Simulating integration of agroforestry into livestock farmers' projects in France

Drawing on almost one hundred contemporary farmers' experiences, within a French agroforestry experimental network, socio-economic and ecological approaches are combined to assess a set of agroforestry techniques. Among this network, twelve livestock farms were selected in contrasting bioclimatic regions and classified according to land use, stock number and family situation. Farmers were interviewed to define the primary objectives assigned to agroforestry and to build up several scenarios of agroforestry development on their farm. A dynamic resource model was used to predict the effects of agroforestry development on crop and timber production as well as on labour organisation and amenities. An example of simulation, comparing three agroforestry management projects, based on new plantations at wide spacing, farm forestry and silvopastoral thinnings, is developed for a farm in the Cevennes (southern France). The outputs of the model, related to labour requirements, stock number dynamics and landscape diversity are discussed in relation to farmer's perception of the role of trees in the farm operation, and the indirect economic benefits sought.