Social and Economic Resilience Through Agroforestry

Abstract

The modern world grapples with complex and interrelated social, economic, and environmental issues that endanger both natural ecosystems and the quality of human life. Resilience has become a vital concept for addressing these challenges, focusing on the capacity of communities, systems, and institutions to adapt, recover, and transform in the face of adversity. Agroforestry, which integrates trees into agricultural landscapes, is a promising approach for building resilience by improving climate adaptability, enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable resource use, and expanding livelihood options. This chapter delves into the ways agroforestry contributes to strengthening social and economic resilience, with sustainable resource management, livelihood diversification, generating income, reducing poverty, empowering marginalized groups, fostering social cohesion and securing food, health, and wellbeing with challenges and adaption strategies of agroforestry.