UK-Brazil-Africa Silvopasture Network

Agrosilvopastoral system in Brazil (Will Simonson)

Project Leaders and Partners

• ORC (Lead Partner)
• Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol (Project Partner), Dr. María Paula Escobar

Project Aims

This project aims to promote the use of silvopasture to build resilience in the livestock sector of Ghana and Nigeria, by networking with stakeholders in these African countries, UK and Brazil.

What is Silvopasture ?

Silvopasture is a climate smart agricultural approach proven to mitigate the expected impacts of climate change and build resilience in farming communities. Silvopasture combines livestock with trees and forages, improving productivity, diversification, animal wellbeing and ecosystem services. For example, the trees create vital shade and shelter during heat waves, whilst also providing nutritionally and medicinally important browse, and potentially new marketable by-products for the farmers, whilst soil health is improved and carbon sequestered.

What problems will the project address ?

The aim of this silvopasture networking initiative is to bring together practitioners, researchers, commercial partners and policy experts within the farming and food chain sector in the UK, Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria for the purposes of:

1) identifying climate change impacts and risks to livestock farming in Ghana and Nigeria and the potential of silvopasture as an adaptation approach.

2) identifying how lessons learnt from current practice of silvopasture in Brazil and the UK could contribute to adaptation in the African livestock sector.

3) establishing the foundations of an action and research plan that allows stakeholders in Ghana and Nigeria to i) innovate silvopasture systems that are biophysically and socially suitable for their contexts, and ii) design programmes to increase their uptake and help livestock farmers adapt to the challenges of climate change and improve their livelihoods.

The project will identify and interview key stakeholders in each of the participating countries, hold an online workshop to carry out knowledge exchange to meet the above-stated objectives, and produce a report that will summarise key findings. Ultimately, we aim to catalyse the future development of partnerships and projects for making a difference on the ground.

Current progress highlights

Want to be involved ?

Please sign up using the link below if you would like to join the project network.

We would like to be in touch about your own knowledge and experience on this topic, invite you to an online workshop, and identify future collaborative opportunities.

Project Announcement and Introduction Webinar Recording