PROGRAM TITLE:	Tropical Agroforestry Program
ACTIVITY STREAM:	Process Studies (also relevant to assessment)
SCIENCE ELEMENT:	Ecological Systems and Dynamics

 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
SMITHSONIAN TROPICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

SCIENTIFIC MERIT:  Reforestation of presently cut-over areas in the tropics, 
together with development of sustainable agricultural systems that check the 
economically-driven process of deforestation, may help slow or even reverse 
accumulation of greenhouse gases.  The objective of STRI's Tropical 
Agroforestry Program is development of an integrated, appropriate-
technology agricultural system in order to restore the fertility of degraded 
soils and improve the forest cover of presently deforested areas.  The system 
combines small-scale tree farming, horticulture, fodder production, and 
animal husbandry.  STRI has set up a pilot project in the Panama Canal 
watershed, an area severely affected by deforestation and consequent erosion 
and soil degradation.  The system represents a vast improvement over slash-
and-burn farming in terms of sustainability and environmental impact.  STRI 
plans to expand the area of its present pilot project, to explore economies of 
scale and to test new tree and crop species, and also plans to establish 
additional plots for comparative studies in other areas of Panama.

STAKEHOLDERS:  The program addresses goals of the IGBP Core Program 
GCTE, Focus 3:  Global Change impact on agriculture and forestry.  Links exist 
with the following organizations:  in Panama:  University of Panama;  
Agrarian Research Institute of Panama (IDIAP);  National Agricultural 
Institute;  Hydraulic and Electrification Institute (IRHE);  and the National 
Institute of Natural Resources (INRENARE);  in Costa Rica:  Regional 
Agronomic Research Center (CATIE) in Turrialba;  in the United States:  
University of North Carolina.

POLICY RELEVANCE:  The program is focussed on understanding one of the 
most sensitive areas of human impact on global change.  It contributes to 
achieving milestones identified by the USGCRP Implementation Plan under 
Ecological Systems and Population Dynamics:  Resource use and 
management relations. 

PROGRAM CONTACTS:

SI SGCR Representative:	Ted A. Maxwell
		NASM MRC 315
		Smithsonian Institution
		Washington, D.C.  20560
		202 357 1424
		FAX:  202 786 2566
		Email: tmaxwell@ceps.nasm.edu
	
Bureau Representative:	Anthony Coates
		Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
		APO AA 34002-0948
		507 27 6022
		FAX: 507 32 6197