The contribution of agroforestry to economic development in Fiji and Vanuatu

Multi-species agroforestry has for centuries been a widely practised land use in the Pacific islands, including in Fiji and Vanuatu. Various forms of agroforestry are practised, the most widely recognised being mixed-species plantings involving timber, fruit or nut trees intercropped with root crops and other food crops; and silvopastoral systems, such as ‘cattle under coconuts’. During and after colonial times, there was a major decline in agroforestry practice. Home and village gardens now have a reduced role as a source of food for households in Fiji and Vanuatu. Current trends of urbanisation, cash cropping and heavy reliance on food imports, together with reduced prices for previously major export crops, have made the need to encourage multi-species plantings particularly apparent. A comprehensive literature review reveals that an impressive range of benefits can be attributed to multi-species agroforestry, including: agricultural diversification; genetic conservation; carbon capture; catchment protection and rehabilitation; strengthening of agricultural infrastructure; increased self-sufficiency in timber and fuelwood; reduced need for food imports; poverty reduction; improvement in the nutritional status of people and associated health benefits; improved utilisation of degraded and marginal cropping land; improved wildlife habitat; and landscape amenity. While agroforestry is a more complex type of land use than monoculture timber plantations, it also offers greater benefits. However, agroforestry is not generally the responsibility of any individual government department, and new forms of governance may be needed to provide a more supportive frameworkfor renewed adoption