Disciplines
Other Agricultural Sciences (60%); Other Natural Sciences (20%); Sociology (20%)
Keywords
Traditional Agroforestry,
Biodiversity,
Ecosystem Service Benefits,
System Thinking Approach,
Multi-Scalar Case Study Approach
Abstract
Traditional agroforestry systems, where trees, crops and livestock are cultivated together, have
developed over centuries through the close relationship between farming practices and local
environments. These systems offer numerous benefits, such as supporting biodiversity,
improving the climate, and providing sustainable food production. However, they face growing
threats from rapid technological, cultural, and economic changes.
The TRANSFOrm project is a collaborative effort across seven European partner institutions
to explore how these traditional practices can be preserved and revitalized as nature-based
solutions to tackle pressing global challenges like biodiversity loss, climate change, and
sustainable food production. Through innovative research methods and research in multiple
case studies across Europe, TRANSFOrm seeks to deepen our understanding of how traditional
agroforestry systems function and exert their effects on ecosystems and communities across
different socio-economic and environmental contexts. To this end, the project will evaluate both
the ecological and socio-economic benefits while identifying scalable and transferable solutions
to enhance their implementation in the future.
By engaging local communities and stakeholders, the project ensures diverse perspectives are
integrated, fostering solutions that are inclusive and practical. Ultimately, TRANSFOrm aims
to generate robust evidence and strategies to reconcile profitable farming with biodiversity
conservation, paving the way for transformative change in the implementation and maintenance
of these landscapes.