Agroforestry and Ecosystem Services

This book is a state-of-the-art compilation of the latest information on ecosystem services of agroforestry. The last two decades have seen a surge in literature on the ecosystem services of sustainable agriculture practices, including that of agroforestry; however, compilation and synthesis of such information from agroforestry have been limited. This book fills that void by bringing in a number of experts from around the world. In addition to presenting the multiple dimensions of ecosystem services provided by major agroforestry practices, the book also offers case studies from both tropical and temperate regions of the world.
Information from this book can be used to design land management practices for climate change mitigation, ecosystem benefits, agricultural productivity and sustainability, and for survival and profitability of family farms and to conserve biodiversity. While synthesizing information of the biophysical aspects of ecosystem services, the book also outlines the socioeconomic and policy dimensions, including appropriate incentive models to enhance adoption of agroforestry so that society at large can enjoy these important benefits
About the Author: ​Ranjith Udawatta is a professor at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, USA. Ranjith received his BS in Agriculture from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. His MS and PhD both in Soil Science were completed at University of Florida and University of Missouri, respectively. His current research studies explore the use of conservation practices including agroforestry, cover crops, riparian buffers, and upland buffers to address issues related to water, soil, land productivity, carbon sequestration, and competition for resources among plants at micrometer to watershed scales
Shibu Jose serves (2019-current) as the associate dean for research in the College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources and the director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Missouri (MU). Prior to his current appointment, he was the director of the School of Natural Resources at MU (2017-2018), H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Professor and director of the MU Center for Agroforestry (2009-2017) and Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of Florida (1998-2009). Jose received his bachelor's degree from Kerala Agricultural University, India, and his master's and doctorate degrees from the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. He has received nearly $46 million in funding ($13 million as PI) and has published 11 edited books and nearly 200 research articles with over 7500 citations. Fourteen Ph.D. and 37 M.S. students have graduated under his supervision. He serves as Editor-In-Chief of Agroforestry Systems, the premier journal in the field of agroforestry published by Springer-Nature and on the editorial board of several other journals. He is the current Chair of the Forestry Research Advisory Council that advises the US Secretary of Agriculture.