Agroforestry - Current situation and potentials

Abstract

Agroforestry represents a complex multidimensional plant system, which in many of its forms integrates animal production. Such system represents a huge economic, ecological and social potential in the multifunctional management of forest and agricultural resources in the same area. The production of several different products in one place, enables the satisfaction of several different human needs such as: food, construction wood, firewood, non-woodproducts and fodder with a biodiversity improvement. Agroforestry is a complex system that requires a great knowledge from those who are involved in the establishment, management and sustainable use of products and services. In general, it can be said that there are two approaches to agroforestry: modern and traditional. In modern systems, the fulfillment of all functions of agroforestry systems is maximized at the highest level. Traditional agroforestry systems are characterized by multifunctional use of agricultural and forest resources in one place, but in an extensive form, without using new technology. In the Republika Srpska, there are agroforestry systems, dominantly in rural areas, which have a traditional character. In addition to traditional agroforestry systems, the first, exemplary, modern agroforestry systems that follow modern world trends are established. The potential for agroforestry in the Republic of Srpska is huge, considering the area of land and forests available, but at the same time the potential is not fully used, mainly due to lack of knowledge and undefined laws regardig to agroforestry. At the same time, there is a lack of knowledge about the value of agroforestry systems as well as a lack of knowledge about the establishment, modern management and sustainable use of such multifunctional plant (and animal) systems.