Forest Farming Practices

Forest farming in North America is becoming popular as a way for landowners to diversify income opportunities, improve management of forest resources, and increase biological diversity. People have been informally " farming the forests " for generations. However, in recent years, attention has been directed at formalizing forest farming and improving it through research and development activities. The purpose of this chapter is to present historical and modern perspectives, as well as examples of contemporary practices, to provide the reader an overview of the abundant opportunities in forest farming. Most of the discussion focuses on the southern United States and western Canada (i.e., British Colum-bia). These are illustrative of the many opportunities that exist, but do not cover other regions of North America (northeastern and southwestern United States, eastern Canada, or Mexico), where there are also examples of dynamic and exciting forest farming. The reader is encouraged to look beyond the examples provided and explore the many forest farming options. People have been informally farming the forests for generations. Ever since they recognized the many benefits that can be realized from the forests, people have used these resources to meet personal needs and for profit. Indigenous people around the world have foraged from the forests for products to eat, to shelter them from the elements, to cover their bodies, and to aid them in medicating injury and illness. Today, indigenous people continue to farm the forests for much needed products. Moreover, landowners in general are becoming more interested in farming their forests to generate additional income. In the last 25 to 30 yr, forest farming has been promoted as an alternative practice that can lead to better and more sustainable management of resources. The practices have been documented and formalized, but in many situations the science is not as developed as in other agroforestry practices. Much of the early promotion of this alternative land use system focused on developing countries, where people are more directly dependent on forest resources for basic sustenance. Promotion of forest farming in North America is relatively new and still evolving. The potential to diversify and stabilize income sources, increase forest health, and promote alternative " green " enterprises is tremendous. A student of forest farming in North America needs exposure to its historical evolution, the nuances of terminology, the enigmatic markets, and the diversity of possible products and production systems. This chapter was designed to …