Agroforestry wildlife benefits

Agroforestry provides an opportunity to link timber production with other benefits, including improved wildlife habitat. This chapter is focused on wildlife benefits in agroforestry settings. It views wildlife production as a valuable byproduct that can be complementary to the goals of tree and crop production. Wildlife is also an important consideration for landowners because it may diversify income opportunities, particularly early in the initiation of agroforestry practices, with only modest alterations to plantings and management techniques. The chapter describes the benefits to wildlife in a variety of agroforestry settings and discusses the general ecological issues, such as scale and habitat fragmentation, that should be considered when attempting to maximize wildlife benefits. Next, it describes the integration of agroforestry with lease hunting, with an emphasis on mourning dove (Zenaida macroura L.) harvests as an example. The chapter concludes with some general recommendations to improve wildlife benefits in agroforestry settings.