Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forests (AF-TOF) systems are vital for South Asia’s ecological health, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience. These multifunctional land-use systems are deeply embedded in the region’s agricultural and cultural fabric, offering food, fodder, fuelwood, timber, and ecosystem services to millions of people. Yet, their full potential remains untapped.
Despite favourable agroecological conditions and growing domestic demand for wood and tree-based products, South Asian countries remain heavily dependent on imports, with the regional wood trade deficit crossing USD 9 billion in 2022. At the same time, AF-TOF systems face persistent challenges, including restrictive policies, underdeveloped value chains, inadequate investment, and limited technical support.
TREESCAPES 2026 will be a pivotal platform to spotlight the potential of agroforestry and trees outside forests. As the first such regional congress, the event will bring together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, civil society, farmers, and youth from across South Asia to exchange knowledge, showcase best practices, and explore innovative solutions to mainstream and scale AF-TOF systems in the South Asian region.
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