THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS AS A VALUE DRIVER

In the context of bioeconomy, agroforestry cannot be developed without sustainable land management. This is because these areas are a resource for increasing the production of agricultural products, as well as a habitat for living organisms and a living space for human settlements and other facilities/structures. There are therefore conflicting requirements between the individual land uses and ways of utilising the biomass produced and, sometimes, conflicts may be inevitable. The development of innovative practices and methodologies to mitigate these phenomena in the context of viable and sustainable management is therefore required and agroforestry can also make a major contribution in this direction as a catalyst for this vital transition, supporting wealth creation in rural and non-rural areas.

In addition, the European Commission [REGULATION (EU) 2018/841], in the context of the carbon farming initiative announced in the “Farm to Fork” Strategy, aims to further promote a new green business model that rewards climate- and environment-friendly practices of land managers, including forest and agroforestry managers and owners, based on the benefits they provide for the climate. This aims to create a new source of income for farmers, foresters and land managers implementing sustainable agroforestry activities, which lead to carbon removals and storage.

In conclusion, it is crucial to highlight the “value” that is truly contained in agroforestry systems also in Greece, and how they can become a source of real wealth production through innovation, their multifunctional role as well as through the overall value contained in them and their ecosystem services. Therefore, the appropriate “innovation ecosystem” should be created for Greek agroforestry, so that the respective initiatives become a point of attention and strengthening, compensating for the shortages in resources and capacities especially important in the agroforestry sector.