Role of the tree improvement in smallholder production systems : CIFOR's view and research activities

This paper examines the tree improvement work that CIFOR is undertaking in the context of tree planting by smallholders. Reference is made to two types of situation which broadly cover most of the current tree planting by tropical smallholders, namely: tree planting for household needs and tree farming to supply industries. CIFOR's work on tree improvement is one of the components of CIFOR's research in plantation forestry. The aim of this research is to develop appropriate technologies for making tree planting a more feasible and attractive option, especially to smallholders, while ensuring that environmental impact of plantations will not result in site deterioration and decline in productivity. Therefore, CIFOR's activities in this area involve research on both the biophysical processes influencing productivity and sustainability and the socio-economic and policy dimensions of the problem. (Résumé d'auteur