Indigenous knowledge in traditional agroforestry systems of Kashmir valley: Current challenges and future opportunities

Abstract

:The traditional agroforestry systems have gained wider attention in the international agreements and among academicians and policy makers for their multifunctional role and dynamics of ecosystem services. The multifunctional traditional agroforestry systems support substantial ecosystem services and livelihoods to the rural communities in Kashmir. They are considered to be adaptive to the climate change situations and serve as efficient means to carbon sinks. Due to the remarkable significance of traditional agroforestry systems in the valley ecosystem, environment and livelihood, the systems have been considered as a promising land use pattern in the valley. With climate change rapidly impacting both ecosystems and services in the valley, the sustainability of dynamic traditional agroforestry systems is now facing new challenges and vulnerabilities. Indigenous knowledge on traditional agroforestry is an integral part of the culture and history of the local communities which offer opportunities for sustainable management of resources and support socio-ecological and socio-economic benefits. The indigenous knowledge on agroforestry needs to be further strengthened through research and development to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

Productivity and economic evaluation of Willow (Salix alba L.) based silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley

“…The agroforestry landscape spreads over 20% of the total geographic region of the Himalayan setting of India and the agroforestry network is distributed in the surroundings of forests covering 52% area (Anon., 2017). Hence, land development planning in the region needs to be based on an integrated consideration of agroforestry and forestry systems rather than considering the two systems as independent or alternative land uses (Islam et al, 2017a). In general, very few studies are available focussing on agroforestry economic analyses.…”

Public Assessment for Socioeconomic and Environmental Services of Agroforestry Networks in Kashmir Himalaya, India

“…1). These dominant agroforestry practices of the rural communities are comprised of planting 14 categories of ethno-medicago-botanically important plants viz., fodder (49), fuel (28), vegetable (29), cereals (4), pulses (4), medicinal (8), ornamental (9), fruit (19), timber (7), fencing (7), cottage industry (7), spice (7), edible seed/ nut (4) and oilseed (Islam et al, 2017). These practices interact with each other through their protective and productive functions that benefit the communities as well as the micro-climate (Fouladbash and Currie, 2015).…”

“…The general agroforestry systems being practiced traditionally are agrisilviculture, hortisilviculture, hortisilvipasture, agrisilvihorticulture and homegarden (Islam et al, 2017) (Islam et al, 2015). Agroforestry has made remarkable strides in recent years in Kashmir Himalaya, but many challenges remain in terms of its wider application .…”

Using Indigenous Knowledge in Agro-Forestry Practices: a Strategy for Livelihood Sustainability, in the Mount Oku Region of Cameroon

“…(2017), the development of agroforestry in Kenya was in two phases: firstly, the traditional, using indigenous knowledge and secondly, the scientific agroforestry development. In Kashmir valley, traditional agroforestry is multifunctional as it supports substantial ecosystem services, livelihoods and acts as carbon sink, playing a vital role in climate change adaptation Islam et al (2017).…”