Maximizing the benefits of integrating trees with livestock production for multifunctional rural landscapes in Aotearoa
Project Details Ngā taipitopito
Collaborators Ngā haumi
Federated Farmers | Greater Wellington Regional Council | Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research | Massey University | Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa Alliance
Silvopastoralism is the practice of integrating trees in a livestock production system.
Soil conservation has been the main driver of silvopastoralism in New Zealand’s hill country, but other benefits may include cultural impacts, animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, hydrological impacts, soil nutrient effects, and climate resilience. An additional benefit may be the potential increased pasture production under tree canopies, which has been found around the globe, including in a recent New Zealand study on kānuka tree-pasture interactions.
This project will identify knowledge gaps and research needs related to biophysical mechanisms that influence silvopastoral outcomes. It will consider ways in which silvopastoral systems can impact environmental, economic, and cultural land management outcomes in Aotearoa, and identify barriers to adoption.