8 Billion Trees watermark.

True
False
  • Contrary to conventional agricultural practices that cause deforestation and land degradation, agroforestry systems favor food cultivation in forested areas.8 

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References

1American University Washington, D.C. (n.d.). What is Agroforestry? Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from www.american.edu: https://www.american.edu/sis/centers/carbon-removal/fact-sheet-agroforestry.cfm

2Kim, D.-G., Kirschbaum, M. U. F., & Beedy, T. L. (2016). Carbon sequestration and net emissions of CH4 and N2O under agroforestry: Synthesizing available data and suggestions for future studies. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 226, 65–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.04.011

3FAO. (n.d.). Agroforestry. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from http://www.fao.org/: http://www.fao.org/3/X6628E/x6628e03.htm#TopOfPage

4Hoffner, E. (2019, 07 15). Agroforestry: An ancient ‘indigenous technology’ with wide modern appeal. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from news.mongabay.com: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/07/agroforestry-an-ancient-indigenous-technology-with-wide-modern-appeal-commentary/

5Hoffner, E. (2019, 03 29). ‘The ultimate agricultural practice’: Q&A with organizers of World Agroforestry Congress 2019. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from news.mongabay.com: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/03/the-ultimate-agricultural-practice-qa-with-organizers-of-world-agroforestry-congress-2019/

6FAO. (n.d.). Sustainable development through a complex agroforestry system in Indonesia. Retrieved July 29, 2021, from http://www.fao.org/3/XII/0055-B5.htm

7World Agroforestry. (2021, August 2). Top 10 land use challenges can be addressed by agroforestry. Retrieved July 29, 2021, from https://www.worldagroforestry.org/news/top-10-land-use-challenges-can-be-addressed-agroforestry

8 FAO. (2015, October 23). Agroforestry. Retrieved July 29, 2021, from http://www.fao.org/forestry/agroforestry/89999/en/