ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL LAND-USE WITH FAST-GROWING TREES

Objective

The main objective of this project is to develop new land-use systems based on fast growing quality timber production on left-aside agricultural land. Fast growing high quality trees are to be grown either alone ("farm forestry") or in conjunction with other agricultural crops, including pasture ("agroforestry"). These plantations are considered at a farm level, with the aim of maintaining a financial return for farmers and helping them to adapt their production to a reduction in food products. Two important aspects of the present CAP are involved : a reduction of intensive agricultural production and an increase in high quality timber production.

Research concentrates on two main directions :

The first concerns the collection and analysis of data from existing or new farm/agro-forestry sites on aspects concerning choice of tree genotype, tree establishment and plantation management, effects on agricultural production, rearing systems and tree growth and form, and consequences for wood quality.

The second concerns the incorporation of these data into existing or new models in order to predict long-term consequences and their effect at the micro- and macro-economic level.

The main core of this project is situated in France and Great-Britain, where a network of research and experimental sites already exists. Other European countries contribute in order to fill in some gaps in scientific knowledge and to cover a wide climatic range.

The project should result in the prediction of the potential for farm/agro-forestry in a wide range of European situations, with an indication of confidence in that prediction, based on the analysis and interpretation of the experimental data.

Fields of science

• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › forestry › silviculture
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › agriculture › horticulture › arboriculture

Programme(s)

• FP3-AIR - Specific research and technological development and demonstration programme (EEC) in the field of agriculture and agro-industry, including fisheries, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 122 - Novel silvicultural systems

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD)

Address

34032 Montpellier
France

Participants (14)

ARISTOTELIAN UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI

Greece

Address

54006 Thessaloniki

Association Forêt-Cellulose (AFOCEL)

France

Address

Quartier Saillans
Paris

Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts (CEMAGREF)

France

Address

Domaine De Laluas
63200 Riom

ESCOLA SUPERIOR AGRARIA DE COIMBRA

Portugal

Address

3000 Bencanta-coimbra

ESCOLA SUPERIOR AGRARIA DO INST. POLITECNICO DE BRAGANCA

Portugal

Address

Aptdo 172
5300 Braganca

FORESTRY COMMISSION RESEARCH AGENCY

United Kingdom

Address

Northern Research Station
EH25 9SY Roslin-midlothian

IBN - DLO

Netherlands

Address

P.o.box 23
6700 AA Wageningen

INSTITUT POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT FORESTIER

France

Address

86 Rue De Lisieux
Paris

Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

United Kingdom

Address

Aberystwyth Research Centre Plas Gogerddan
SY23 3EB Aberystwyth

Istituto Sperimentale per la Selvicoltura

Italy

Address

Viale Santa Margherita 80
52100 Arezzo

MACAULAY LAND USE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

United Kingdom

Address

Craigiebuckler
AB15 8QH Aberdeen

Queen's University of Belfast

United Kingdom

Address

Newforge Lane
BT9 5PX Belfast

UNIVERSIDADE DE TRAS-OS-MONTES E ALTO DOURO

Portugal

Address

Aptdo 202
5000 Vila Real

University Wales - Bangor

United Kingdom

Address

College Road
LL57 2UW Bangor - Gwynedd