Funding is provided in part by the USDA T-STAR Program
Woody Ornamental Crops
in Agroforestry (WOCA)
Agroforestry, the deliberate incorporation of trees and/or shrubs into agricultural systems, has the potential to alleviate some of the ecological and economic problems facing farmers and farming communities in the US today. This is of paramount importance, as farmers are increasingly under pressure to sell their farms or incorporate land use strategies that sacrifice long-term sustainability for short-term profit. Agroforestry systems could be an attractive alternative because they provide a diverse variety of products (including marketable niche products) as well as environmental benefits such as soil conservation and water and air improvement. In this project we are investigating the potential for incorporating woody ornamental crops into plantations of commercial timber species. Three different projects are currently underway, two in the southern United States and one in the Virgin Islands. This website provides you with information on these projects and other related projects.
