Agroforestry has long been part of traditional farming systems in Fiji, where communities historically integrated trees with crops to sustain both livelihoods and the natural environment.

While modern agricultural practices have increasingly replaced these traditional systems, agroforestry is once again gaining recognition as a sustainable approach to farming that supports climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and community wellbeing.

According to Dr Shipra Shah, Associate Professor in Forestry and Seminar Coordinator, agroforestry is the integration of trees, crops, and sometimes livestock within the same land management system.

“Agroforestry is not a new concept in Fiji. It is a traditional farming system that communities have practiced for generations,” Dr Shah explains.

“What we are doing today is rediscovering its value for addressing modern environmental and livelihood challenges.”

For small island developing states like Fiji, climate change poses serious risks to agriculture and ecosystems. Increasingly intense cyclones, prolonged droughts, and soil degradation threaten food security and rural livelihoods.

Dr Shah explains that agroforestry offers an important solution.

“Agroforestry enables diversification of production and income, which is extremely important for small island countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change,” she says.

Trees in agroforestry systems improve soil fertility through leaf litter, reduce soil erosion with their root systems, and conserve water by increasing soil infiltration. They also provide shade and wind protection for crops, helping farms withstand extreme weather events.

“Over time, agroforestry systems build stronger and more resilient farming landscapes while also contributing to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration,” Dr Shah adds.

Modern monoculture farming systems often reduce biodiversity by focusing on a single crop. Agroforestry, however, creates a more diverse environment that supports many species.

“The integration of different trees and crops across multiple vertical layers creates microhabitats that support a wide range of plant and animal life,” Dr Shah explains.

“Trees provide shelter, food, and nesting sites for birds, bats, insects, and other wildlife.”

Several native species in Fiji benefit directly from agroforestry systems. Fruit-eating bats such as the Pacific flying fox, locally known as beka dina, often forage in agroforestry landscapes.

“This bat is considered a keystone species because it plays a vital role in seed dispersal and pollination, helping forests regenerate naturally,” Dr Shah says.

Birds also thrive in these systems. The Collared Lory (kula) and the many-coloured fruit dove (kuluvotu) also feed on fruits from trees integrated in agroforestry landscapes.

Beyond wildlife conservation, agroforestry also helps preserve culturally important tree species.

“Agroforestry creates opportunities for communities to conserve species such as vesi, yasi, and masi, which are important for traditional practices like wood carving, sandalwood production, and tapa making,” Dr Shah notes.

Habitat loss and forest fragmentation are growing environmental concerns across the Pacific. Agricultural expansion, logging, and infrastructure development have contributed to fragmented forest landscapes, isolating wildlife populations and reducing biodiversity.

“Habitat fragmentation not only changes the structure of forests but also isolates biological populations, restricting gene flow and increasing the risk of species decline,” Dr Shah explains.

Agroforestry can play a major role in restoring these landscapes.

“One of the key benefits of agroforestry is its ability to enhance habitat connectivity by creating biological corridors that allow wildlife to move between fragmented forest patches,” she says.

Agroforestry systems can also function as buffer zones around protected areas. These zones allow sustainable farming activities while still protecting core conservation areas.

At the Fiji National University (FNU), agroforestry plays an important role in both education and research. Students studying forestry at the diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels learn about agroforestry systems, design principles, and management practices.

“Our students also gain practical experience at the Instructional Forestry Farm Complex, where they learn how agroforestry systems are established and managed in real-world settings,” Dr Shah says.

Shah is currently involved in several research projects examining the role of agroforestry in biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and rural livelihoods. Her work also includes community-based initiatives that support farmers in establishing riparian buffer zones along farms and waterways.

“These buffers help mitigate flooding, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and generate alternative livelihoods for rural communities,” she explains.

For many farmers, adopting agroforestry does not require abandoning existing crops. Instead, trees can be integrated into current farming systems.

“Farmers can plant timber, fruit, nut, and nitrogen-fixing trees alongside crops such as taro, cassava, or kumala,” Dr Shah suggests.

“This allows them to maintain short-term income from crops while trees provide long-term benefits.”

Farmers can also start small by planting trees along farm boundaries or integrating them gradually into their fields.

“Agroforestry allows farmers to remain economically stable even if one crop fails because they have multiple products and income sources,” Dr Shah adds.

Looking ahead, Dr envisions a future where agriculture and conservation work together rather than compete.

“My vision is a landscape where farming and nature coexist harmoniously,” she says.

“Agroforestry has the potential to support biodiversity conservation while improving ecosystem health and strengthening community livelihoods.”

She also encourages young Fijians to become involved in protecting the country’s natural resources.

“Conservation is not just about protecting nature,” Dr Shah emphasised.

“It is about empowering communities and ensuring that we pass on a healthy, thriving planet to future generations.”

Her message to the public is clear: “By embracing sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry, we are not only producing food and earning livelihoods, but also safeguarding Fiji’s unique wildlife, culture, and natural heritage for generations to come.”