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Second International Symposium on Multi-Strata Agroforestry Systems with Perennial Crops: Making ecosystem services count for farmers, consumers and the environment September 17 – 21, 2007 Turrialba, Costa Rica |
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The intent of this Second International Symposium on Multi-Strata Agroforestry Systems with Perennial Crops is to stimulate the development and the adoption of sustainable agroforestry practices centered on the integration of trees and perennial crops into the tropical landscape. Agroforestry systems with perennial tropical crops (primarily coffee, cacao, oil palm, coconut, fruit trees, tea & rubber) will be the main focus of the symposium. Target participants belong to all spheres of the
technical, teaching and research sectors, whether with private companies,
municipalities, governmental and non-governmental institutions or research
centers specializing in the fields of agriculture, forestry, agroforestry,
environment, rural development and land-use planning in tropical areas. Eight years after the first symposium held at CATIE, Costa Rica, many interesting biophysical studies, socio-economic surveys and pilot projects have been undertaken to promote these perennial crop agroforestry systems and eco-labels have been developed and promoted by NGOs and the private sector. There are also many aspects that still need to be addressed if these multi-strata systems are to be successfully promoted in the tropical areas of the world that are hotspots for biodiversity and where millions of farmers rely on their diverse products for income and subsistence. Under the patronage of IUFRO, it is an opportune time to meet again to share experiences and results, to draft technical and policy recommendations for these sectors and to set priorities for future collaborative research. |
Symposium Organizers & Partners
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The objectives of this Second International Symposium are:
The symposium will be organized in four one-day sessions: 1. At the field level, the impacts of trees on productivity and processes (e.g. effects of shade species on microclimate, soil, underlying crop productivity & quality, and pests & diseases) in agroforestry systems with perennial crops (especially cocoa, coffee, tea, rubber, fruit trees, coconut and oil palm). 2. At the landscape and regional scales, quantification and valuation of environmental services of perennial crop agroforestry systems including research methodologies for up-scaling from plot level to the landscape and region, and reports on pilot implementation projects with local or international schemes rewarding farmers for environmental services. 3. The scientific basis of various certification schemes for eco-labeling of perennial crop products from agroforestry, including the validity and feasibility of the technical guidelines (e.g. Good Agricultural Practices, including tree cover threshold levels), criteria and indicators suggested for monitoring all the products and services of these systems and the economic implications for producers and other members of the rural communities. 4. Social and economic importance of products derived from perennial crop agroforestry systems, particularly the experiences regarding diversification of farmers’ revenues, valuing of medicinal and indigenous tree species, and the development of commodity value chains through producer-trader alliances and enhanced business skills of farming communities. This Second International Symposium will take place at the headquarters of CATIE in Turrialba, Costa Rica, during the third week (Monday 17th to Friday 21st) of September 2007. A maximum of 120 participants can be accommodated. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations should be sent to AFSymposium@catie.ac.cr before March 31st of 2007. Philippe Vaast, Correspondent of CIRAD for Central America (philippe.vaast@cirad.fr or pvaast@catie.ac.cr) John Beer, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Agroforestry of CATIE (jbeer@catie.ac.cr) Fergus Sinclair, Senior Lecturer at the University of Wales, Bangor and Editor-in-Chief of Agroforestry Systems (f.l.sinclair@bangor.ac.uk) Jean-Marc Boffa, senior researcher at ICRAF (j.boffa@cgiar.org) |
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Welcome & Introductory Speakers The welcome speeches will be given by Dr. Pedro Ferreira, Director of CATIE, and his Excellency the Ambassador of France to Costa Rica. The introductory speech will be given by Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, former Minister of Environment of Costa Rica and current CBC director at Conservation International. |
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Prospective
participants are invited to submit their abstracts in English and are
encouraged to present in English. Although the official language of the
symposium will be English, simultaneous translation services will be offered
during the sessions in order to ensure that all Spanish,
English and French speaking participants have the opportunity to take
part and benefit from the conference. |
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