FARM TREE

What we discovered...

Our findings and decision support tools have the potential to maximise environmental and sociological benefits by well-informed planting of trees on farms.

• Under the current climate pathway, silvopasture systems can store 2-5 times more carbon than traditional pastures after 40 years. The outcomes are dependent on the choice of species and site conditions.
• Agroforestry can play a vital role in landscape-wide resilience to climate mitigation and impacts. Findings show that the potential carbon storage and hydrological benefits per tree are higher in scenarios where broadleaved trees are spread over larger areas, which is more likely with agroforestry than when planted in dense patches.
• While farmers and land managers are willing to adopt agroforestry, they face difficulties such as inadequate access to information and restrictive grant schemes. These challenges are particularly limiting for smaller farms and tenant farmers, who often find the grant eligibility is misaligned with their needs and preferences. They would benefit from more flexible agroforestry policies and professional advisors who can communicate information on ‘what works’ in agroforestry.
• A designated entity or advisory body on agroforestry could consolidate information, champion relevant approaches, and advise on policymaking.
• FARM TREE developed two new practical tools: the FARM TREE Info Tool, a searchable map and database of existing tree planting projects in Scotland; and the Landscape Suitability Tool, which enables multi-criteria analysis to help identify suitable areas for agroforestry.