1
ANNUAL REPORT
2011-2012
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Our Vision
A rural transformation in the developing world where smallholder households strategically increase their use 
of trees in agricultural landscapes to improve their food security, nutrition, income, health, shelter, energy 
resources and environmental sustainability.
2 01 Sharing knowledge, spreading the word pg 08
3
Our Mission
To generate science-based knowledge about the diverse roles that trees play in agricultural landscapes, and 02 Water matters pg 16
use its research to advance policies and practices that benefit the poor and the environment.
Our Values
We strongly adhere to shared core values that guide our work and relationships with colleagues and partners: 03 Coping with the climate pg 22
• Professionalism
• Mutual respect 
• Creativity
Our Focus 04 The right trees for the right place pg 32
We put particular emphasis on four areas in our work: 
• Accelerating impact 
• Enhancing science quality
• Strengthening partnerships
• Improving operational efficiency 05 Save our soils   pg 38
© World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, 2012 
ISSN 1995-6851
World Agroforestry Centre. 2012. Annual Report 2011-2012: Trees, Livelihoods, Landscapes. Nairobi: ICRAF
Articles appearing in this publication may be quoted or reproduced without charge, provided the source is acknowledged. No part of this 06 Adding value pg 44
publication may be reproduced for resale or other commercial purposes. The geographic designation employed and the presentation of material 
in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Agroforestry Centre concerning the legal 
status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. All images remain the 
sole property of their source and may not be used for any purpose without written permission of the source.
© ICRAF
Contents
Message from
the Chair
Agroforestry – growing trees on farms – can help nations and 
communities tackle some of the most pressing challenges we face, 
from climate change to food insecurity, from declining soil fertility to 
the need to provide a sustainable source of energy. Agroforestry’s 
importance is now widely recognized, thanks in part to the 
pioneering research conducted by the World Agroforestry Centre.
I would also like to commend the On the whole, our future is bright. The challenge 
During the course of 2011, the Centre experienced some notable communications team for the excellent use it now is to keep the momentum going, and 
changes in personnel. Tony Simons replaced Dennis Garrity has made of the World Wide Web. Over a two- strive to do even better along the research–
as Director General in October. We established a new Senior year period, between April 2010 and April 2012, development continuum. The growing worldwide 
the number of web visits to our site increased interest in agroforestry makes the activities of 
4 Leadership Team, and recruited a new Deputy Director General of 5
Research and Director of Administration. We also recruited a new more than fivefold. Only two other CGIAR the Centre all the more relevant and pertinent 
board member from Peru. centres are ranked ahead of us in terms of for the future of agriculture. In fact, we are 
‘webometrics’. now at the heart of the movement to promote 
From an institutional point of view, the Centre remains in excellent ‘climate-smart agriculture’. Our refreshed 
health. Our reserves, when expressed in operating days, are the During the course of the year, Tony Simons and strategy, currently in the making, will reflect the 
highest of any centre operating within the CGIAR system and his team embarked on a strategy refreshment new realities and help us to face new challenges 
we closed the year with a surplus. The Board approved a new exercise. Our four strategic goals remain the and opportunities.
programme of work and a budget of US$54.2 million for 2012, same. We seek to operate as efficiently as 
almost US$3 million of which will be devoted to establishing new possible, produce high-quality science, foster 
science positions. This will strengthen our research capacity. partnerships with a wide range of organizations, ...we are now at the 
and conduct research which has a strong “heart of the movement 
We are proud of the great strides made by the Centre in its efforts impact.
to communicate its research findings, both within the world of to promote ‘climate-
science and beyond. In 2011, our scientists were responsible for smart agriculture’.
229 publications, over half of which appeared in peer-reviewed Eric Tollens
journals. An external review of our publications concluded that we Chair of the Board of Trustees
are doing well, but could still do better.
© ICRAF/Rizki Pandu Permana
“
Message from
concept of Evergreen Agriculture. This was soon With a changing CGIAR architecture, changing 
the DG given an even more elevated platform when he Centre leadership and a changing global context 
was appointed as a United Nations Drylands for our work, we have also decided to embark 
Ambassador. on refreshing our current strategy (2008-2015). 
Towards the end of this year we will produce 
Leadership transitions can be tumultuous times 
The only thing that is constant is change. A truism surely embodied a revitalized document primarily for our staff 
for organizations but our Centre staff and Board 
in the exciting period of 2011-2012 for the World Agroforestry to align behind a strengthened focus on our 
of Trustees have rallied to ensure the wobbles 
Centre. The start of 2011 marked the programmatic beginning Centre’s strategic goals. Discussions with staff, 
are kept to a minimum whilst allowing latitude 
of the much heralded CGIAR reforms. This was when the first of investors and partners are underway to validate 
to adapt to new opportunities and directions. 
15 CGIAR Research Programmes (CRPs) became operational much of our existing work and highlight new 
Supporting us in this transition has been the 
and marked a new way of doing business for us and for all our areas for attention. This may include more work 
arrival of two new senior directors, namely: Ravi 
sister CGIAR centres. The World Agroforestry Centre is actively on tree genomics, landscape management, 
Prabhu (Deputy Director General, Research) 
engaged in seven of the 15 CRPs and most significantly within the bioenergy, farmer institutions, proof of 
and Stella Kiwango (Director of Administration).
Forest, Trees and Agroforestry CRP. Here it is partnering with the application, tree crop development and climate 
Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and others in The research and development outputs and smart agriculture.
6 an impactful collaboration to progress the science, promotion and outcomes reported in this year’s report underlie The decade ahead of us anticipates further 7
value of woody landscapes. Although the early stages of the CGIAR our approach to science for development. In change with post Rio +20 processes, multilateral 
reform were marked by high transaction costs, we are now starting research there are two types of knowledge – successor to the Millennium Development Goals 
to see the transaction benefits with substantially more inter-centre things it would be nice to know and things you (MDGs) and initiatives to define measure and 
joint work. One of the most interesting manifestations of this is the need to know. In this publication, our research promote sustainable agricultural intensification. 
sentinel landscapes with the prospect for co-located, long-term teams have documented the way that the 
research and development across woody landscape transacts. latter type is achieved. Specifically the exciting The Board, management and staff of the 
work around six areas of scaling up, water, World Agroforestry Centre are well positioned 
At the governance level of the CGIAR the appointment of a strong climate adaptation, soil health, targeted tree to contribute to producing international public 
troika of Rachel Kyte (Chair of the Fund Council), Jonathan interventions and value addition is portrayed. goods, robust evidence, actionable knowledge, 
Wadsworth (Fund Office) and Frank Rijsberman (Consortium CEO) Read the stories covering each of these areas capacity development, proof of application and 
augurs well for greater profile, resources and impact. and see just how agroforestry is transforming facilitating partnerships in support of these 
 Change at our Centre was punctuated by the appointment of lives and landscapes. changes. We also count on your continued 
myself as the fifth Director General taking over from Dennis support.
Garrity’s successful decade at the helm. Dennis’ legacy was much 
celebrated by our Board and staff over a period of several months 
and fortunately is not complete as he graciously accepted a Senior Tony Simons
Board Fellowship to write up his recent thinking and advance the 
Director General
Sharing 
knowledge, 
spreading
the word
8 9
© ICRAF
had poor access to good-quality seeds and seedlings.” how to use and manage indigenous trees and adopt 
Much the same was true of Machakos, another site in technologies that promote evergreen agriculture.”
Kenya. At both sites, the researchers found that farmers’ 
knowledge about conservation agriculture was poor or The Centre and its partners have begun to establish 
non-existent. the measures needed to improve access to good-
quality seeds, based on the model of Rural Resource 
At one site in Tanzania, many farms had reasonable Centres, developed by the World Agroforestry Centre 
numbers of Faidherbia albida, a tree which possesses in Cameroon. The centres will be linked to a network of 
qualities of huge significance for evergreen agriculture. satellite nurseries, set up in local schools. During the 
Faidherbia sheds its nitrogen-rich leaves during the next phase of the project, nursery owners and teachers 
rainy season, providing farmers with a free source will receive training on the benefits of evergreen 
of nutrients for their crops. Research suggests that agriculture, which they will be able to share with farmers. 
by growing Faidherbia and practising conservation At the same time, the project will provide training to 
agriculture, farmers can increase their crop yields by a government extension agents.
factor of three or more. However, although they realized 
TIME FOR AN EVERGREEN the significance of these trees, Tanzanian farmers were The project aims to directly improve the livelihoods 
doing little to ensure their regeneration. and incomes of 6000 smallholder farming households 
through the introduction of evergreen agriculture. Just 
AGRICULTURE? “From our initial research, it was clear that farmers need as importantly, it will provide insights into the best way of 
much better access to good-quality seeds and seedlings, disseminating information about evergreen agriculture, 
especially of indigenous species,” says Muriuki. “It’s and a body of knowledge about which practices are most 
10 11
These are desperate times for farmers in many parts of evergreen agriculture to be successful, we need to also important to improve farmers’ knowledge about appropriate for different agro-ecological zones. 
Africa, where the yields of staple crops have barely risen establish precisely what practices are required for a 
over the past 30 years. However, two practices offer a range of different agro-ecological zones and farming 
significant ray of hope: agroforestry and conservation practices,” says Dennis Garrity, former Director General 
agriculture. of the World Agroforestry Centre and recently appointed 
United Nations Drylands Ambassador. By June 2011, A man with a mission
Research by the World Agroforestry Centre has scientists were able to reflect on progress made during 
demonstrated that agroforestry can improve livelihoods, the first year of the project. Soon after Dennis Garrity retired from the World Agroforestry Centre, after serving 10 years as Director 
restore degraded soils and raise crop productivity. General, he was appointed UN Drylands Ambassador. The honour was in recognition of his achievements 
Conservation agriculture, which involves disturbing Baseline studies at five sites in Kenya, Tanzania and in raising the profile of agroforestry during a lifetime’s work in Africa, southeast Asia and beyond. He 
the soil as little as possible, keeping the soil covered Rwanda provided insight into everything from the sort has been a tireless promoter of ‘evergreen agriculture,’ and retirement has done nothing to diminish 
with organic matter and rotating crops, has also helped of crops and livestock favoured by farmers to their his energy, his breadth of vision, and his belief that agroforestry – and agroforestry research – has the 
African farmers to increase their crop yields and access to extension services, their productivity and potential to improve the welfare of smallholder farmers. 
incomes. Put agroforestry and conservation agriculture incomes, and their knowledge about agroforestry and 
together and you get ‘evergreen agriculture’ – a practice conservation agriculture. “It will be my duty to inform the wider community about the great successes in regenerating drylands 
which could transform the fortunes of millions across around the world,” said Garrity, who accepted the honour during the 10th session of the Conference of the 
sub-Saharan Africa. In some areas, such as Meru in Kenya, smallholders Parties on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held in Korea in October 
have planted large numbers of trees on their farms, 2011. “Most poor people can dramatically increase their food production through evergreen agriculture, 
So what’s preventing farmers from adopting evergreen with the majority being exotics such as Grevillea agroforestry and farmer-managed natural regeneration.”
agricultural practices? And how can they be encouraged and eucalyptus. “We found that farmers considered 
to use the technologies associated with evergreen indigenous species more useful when it came to 
agriculture? These are among the questions which improving crop productivity, but there were relatively few 
a major three-year research project, ‘Towards an indigenous trees on their farms,” says Jonathan Muriuki, 
Evergreen Agriculture in Africa’, seeks to answer. “For the project coordinator. “The main reason was that they 
© ICRAF/Paul Stapleton
Making hard work worthwhile
“In addition to improving livelihoods and sustainable of all households, some were more negatively affected 
land management, one of our principal aims was to get by current land uses, or more likely to benefit from 
farmers to use practices they had previously rejected, interventions, than others, creating a challenge for 
largely because they considered them too labour ‘collective action.’ 
intensive,” says Mowo. In some areas, farmers had also 
resisted certain technologies on cultural grounds. The “By acknowledging that costs and benefits to different 
colonial authorities had coerced their ancestors into households vary, and fostering negotiations to identify 
carrying out soil conservation practices; little wonder solutions acceptable to all parties, site teams were able 
they viewed them with suspicion now. to solve previously intractable problems as diverse as 
inequitable technology access, crop destruction from 
The researchers needed to find ways of making these pests and excess runoff, degradation of springs and 
practices more attractive, and they developed a number waterways and boundary conflicts,” says Laura German, 
of approaches. One linked farmers’ preferred enterprises one of the editors.
with the activities or technologies they had previously 
A NEW APPROACH TO AN resisted. For example, researchers convinced farmers During the course of the project, the researchers 
who were keen to plant high-value crops that even the published over 200 peer-reviewed journal papers, books 
OLD PROBLEM? best varieties would only fulfil their potential when they and book chapters, policy briefs, methodology guides 
improved their soil conservation practices. Farmers and programme reports. Integrated Natural Resource 
soon accepted that the hard work they put into building Management in the Highlands of East Africa brings the 
12 terraces and planting boundary hedges was worthwhile. main findings together. 13
After more than a decade of engagement in the humid Centre’s Regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and 
As their crop yields increased, so did their incomes.
highlands of eastern Africa, the African Highlands co-editor of a new book, Integrated Natural Resource The African Highlands Initiative provides an excellent 
Initiative commissioned a team of independent experts Management in the Highlands of East Africa – From The researchers also looked for ‘strategic entry points’. example of research institutions working closely 
to assess its impact in the communities and institutions Concept to Practice.1  In Tanzania, for example, farmers wanted to get hold together – precisely as envisaged under the new 
where innovations were designed and tested. Their of improved germplasm for bananas, and in all the CGIAR Research Programmes – and doing so within 
findings were encouraging. The initiative, an eco- In its later year, the initiative focused on six sites in 
study areas farmers were keen to gain access to credit, a learning process involving farmers and others. The 
regional research programme of the Consultative Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya. In these areas, 
something few had received in the past. The researchers World Agroforestry Centre collaborated with six other CG 
Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), rapid population growth and inheritance systems which 
agreed to make this possible, provided the farmers were centres, as well as scientists from a range of national 
had improved local livelihoods, increased crop yields, led to progressively smaller landholdings had led to 
willing to adopt better land management practices. agricultural research institutes in Ethiopia, Kenya, 
improved water quality and reduced conflict. poor land management. Crop yields and incomes were Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. “Without 
declining; soil erosion and water pollution had become In subsequent phases of the project, innovations were such close collaboration, and without a multidisciplinary 
Convened by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) serious problems; and rising inequality had led to a introduced at the landscape, district and institutional approach to the research, we could never have achieved 
and the Association for Strengthening Agricultural proliferation of predominantly latent conflicts. levels. While solutions often required the participation so much,” says Mowo.
Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), 
the initiative was launched in 1995 to test a range of From the outset, the World Agroforestry Centre and its 
different practices to improve management in areas partners adopted a multidisciplinary approach to their 
suffering from degradation and poverty. “There had been research. Just as importantly, they promoted learning 
various attempts to introduce technologies to tackle processes which encouraged everyone – scientists, 
problems such as soil erosion and low yields, but they’d farmers, extension agents, local government officials, 
largely failed as farmers had been reluctant to adopt NGOs – to work together to develop strategies to 
them,” says Jeremias Mowo, the World Agroforestry improve local livelihoods and management practices.
  1Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Highlands of East Africa – From Concept to Practice, edited by Laura German, Jeremias Mowo, 
Tilahun Amede and Kenneth Masuki. Earthscan, 2012.
© ICRAF
© ICRAF
The project has also helped 18 DFBAs to develop plans International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), using 
which will enable their members to improve their feeding software known as FEAST, the Feed Assessment Tool. 
strategies and increase the supply of milk to DFBA During 2011, the project also helped DFBAs to improve 
chilling plants. This has been done through collaboration their capacity to stock high-quality fodder seeds and 
between the World Agroforestry Centre and the distribute them to farmers. 
LAND OF MILK AND MONEY 
Some two decades ago, the World Agroforestry Centre There’s nothing unusual about the use of farmer trainers, 
and its partners began research on fodder trees in but most agricultural extension programmes select 
14 East Africa. They identified species that farmers could farmers on the basis of their technical expertise. The 15
grow as a source of protein for their dairy animals, and EADD project has taken a different approach. “Our Farmers after a training on the use of fodder.
conducted research on how to grow them and where research shows that about 40% of farmers who have 
they grew best. By 2006, the use of protein-rich fodder technical expertise are not good disseminators – that is, 
trees and the introduction of improved breeds had they are not effective networkers and communicators,” 
enabled some 200,000 smallholder farmers – most explains Steven Franzel, an agricultural economist Philemon’s story
with just one or two cows and perhaps a few goats – to with the World Agroforestry Centre. “We therefore 
increase their milk yields and incomes. Dairy farming seek farmers who have both sets of skills.” Under the Before the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project came into his life, Philemon Bomett, a farmer in 
was proving to be one of the best pathways out of EADD project, suitable candidates are identified by the Kenya’s Rift Valley, used to get around five litres of milk a day from each of his four cows. Now, they yield 
poverty for hill farmers with modest holdings. local Dairy Farmers Business Associations (DFBAs) up to 29 litres a day. This dramatic increase can be attributed to his new feeding strategy, adopted after he 
– cooperatives with up to 10,000 members – and the received training from the EADD project. He has established four acres of Rhodes grass and two acres of 
Since 2008, the World Agroforestry Centre has been World Agroforestry Centre. Columbus grass. He also makes hay and silage for dry-season feeding, and has set up an enterprise which 
in charge of the feed and feeding system component sells Columbus grass seed.
of the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project, The number of farmer trainers has risen steadily, from 
which is managed by Heifer International and funded by 262 in 2008 to 2520 by December 2011. Just under Profits from the dairy enterprise and the sale of grass seeds have enabled Philemon to pay university fees 
the Gates Foundation. The project aims to double the 40% are women. The trainers establish demonstration for one of his children and establish a 900-layer poultry unit. He was recently elected by his local Dairy 
income of 179,000 small-scale dairy farmers in Kenya, plots where they can show visiting farmers a range Management Group to represent them as the area director for Tanyikina Dairy Ltd. In short, the EADD 
Uganda and Rwanda over a ten-year period. of practices – the use of fodder shrubs, methods of project has changed his life.
making silage, how to mix feeds and so forth – which will 
“We’ve been using an approach which we developed improve the diet of dairy animals and raise milk yields. 
during our long-term research on fodder shrubs, which By the end of 2011, EADD had provided information 
involves disseminating knowledge and technologies by Reference 
and training about feeds to 159,000 farmers. “As a 
using farmer trainers,” explains Josephine Kirui. result, many dairy farmers have significantly increased Franzel S, Wambugu C, Nanok T. 2011. The ‘model farmer’ extension approach revisited: Are expert farmers effective innovators 
and disseminators? Proceedings of the Conference on Innovations in Extension, November 15-18, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya. CTA, 
their milk yields and incomes,” says Kirui (See box: Wageningen, Netherlands.
Philemon’s story).
© ICRAF
© ICRAF
Water 
matters
16 17
© ICRAF
the negative impact of dam construction, as well as the and the participation of local people in decision-making 
advantages.” processes. 
Jianchu and Grumbine put forward a number of This is a story which still has a long way to run. 
proposals to improve river-basin planning. These However, the paper in Science undoubtedly had an 
include strengthening the Mekong River Commission impact. The decision on whether to give the go-ahead 
as a regional forum for discussing transboundary for the 11 dams was deferred, and the article contributed 
issues; improving the sharing of knowledge between important information to ongoing ministry-level dialogues 
countries and institutions; and enhancing transparency between the Lower Mekong countries. 
There are problems upstream too
Scientists from the World Agroforestry Centre have He points out that most of the planting comes from 
continued their research on the impact of monocultural an increase in tree crops such as fruit, rubber and 
DAMMED IF YOU DO; rubber plantations in south-west China’s Yunnan eucalyptus – not from the regeneration of natural forest. 
Province, in the middle reaches of the Mekong River. Furthermore, the government has established massive 
According to Jianchu, the expansion of rubber could tree plantations, including some on the Tibetan Plateau 
DAMMED IF YOU DON’T be every bit as devastating for the environment as in areas where forests never previously grew. 
the hydropower dams planned for the Lower Mekong. 
The conversion of natural forests to rubber threatens “When it comes to protecting the topsoil in these areas, 
18 19
During recent years, the World Agroforestry Centre has In a series of high-profile policy papers, published in biodiversity, and may lead to a reduction in the forests’ perennial grasses with their extensive root systems 
expanded its portfolio of research activities in China; Science and Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, carbon biomass. Rubber expansion could also have are far more effective than the new plantations, many 
scientists in the China office have also begun to develop Jianchu and Edward Grumbine, a Chinese Academy of serious consequences on the region’s hydrology. of which are filled with exotic species,” says Jianchu. 
major research projects beyond the country’s borders. In Sciences senior research fellow at the Kunming Institute Maintaining these plantations also requires considerable 
recognition of this, the Centre established the ‘China and The Mekong River rises on the Tibetan plateau and 
of Botany, provided a detailed overview of the impacts resources, with irrigation water being brought long 
East Asian Node’ in 2011. This will serve as a base for flows through Yunnan, parts of which have seen 
the dams could have. distances by tractors. “It all comes down to planting the 
research programmes throughout the region, from North substantial tree-planting activity during recent years. right trees in the right place,” says Jianchu. His analysis 
Korea west to Pakistan, from Outer Mongolia south to At present, the Lower Mekong flows through an area This is the source of considerable pride for the Chinese of China’s tree-planting efforts was published as an 
the Mekong Delta. which suffers from high levels of poverty and meagre Government, which has pledged to increase the opinion piece in Nature. 
economic development. Hydropower development could country’s total area of forest by 40 million ha over the 
In 2011, scientists from the Centre conducted a range of generate significant quantities of power and the means next decade. “This sounds impressive, but we risk failing 
research projects along the length of the Mekong River, to foster economic growth and reduce poverty. The 11 to see the wood for the trees,” says Jianchu. 
one of the world’s last large rivers to remain largely dams could also generate some US$3.7 billion a year in 
undammed. “What we’re trying to do is think in terms of revenue, much of which would go to the dam operators 
the health of the entire river basin,” says Jianchu Xu, the and investors.
Centre’s coordinator for the China and East Asian Node.
However, the dams would also have significant impacts. 
Few issues prove more controversial than the building Among other things, they would lead to the reduction References 
of major dams, especially in China and East Asia. It of inland fisheries, flood riverside gardens, and Grumbine E, Dore J, Xu J. 2012. Mekong hydropower: drivers of change and governance challenges. Frontiers in Ecology and the 
came as little surprise, then, that there was considerable significantly reduce the flow of nutrient-rich sediment Environment, volume 10, March 2012.
outcry when the Lao People’s Democratic Republic onto the agricultural floodplain. “This would damage Grumbine E, Xu J. 2011. Mekong Hydropower Development. Science, volume 332, April 2011.
petitioned the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people in Xu J. 2011. China’s new forests aren’t as green as they seem, Nature, 477, September 2011.
begin the formal process of approving the first of 11 Cambodia and Laos,” says Jianchu. “In our papers, we 
proposed dams across the Lower Mekong. have sought to argue that it is important to consider 
© ICRAF
conferences and international forums. The result: more districts in drought-prone regions. Since then, over 1500 
governments are now funding rainwater harvesting more have been created. These have helped farmers 
schemes either from their own budgets or with loans irrigate their crops during the dry season and increase 
from the Africa Water Facility, a fund established by the crop yields.
African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW). 
“This is not an isolated success story,” says Maimbo. 
Progress has been particularly impressive in Rwanda, “Increasing numbers of countries now recognize that 
where Maimbo and his colleagues helped the Ministry small-scale rainwater harvesting projects represent 
of Agriculture and Animal Resources to research and not only the best way of utilizing scarce resources, but 
draft the Irrigation Master Plan. This recognizes the one of the best ways of improving food security.” Small 
importance of small-scale rainwater harvesting. With dams and farm ponds can also play a key role in helping 
technical support from the Centre and funding from the farmers to establish agroforestry ventures. 
ministry, 85 farm ponds were established across 10 
REVIVING THE ANCIENT 
PRACTICE OF HARVESTING 
20 WATER 21
Fly over certain drought-prone districts in Rwanda considerable awareness about their potential. However, 
and you will see scores of small dams, their water it failed to bring about any significant change in thinking 
glinting in the sun. These are part of a new wave of among governments and policymakers. A second phase 
development which is helping farmers increase their of the programme – ‘Improved Capacity in Rainwater 
agricultural production and incomes. Small-scale Management for Sustainable Development’ – was 
rainwater harvesting is now firmly on the agenda in a launched in 2008. 
growing number of countries, thanks in part to research 
and advocacy programmes conducted by the World “Our objective was to provide the evidence needed to 
Agroforestry Centre and its partners. show governments and others why rainwater harvesting 
is so important,” says Maimbo. 
“Rainwater harvesting is an ancient practice, but until 
recently most governments in Africa largely ignored The programme, which was jointly managed by the 
these initiatives and focused their attention on creating World Agroforestry Centre and the Delhi-based Centre 
large, centralized water-supply systems,” explains for Science and Environment, focused on Ethiopia, 
Malesu Maimbo of the World Agroforestry Centre. These Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia and India. Three new Small-scale rainwater harvesting is firmly on the agenda of a growing number 
have benefited urban populations and industry, but done ‘best-practice scaling-up sites’ were established and of countries.
little to improve the welfare and productivity of rural support was providing for two existing ones. These 
communities. acted as a stimulus for wider investment in rainwater 
harvesting by governments, the private sector, NGOs 
Between 2002 and 2007, a World Agroforestry Centre and local communities. 
programme funded by the Dutch government helped 
to establish large numbers of rainwater harvesting The programme also targeted policymakers, the media 
schemes in sub-Saharan Africa, and created and others by presenting case studies at workshops, 
© ICRAF
© ICRAF
22 23
Coping with
the climate
© ICRAF
In Andhra Pradesh, for example, it is estimated that designed to ensure that projects can take advantage of 
farmers could save the equivalent of 11,500 Certified the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism 
Emission Reductions (CERs) per year. Assuming a (CDM); establishing pilot sites in different ecological 
value of US$5, households within the grid would receive zones; and creating a skilled pool of scientists and 
over US$55,000 a year – a huge sum of money in a technicians trained in all matters related to the carbon 
remote tribal area. But even if they don’t, all the farmers market.
interviewed for a ‘Trees for Change’ booklet which tells 
the story of the project – Taking the heat out of farming – A number of companies – including Danone, the 
said they would continue to adopt measures that reduce Ambuja Cement Foundation and Sony have expressed 
their carbon footprint because they make financial, as an interest in buying carbon credits from the project. 
well as environmental, sense. International donors have also been impressed and the 
German agency GIZ recently commissioned a similar 
One of the strengths of the project is that nothing other scheme, to be managed by the World Agroforestry 
than technical advice has been given free of charge. Centre, in a heavily degraded, drought-prone part of 
Farmers who receive fuel-efficient stoves or CFL bulbs Rajasthan.
TAKING THE HEAT or tree seedlings pay a share of the costs, generally 
around 50%. Money raised this way is placed in the “The way the carbon project works, taking a grid of the 
bank accounts of organizations, run by villagers, which thousand hectares or more with 700 or 800 households, 
OUT OF FARMING have been established to handle all the financial aspects makes a lot of sense to us,” says Sanjay Tomar of GIZ. 
of carbon management. “If you focus intensively on one area, you can have a 
real impact, and that’s what we’re hoping will happen in 
24 Until recently, farmers have found it almost impossible Bank and India’s National Agricultural Innovation Project The mid-term review found that the project was well on Rajasthan.” 25
to take advantage of the carbon market, which is based (NAIP) in 2011. According to the evaluation, the project the way to achieving its key objectives. These included 
on organizations or individuals selling the carbon they is well on the way to becoming one of the largest and testing and validating the SMART-CDM protocol, 
capture – for example, through planting trees – to most successful schemes of its kind. 
countries or companies which wish to offset their own 
carbon emissions. With field sites in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan 
and Uttrakhand, the carbon project has encouraged 
According to Pal Singh, the World Agroforestry Centre’s large groups of smallholders to adopt activities which Financing carbon schemes for Kenya’s smallholders
Regional Coordinator for South Asia, there are a are helping farmers to improve their yields and incomes 
number of obstacles preventing smallholders from – and, at the same time, either reduce their emissions 2011 saw the launch of a major, long-term project which seeks to address growing food insecurity and 
taking advantage of the carbon market.  “They can’t or sequester carbon. By mid-2011, over 5000 farming land degradation in the Nyando River catchment in western Kenya. The project will explore how carbon 
produce the minimum volume required to enter the households were adopting a range of measures that fell finance can be used to enhance farm productivity and help small farmers to become more resilient to 
market,” he says. “Their landholdings are small and into three main categories: planting trees to sequester climate change. Conservation agriculture and agroforestry are among the measures which could help 
scattered, and they conduct all sorts of diverse activities carbon; switching to agricultural practices that reduce farmers take advantage of the carbon market. 
to feed themselves and make a living, and that makes emissions, such as ploughing crop residues back into The first phase of the project, which was launched by CARE Kenya and the Climate Change, Agriculture 
measuring carbon stocks a complicated business.” the soil rather than burning them; and reducing energy and Food Security (CCAFS) programme of the CGIAR, is focusing on developing a methodology, using 
Furthermore, the costs of registering projects, drawing consumption by using fuel-efficient stoves and energy- action research with 1000 farmers. The second four-year phase will expand activities to more than 
up contracts and monitoring stocks are prohibitively high saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. 10,000 households, and the third phase should reach 100,000 households, with carbon finance covering 
for smallholders acting alone or in small groups.
“At the household scale, these measures may sound a substantial part of the cost of sustaining and expanding the project. The World Agroforestry Centre is 
To get round these problems the World Agroforestry trivial,” says Singh. “But when you add together the providing technical advice.
Centre devised a project – ‘Enabling smallholders activities of many thousands of farming families, they 
to improve their livelihoods and benefit from carbon become highly significant, both for the environment and 
finance’ – which was launched in 2009. A mid-term the farmers.” 
evaluation of the project was carried out by the World 
© ICRAF/Charlie Pye-Smith
The research also suggests that establishing multi- in helping farmers adapt to climate change, and at the 
layer agroforestry systems could be a promising option, same time sequester significant quantities of carbon 
as temperatures under an open tree canopy can be dioxide, the main gases responsible for global warming.
several degrees cooler than under full sunlight. “As 
long as competition between trees and crops for water According to Luedeling’s projections, changes in the 
and nutrients can be controlled, these systems, which climate could increase the suitability of much of the 
are already to be found in the study area, could be study area for the growing of mango, pineapple, banana 
highly beneficial for future generations of farmers,” says and several other perennial crops. So the picture is far 
Luedeling. In short, agroforestry could play a key role from bleak.
COPING WITH CLIMATE 
CHANGE
26 If farmers are to adapt to climate change, they will need proxy datasets’. From these he developed a data- 27
to know what crops they should plant in future. Climate processing framework to predict crop yields for specific 
change is likely to lead to increases in temperature, places and specific times under a range of different 
changing patterns of rainfall and more extreme droughts climatic scenarios.
and floods. This, in turn, could lead to dramatic changes 
in patterns of land use. While some farmers are likely to “I had to make a number of assumptions, not just 
benefit – for example, from longer growing seasons – about the way the climate will change, but also about 
there will be large numbers of losers too.  soil quality and crop management,” says Luedeling. 
“However, I believe that the results still provide some 
Research conducted by the World Agroforestry Centre useful pointers for decision-makers and farmers about 
on the impact of climate change on crop production in the sort of crops that could be grown – and should be 
two counties on the shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya, grown – in these parts of Kenya in the future.”
provides some intriguing insights about possible options The best strategy for reducing crop vulnerability involves introducing drought-
for farmers over the coming century. The main climatic factor responsible for predicted tolerant crops and varieties.
yield losses of certain annual crops was an increase 
Predicting change is never easy, but it was all the more in temperature, rather than any changes in rainfall. 
difficult in this case by the lack of quantitative data Temperature is the climate parameter that is most 
– a familiar problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa, predictable, with all models agreeing that it will rise 
according to the World Agroforestry Centre’s modelling substantially over the next century throughout the study 
expert Eike Luedeling. There were no long-term weather region. According to Luedeling, the most promising 
records for Busia and Homa Bay counties; climate- strategy for reducing crop vulnerability involves breeding 
change predictions for the region were scarce. There for heat tolerance and introducing drought-tolerant crops Reference 
was also very little information about soil quality, the and varieties. This could be particularly important for Luedeling E. 2011. ‘Climate Change Impacts on Crop Production in Busia and Homa Bay Counties, Kenya’. A report to GIZ. 
crops grown locally and how they are managed. This maize, the staple food crop.
meant that Luedeling had to use a series of ‘best-bet 
© ICRAF/Wendy Stone
© ICRAF/ Charlie Pye-Smith
Many of the activities which lead to deforestation relate that countries introduce policy reforms which include 
to activities, or resource needs, beyond the forest incentives that encourage tree-based enterprises that 
margin, such as mining, farming and the demand for can enhance the role of trees outside areas which 
fuelwood and building timber. Addressing these ‘drivers are strictly defined as forests,” says Minang. The ASB 
of change’ should be part of any emission-reduction approach is already finding favour in Indonesia, where 
strategy. At the same time, it is clear that agroforestry the government has introduced a comprehensive 
has the potential to reduce emissions from forest strategy to reduce emissions from land-use activities. 
degradation by increasing the production of on-farm The World Agroforestry Centre is working closely with 
timber and fuelwood, especially where there is restricted local government departments to design emission-
access to forests or a limited supply. reduction strategies which will help the country to fulfil its 
commitments.
However, planting trees, or preventing trees from 
being felled, is not enough on its own. “It’s important 
SEEING THE WOOD FOR Trade matters
During recent years, countries such as China, The policy brief, which was the subject of the 
THE TREES Vietnam and Costa Rica, have significantly increased European Commission’s fourth most downloaded 
the proportion of land under forest. A cause for news alert on ‘Science for Environment Policy’, 
celebration, you might think, as an increase in forest suggests that market demand for greener 
28 Deforestation accounts for approximately 15% of Scientists from the ASB Partnership began to make the cover implies a reduction in carbon emissions related commodities could be one of the best ways of 29
to land-use change. But there’s a catch: these encouraging land-use strategies to reduce emissions. 
greenhouse gas emissions, so reducing the rate at case for REALU at the 14th Conference of the Parties countries have all increased their imports of timber, For example, the public outcry over the destruction 
which forests are cleared will help to cut emissions to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate thus leading to an increase in emissions in other of forests on peat swamps by palm-oil plantation 
which contribute to global warming. Hence the current Change (UNFCCC) in Poland in 2008. “Since then, the countries. Research by the ASB Partnership found companies in Indonesia led to consumer boycotts 
focus on reducing emissions from deforestation and debate has moved on, and it’s now widely accepted that that more than 50% of the reduction in CO2 emissions which forced the industry to rethink its strategy. 
forest degradation – or REDD+. REDD mechanisms are only likely to work if we take attributable to reforestation in the last five years is Contracts were cancelled, and companies were 
the landscape approach that we’ve been advocating,” cancelled out by the increase in overseas trade to obliged to adopt a greener approach. Not only has 
Several years ago, scientists from the ASB Partnership says Minang. Indeed, during Forest Day 5, a side event meet demand for forest products. this been good for biodiversity, it has helped reduce 
for the Tropical Forest Margins at the World Agroforestry co-organized by the World Agroforestry Centre during the industry’s carbon footprint. 
Centre pointed out that in many countries it would make the United Nations Climate Change Conference held The implications of international emission 
greater sense to reduce emissions from all land uses in Durban in 2011, there were two sessions devoted displacement through trade in food, forests and Eco-labelling schemes designed to calculate 
(REALU). This is because forest-related emissions often wood products are explored in ASB Policy Brief emissions related to supply chains are emerging in 
entirely to the subject. This suggests that REALU has 
occur outside areas which are institutionally defined as 17: Emissions Embodied in Trade and Land Use in France, the USA and elsewhere. However, they use 
now become part of mainstream thinking.
forests, and are therefore unlikely to be accounted for Tropical Forest Margins. “The failure to recognize the a diverse set of accounting rules and this is proving 
under current national REDD policies. Minang concedes that the landscape approach to significance of these emissions in future discussions problematic. “We believe that there is an urgent need 
related to REDD+ could encourage emission for globally acceptable rules and methods for carbon 
reducing emissions is not without difficulties. For 
“We have consistently argued that an approach to displacement through trade, which would be counter- footprint accounting,” says Minang. This will help 
example, it is harder to measure carbon stocks in a 
reduce emissions from all land uses would be much productive to reducing global greenhouse gas to make certification schemes more credible both 
mosaic of different habitats – forests, fields, orchards, 
more effective than one that only focuses on areas emissions,” says Minang. nationally and internationally.
marshland, scrub – than in forests alone. However, 
defined as forest,” says Peter Minang, who leads the the advantages of the landscape approach outweigh 
ASB Partnership, a consortium of over 90 international the disadvantages, and the case is persuasively 
and national organizations focusing on the forest/ References 
made in ASB Policy Brief 26: Agroforestry in REDD+: 
agriculture margins in the humid tropics. Opportunities and Challenges. ASB Policy Brief 17: Emissions Embodied in Trade and Land Use in Tropical Forest Margins. http://www.asb.cgiar.org/PDFwebdocs/
PB17_final.pdf
ASB Policy Brief 26: Agroforestry in REDD+: Opportunities and Challenges. http://www.asb.cgiar.org/PDFwebdocs/ASB_PB26.pdf
© ICRAF
“One of the problems in this area is that farmers tend One of the key outputs of the MICCA project will be a 
to pick and choose just one or two of these practices,” protocol that forms the scientific basis for estimating the 
says Rosenstock. “Yet research suggests that unless mitigation potential of smallholder systems to reduce 
you do all three, neither you nor the environment will their climate footprint while achieving food security 
reap the benefits – in terms of increased yields, soil goals. Measurements comparing production systems 
moisture conservation, erosion control, and soil carbon in terms of climate-smartness will be coupled with the 
sequestration – that are sometimes associated with quantification of soil health using the Land Degradation 
conservation agriculture.” Rosenstock is assessing Surveillance Framework described on pages 36 . The 
the climate-smart properties of different intensity framework will help identify constraints to productivity 
conservation agriculture systems, as well as a control and enable local and national extension agencies to 
area using conventional farming practices. determine where to target climate-smart interventions 
over large areas. 
GATHERING EVIDENCE 
FOR CLIMATE-SMART Measuring grassland carbon
30 AGRICULTURE Andreas Wilkes of the World Agroforestry Centre’s China and East Asian Node collaborated with several 31
national and international organizations to establish the first Methodology for Sustainable Grassland 
Over the coming decades, global warming is likely to agricultural systems in terms of food production, Management under the Verified Carbon Standard, a quality assurance scheme for the voluntary carbon 
change the face of farming in many parts of the world. reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping farmers offset industry. The methodology was based on a project in China that introduced better grassland 
To give just one example, it is estimated that higher adapt to climate change. The World Agroforestry Centre management practices. These included improving the rotation of grazing animals between summer and 
temperatures could reduce crop yields by 10-20% in is managing the research in two different farming winter pastures, limiting the timing and number of grazing animals on degraded pastures, and restoring 
sub-Saharan Africa by 2050. However, agriculture is not systems in East Africa. severely degraded land by replanting with perennial glasses. This was the culmination of many years of 
just a victim of climate change, but a significant cause, 
being responsible for 10-12% of human-generated In Kenya, Rosenstock is working with the East Africa work on carbon storage in China’s rangelands.
greenhouse gas emissions each year, and much more Dairy Development project (see page 14)  to analyse 
if you take into account the clearance of forests to make the social and economic benefits and global-warming 
way for crops and livestock. potential for different types of smallholder dairy 
production systems, ranging from intensive zero-grazed 
“Climate-smart agriculture is now being discussed at systems, where animals are stall fed, to open grazing, 
all levels, including the highest policy circles, but it is where the animals graze on pasture.
an ambiguous term and there is a lack of hard scientific 
evidence to back up the claims made for it,” says Todd In Tanzania, the research focuses on a remote region 
Rosenstock, an agro-ecologist at the World Agroforestry in the Uluguru Mountains, where CARE International is 
Centre. encouraging farmers to adopt conservation agriculture, 
typically on steep hillsides. Conservation agriculture 
In 2011, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization involves three key practices: zero or minimum tillage, 
(FAO) launched a major research programme – the rotation of crops, and keeping the soil permanently Reference 
Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) under some form of cover. Verified Carbon Standard. 2011. Methodology for Sustainable Grassland Management (SGM). Washington DC: Verified Carbon 
– which will measure the performance of different Standard. Available from http://bit.ly/zgSSAN.
© ICRAF
The right trees
for the
right place
32 33
© ICRAF/Budi
However, if smallholders are to increase the production Poor management practices, inadequate post-harvest 
of indigenous and exotic fruits, a number of obstacles storage and transport, and weak marketing systems are 
need to be addressed. Poor access to good-quality also limiting the widespread uptake of high-quality fruit 
planting material is a major constraint (See box: Falling trees.
by the Wayside). Furthermore, international legislation 
restricts the exchange of domesticated fruit trees, and The authors of the review propose eight key measures 
this means that African farmers are unable to import which would make high-quality indigenous and 
more productive cultivars – for example of guava, exotic fruit more widely available to both farmers and 
tamarind and custard apple – from other continents. consumers in Africa.
Falling by the wayside
FRUIT ON FARMS – A RECIPE Agroforestry can only achieve its full potential if farmers have access to high-quality tree seeds and 
seedlings. The fact that so many haven’t amounts to a great scandal – one which has been largely 
FOR GOOD HEALTH ignored by governments and policymakers. Every year, tens of millions of farmers in the developing world 
plant tree seeds and seedlings of poor and variable quality. It may take up to a decade before they realize 
34 that they have devoted space and energy to nurturing trees which will fail to produce the yields, income 
Around a third of the population in sub-Saharan Africa “In East Africa, the average daily intake of fruit is 35 g 35
and other benefits they anticipated.
are undernourished. Besides suffering from a lack per person, way below the World Health Organization 
of proteins and calories, the most obvious cause of (WHO) recommendations,” says Ramni Jamnadass, This subject is explored in a Trees for Change booklet, published in early 2012.2  Drawing on two decades 
hunger, their health is greatly weakened by their meagre head of the Centre’s research programme on of research on tree seeds and seedlings supply systems around the world by the World Agroforestry 
consumption of essential vitamins and minerals. domestication and co-author of the review. “Agroforestry Centre and Forest & Landscape Denmark (FLD), the booklet explores the problems and challenges 
with trees that produce good-quality fruit is already through the eyes of scientists, nursery managers and farmers.
Vitamin A deficiency – to give one telling example – showing great promise for improving people’s physical 
compromises the immune systems of 40% of children and financial health.” Based on their experience, the Centre and FLD have devised solutions which could significantly improve 
under the age of five in developing countries, and the quality of planting material and the livelihoods of many millions of farmers. These include the 
approximately 1 million children die each year of During the past two decades, scientists at the World introduction of quality assurance systems appropriate to developing countries. “We also believe it is time 
preventable diseases caused by Vitamin A deficiency. Agroforestry Centre have successfully launched a to rethink the role of National Tree Seed Centres and introduce measures that enable the private sector 
One solution lies not in dishing out pills or potions, but in number of domestication programmes which have led to to play a more prominent role in the sale and distribution of seeds and seedlings,” write Tony Simons, 
providing children with adequate quantities of fresh fruit. farmers planting superior varieties of indigenous fruit and Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre, and Lars Graudal, head of research at FLD, in the 
nut tree species, including African plum, bush mango foreword to the booklet.
A major review by scientists from the World Agroforestry and kola nut in Central Africa. But much more needs to 
Centre, published in the International Forestry be done. Research by Jamnadass and her colleagues 
Review, makes the case for increasing the cultivation has identified a number of other indigenous species 
of high-quality indigenous and exotic fruit trees on worthy of domestication, including baobab, whose 
smallholders’ farms in sub-Saharan Africa.1  This would vitamin C-rich fruit is used as a drink and in soups, and 
yield significant benefits for both nutrition and farmers’ marula fruit, which is made into conserves and alcoholic 
livelihoods. drinks.
2 Falling by the wayside: improving the availability of high-quality tree seeds and seedlings would benefit hundreds of millions of 
1 Improving livelihoods and nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa through the promotion of indigenous and exotic fruit production in small-scale farmers. World Agroforestry Centre, 2012.
smallholders’ agroforestry systems: a review. Jamnadass, R.H et al. International Forestry Review Vol 13 (3), 2011. 
© ICRAF/ Iiyama Miyuki
than those from the more humid zones. The researchers becomes progressively drier and hotter, as most Global 
found that faster-growing trees of both species tended to Circulation Models predict, then it would make sense to 
have denser wood and higher calorific value – in other use provenances that are best adapted to such a future, 
words, they would make the best fuelwood. says Weber, these being those from hotter, drier regions. 
However, if changes in weather patterns are going to be 
The research provides insight into how domestication unpredictable, it would make sense to plant a mixture 
and conservation programmes could help these trees of provenances from a range of different environmental 
adapt to a changing climate, although it is still uncertain conditions and allow natural selection to take its course.
precisely how the climate is likely to change. If it 
Growing crops under trees in the Sahelian parklands
Parklands in the Sahel support a range of different trees and shrubs. Some produce fruits and nuts; 
others condiments, fats and oils. At the same time, parklands are also used to grow stable crops, such 
ADAPTING TO CHANGE as millet, sorghum and taro. In short, parklands are vital for the survival and livelihoods of hundreds of 
thousands of families, which is why their loss and degradation is becoming such a concern.
IN THE SAHEL World Agroforestry Centre scientist Jules Bayala has been assessing the performance of different crops 
under shade in parklands in Burkina Faso. His research has shown that certain crops thrive under 
36 For pastoralists and farmers living in the West African research on the genetic variation among provenances shade; others fare less well. For example, millet performs better under baobab (Adansonia digitata) than 37
Sahel, two native trees are of particular importance. – that is, different natural populations with their own in full sun and the yields of taro and chilli pepper are higher under a canopy of néré (Parkia biglobosa) 
Prosopis africana and Balanites aegyptiaca provide a genetic variations – of P. africana and B. aegyptiaca in than in the open. 
range of products, including poles for construction, wood Burkina Faso and Mali. These include the first published 
to make handles for farm implements, and firewood reports of genetic variation in wood density and calorific “If we can get a better understanding about which crops perform well when grown under different tree 
and charcoal. The wood of both species is durable and value and their correlations with tree growth for native species, then farmers could benefit from higher yields and they would have a good reason to maintain 
easy to work and has relatively high calorific value, African hardwood species. The research was conducted a diverse range of trees in their fields, preventing further degradation of the parklands,” says Bayala. 
burning without any unpleasant smoke or sparks. This is under a programme funded by the International Fund “We concluded that parklands productivity could be enhanced by matching crop ecological niche 
particularly important in a region where the vast majority for Agricultural Development (IFAD), ‘Parkland trees requirements with appropriate tree species, such as cropping taro, a shade-tolerant crop, under the 
of people use fuelwood for cooking. and livelihoods: adapting to climate change in the West heavy shade of néré.”
African Sahel’. References
During recent decades, these and other tree species 
Pouliot M, Bayala J, Ræbild A. 2011. Testing the shade tolerance of selected crops under Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth. 
have come under threat from over-exploitation and, quite “We believe our studies have important practical in an agroforestry parkland in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Agroforestry Systems (In press) DOI 10.1007/s10457-011-
possibly, from a shift to a hotter and drier climate. This implications for the management of these species in the 9411-6. 
means that if local people are to have adequate timber West African Sahel,” explains John C. Weber, who is Sanou J, Bayala J, Teklehaimanot Z, Bazie P. 2011. Effect of shading by baobab (Adansonia digitata) and néré (Parkia 
and fuelwood in future, there is an urgent need for tree based in the Centre’s Sahel office in Bamako, Mali. “In biglobosa) on yields of millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) in parkland systems in Burkina Faso, 
West Africa. Agroforestry Systems (In press) DOI 10.1007/s10457-011-9405-4.
domestication and conservation programmes. These particular, the research suggests that it would be prudent 
will only succeed if we have a thorough knowledge of for tree domestication and conservation programmes to 
the distribution of genetic variation in growth and wood conserve and collect germplasm from the drier parts of 
properties – the former determining potential volume; the the region, for planting throughout the region.”
latter providing an indicator of wood density and calorific References 
value – and the heritability of particular traits. For both species, provenances from drier zones in the Sotelo Montes C, Garcia RA, Silva DA, Muñiz GIB, Weber JC. 2010. Variation and correlations in traits of Prosopis africana and Balanites 
Sahel were found to grow more rapidly than those from aegyptiaca in the West African Sahel: implications for tree domestication programs. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods 19:289-298.
Scientists from the World Agroforestry Centre have more humid zones. Provenances of P. africana from drier Sotelo Montes C, Silva DA, Garcia RA, Muñiz GIB, Weber JC. 2011. Calorific value of Prosopis africana and Balanites aegyptiaca wood: 
recently published a stream of papers describing zones also had denser wood and higher survival rates relationships with tree growth, wood density and rainfall gradients in the West African Sahel. Biomass and Bioenergy 35:346-353.
© ICRAF
© ICRAF
38 39
Save our soils
© ICRAF/Steve Mann
More importantly, says Vågen, the maps enable the stockade so that their manuring improves fertility and 
local community to plan activities which will improve the the production of grass. In other areas, cattle might be 
health of soil and vegetation. For example, they might excluded, or trees planted, to improve the health of the 
decide to target areas of low soil carbon and poor fertility land.
for ‘kraaling’. This involves retaining their cattle with a 
A practice that works
Vågen believes that the work carried out in Laikipia a vast exercise of data collection from the household 
has helped to provide what he describes as ‘proof of to the regional scale to monitor agricultural productivity 
concept’ for the land degradation surveillance framework and the health of both people and the environment. 
(LDSF) applied in the AfSIS project. “It shows that it is Information will be loaded onto an open access online 
an effective and efficient way of assessing land health dashboard which policymakers will be able to use 
THE ANSWER LIES IN THE SOIL in arid and semi-arid lands, such as you find in northern to improve decisions related to food security and 
Kenya,” he says. environmental health. 
It is also an approach which the World Agroforestry The Centre will also be analysing soil health for the 
Over the past decade, scientists from the World and the loss of vegetation. “To tackle the problem, 
Centre is using to evaluate land health in a range of agricultural component of the World Bank’s Living 
Agroforestry Centre have devised a framework for the pastoralists are experimenting with improved 
other projects which were launched in 2011. Research Standards Measurement Study. Rather than gathering 
40 measuring and monitoring soil characteristics which management systems that mimic how wild herbivores 
carried out under the Mitigation of Climate Change in data at randomized sentinel sites, as scientists have 41
has transformed our ability to assess land health. “Five move across the land grazing it, without damaging the 
Agriculture (MICCA) project is described on the next done for the AfSIS project, the focus will be on individual 
years ago, we simply couldn’t measure land health on vegetation and soil,” explains Tor-Gunnar Vågen.
page. The LDSF will also help the World Agroforestry fields. “This should help us to get a much better idea 
the scale, or with the accuracy, that we can now,” says 
soil scientist Keith Shepherd. By combining the use of To help them work out where to target their interventions, Centre to make significant contributions to a number of about soil fertility and soil health at the farm level in 
infrared spectroscopy to analyse soil properties – such the World Agroforestry Centre has helped to develop other major projects. the two pilot countries where we will be working,” says 
as mineral deficiencies, salinity and carbon content – detailed maps of vegetation, bare soil and soil carbon, Shepherd. In one way or another, all of these projects 
In early 2012, the Gates Foundation announced a 
with satellite imagery, scientists can now analyse the and identify the hotspots of degradation where will ultimately help to improve soil management and the 
US$10 million grant to Conservation International for the 
state of the soils in considerable detail over large areas. pastoralists could introduce activities – including better livelihoods of rural communities.
creation of the Africa Monitoring System. This will involve 
grazing management – to restore soil health. Much of 
Tor-Gunnar Vågen is leading the soil health mapping the research on the ground was carried out by members 
component of the Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS) of the local community, trained by a member of the 
project, which is evaluating soil health at 60 sites in Wajibu staff who had learned his skills with the AfSIS 
21 countries in Africa. He and his colleagues are now sampling team in Tanzania in 2010.
using the framework to assess land health for a range 
of clients. Among those who benefited during 2011 By the end of 2011, the project had mapped soil carbon 
were a private conservation organization, Wajibu, and for some 50,000 ha. As a general rule, the lower the soil 
the pastoralist communities with which it works in North carbon content, the more degraded the land. The maps 
Laikipia, Kenya. will prove useful in two ways. First, if the pastoralists 
ever decide to take advantage of the carbon market 
For a variety of reasons, some pastoral communities by introducing practices which sequester carbon and 
in North Laikipia no longer move their cattle around, improve land health, they will provide the necessary 
as their forebears used to, although many pastoralists carbon baselines.
still do, and this has led to overgrazing, soil erosion 
© ICRAF/Tor Vagen
income for the armed groups who flowed through the erosion. These included soil and water conservation 
area, and sometimes stayed, during the 1990s – were practices, focusing in particular on landslide-prone 
among the activities which had caused significant soil areas, such as riverbanks and pathways. Instead of 
erosion. planting exotic species, it was agreed that the project 
should encourage the planting of native species and 
The villagers had had little contact with agricultural fruit trees to provide a source of food and income for 
extension workers, whose knowledge was largely local farmers. It was also clear that there needed to be a 
confined to farming practices in the lowlands. The much better system of communicating knowledge – not 
extension workers, according to Smith, had a reasonable just to farmers, but to the extension workers involved in 
theoretical knowledge of exotic trees, but knew little or improving local land management.
nothing about the native species which grew at high 
altitudes. This was hardly surprising, as the last tree This is a work in progress, and the research in DRC 
survey in the area had been done by botanists during represents one part of a much bigger project, but Smith 
the colonial era. The villagers, in contrast, had a great believes that it confirms the importance of working 
deal of knowledge about native tree species and had with local farmers as research partners and learning 
THE VIEW FROM THE even developed some of their own innovations to from their experience and knowledge. Here, and in 
regenerate degraded land. others areas round Lake Tanganyika, there has been a 
history of unsuccessful reforestation initiatives. That’s 
MOUNTAINS After the field work, a three-day workshop enabled partly because they have focused on introducing exotic 
scientists, farmers and extension workers to discuss the eucalyptus in the lower catchment and failed to address 
42 When Emilie Smith, a scientist at the World Agroforestry and improve local livelihoods by controlling erosion and findings of Smith’s research and identify the activities the problems in the more remote upper catchments. 43
Centre, first made the arduous journey high up into the improving land-use practices. In Tanzania and Zambia, that could improve land management and reduce 
remote mountains in Kivu District, in the Democratic the project is managed by government departments. In 
Republic of Congo (DRC), the villagers were astonished DRC, the lack of a strong government presence meant 
to see her. “They hadn’t seen a white person, or an that the task was put out to tender. The World Wildlife Sharing knowledge for better land management
educated Congolese, since 1953,” she says. “They Fund (WWF) East Africa, the current project manager There was a time when scientists paid little or The Integraçao Participativa de Conhecimentos 
were so happy to see us, to find that somebody was in DRC, sought technical advice from the World no attention to the great wealth of understanding sobre Indicadores de Qualidade do Solo 
interested in what was happening to them.” Agroforestry Centre. and know-how which can be found among (InPaC-S) guide recognizes that local knowledge, 
most people living on the land. That’s beginning when combined with the latest scientific thinking, 
During a six-week period, between December 2010 When Smith arrived at what she describes as ‘le to change. In 2011, the World Agroforestry can help to improve decision-making. This is 
in January 2011, Smith and Deodatus Kilola, a young boulevard des ONGs’ – a strip of shoreline settled Centre, the International Centre for Tropical particularly important when devising early-warning 
anthropologist, explored the changes that had taken numerous humanitarian organizations – WWF didn’t Agriculture (CIAT) and the Brazilian agricultural indicators to monitor changes of soil quality in 
place to the landscape in this remote – and, until even have a desk. At the time, it had few concrete plans, research organization, Embrapa published a agricultural landscapes.
recently, war-ravaged – region to the west of Lake though there was talk of establishing woodlots of exotic methodological guide which will help researchers 
Tanganyika. Their research has made a significant species such as eucalyptus. and others to blend local and scientific knowledge The guide will be used during 2012 in 
contribution to a project designed to improve the so that they can monitor and improve soil quality. Mozambique in a capacity-building exercise for 
management of the lake catchment. During recent Instead of hanging around the lowlands, Smith staff from the National Institute of Agronomic 
decades, a range of activities have led to a dramatic decided to head for the mountains. With the help of the “It is our hope that the guide will become a Research (IIAM), national extension services, 
increase in soil erosion and sedimentation. This poses a villagers, she identified the ‘hotspots of degradation’ useful tool to facilitate bottom-up approaches universities and non-governmental organizations. 
significant threat to biodiversity and the livelihoods of the and the reasons behind the environmental damage she that integrate local knowledge into the soil The aim is to promote effective communication 
farmers and fisherfolk who live along the lake shore. witnessed. An area once rich in forests was now almost management decision-making processes,” says between scientists, development workers and 
treeless. “There was scarcely a monkey to be seen lead author, Edmundo Barrios of the World farmers so that they can develop a consensus 
The trans-boundary project, which is funded by the and nearly all the fruit trees had been felled to make Agroforestry Centre. about which problem should be tackled first, as 
United Nations Development Programme’s Global charcoal,” she recalls. Poor agricultural practices and well as the best land management options.
Environment Facility, aims to reduce sedimentation charcoal burning – charcoal provided a major source of 
© ICRAF
© ICRAF
Adding value
44 45
©ICRAF
in Kenya and Uganda, each involving different 5Captials and its case-study companion will be available 
development or research-based organizations. on the ICRAF and CATIE websites in mid-2012. The tool  
has contributed significantly to the design of a three-year 
A case-study companion to 5Capitals presents results research programme that will investigate the potential 
from the implementation of the tool in Nicaragua, for developing value chains around underutilized fruits in 
Colombia, Afghanistan, the United States and India. Cameroon, Kenya and Peru.
Expanding research activities in Latin America
In 2011, the World Agroforestry Centre shifted its on REALU (Reducing Emissions from All Land Uses). 
headquarters in Latin America from Belém, Brazil, to the During the year, the centre also established a new office 
Peruvian capital of Lima. The Lima office, which is based in Costa Rica, posting researcher Jenny Ordoñez to 
at the headquarters of the International Potato Centre, the headquarters of the Tropical Agricultural Research 
expanded rapidly, with the arrival of Jonathan Cornelius, and Higher Education Centre (CATIE), with the aim of 
the new regional coordinator, marketing specialist Jason developing closer linkages with CATIE and expanding 
Donovan and Claudia Silva, who will coordinate research research in Central America.
ADDING VALUE IN LATIN 
AMERICA Promoting agroforestry in Colombia
46 In 2011, the World Agroforestry Centre and the is contributing to poverty reduction, or what they need Colombia is one of South America’s most climatically socioeconomic and marketing aspects; lack of peer-
and topographically varied countries. Its five natural reviewed publications, and uneven coordination among 47
Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education to do to achieve greater and more lasting results,” 
Centre (CATIE) published a tool which can be used regions – the Amazon, Andes, Caribbean, Orinoco the many excellent researchers operating in different 
says Jason Donovan, a marketing specialist based in and Pacific – offer unexplored opportunities for themes or regions.
to understand how value-chain development affects the World Agroforestry Centre’s new Latin American agroforestry development in support of rural livelihoods 
farming households and the enterprises which they do headquarters in Lima, Peru. and environmental sustainability. In 2011 The World The way forward for Colombia’s agroforestry research, 
business with. 5Captials: A tool for assessing the poverty Agroforestry Centre and the Center for Research and as proposed in the report –‘Enhancing the effectiveness 
impacts of value chain development – published in both Most efforts to develop value chains assume Higher Education in Tropical Agronomy (CATIE) were of agroforestry research in Colombia’ – is an inspiring 
Spanish and English – was the culmination of several smallholders have sufficient resources to participate, but asked by the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural one: towards a strategic national framework, taking 
years of collaboration between the Centre, CATIE, this isn’t necessarily the case. “Equally disconcerting and Livestock Research (CORPOICA) to carry out a advantage of cutting-edge technology such as the 
review of its agroforestry programme. Centre’s land health surveillance methods, and focused 
the Ford Foundation and various other research and is the fact that impact assessment of value-chain on understanding which agroforestry options, and 
development organizations.  development tends to be simplistic,” explains Dietmar A multidisciplinary mission from both centres, found a which socio-economic and ecological conditions, offer 
Stoian, a senior economist at CATIE. “They tend to rich tradition of agroforestry research and development the greatest benefits. Such an approach is the key to 
It has long been assumed that value-chain development focus on the generation of employment and income, dating back more than two decades: from silvopastoral maximizing the contribution of Colombia’s agroforestry 
is an inherently good thing, benefiting both farmers and rather than broader changes in terms of livelihoods and systems in the wide expanses of the Orinoco to cocoa research expertise to meeting the needs of farmers and 
the buyers of agricultural and forest products. But does assets.” and rubber systems in the Amazon. Nevertheless, the wider community.
this necessarily help to reduce poverty and benefit small adoption by farmers of research-based agroforestry 
remains low, and research itself has been affected by The World Agroforestry Centre is currently holding 
business? During the course of the project, which began in 2008, 
problems that have been common in other locations. discussions with CORPOICA on the implementation 
Donovan and Stoian collaborated with over 20 research These include a short-term, project-based funding model of these exciting plans. 
It has been difficult to tell, not least because there are and develop and organizations to devise a new tool to that impedes strategic direction; lack of emphasis on 
limited tools for assessing the impact of value-chain assess the impact of value-chain development. The 
development on poverty. Most of those in existence tend initial methodology was tested with 12 case studies 
to focus on single interventions and assess short-term before being refined and put to the test with a further References
changes in income and employment. “Without innovation 11 case studies from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Donovan J, Poole N. 2011. Value chain development and rural poverty reduction: asset building by smallholder coffee producers in 
and assessment tools, those promoting value-chain the United States. These included analyses of coffee Nicaragua. ICRAF Working Paper 138. ICRAF: Nairobi, Kenya.
development often don’t know whether their approach in Colombia, dairy products in Bolivia, and vegetables Stoian D, Donovan J, Fisk J,  Muldoon M. 2012. Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: A reality check and a warning. 
Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23 (1): 54-69.
© ICRAF
The Centre has also encouraged producers to act kg; now, group sales have helped to push prices up to 
collectively and negotiate as a team with njansang CFA 1000–1800 (US$2–3.60). The cracking machines 
buyers. This has increased their profits. In the past, most and group sales have saved time, raised incomes and 
villagers used to get around CFA 700 (US$1.40) per reduced injuries.
A HARD NUT TO CRACK
One of the World Agroforestry Centre’s great successes from the introduction of one of the World Agroforestry 
in West and Central Africa has been a collaborative effort Centre’s new cracking machines, developed under a 
48 with local farmers. A programme of participatory tree Belgian-sponsored project, ‘Agroforestry Tree Products 49
domestication, where farmers and scientists work side- for Africa’.
by-side, has developed superior varieties of several wild 
species, including African plum, bush mango, kola nut In the traditional system of production fruits are collected 
and njansang. As a result, many thousands of families from the wild and their pulp is allowed to decompose, 
have improved their incomes. prior to being washed and boiled. The kernels are then 
extracted from the nuts using sharpened nails. This is a The Njansang cracking machine.
In recent years, the World Agroforestry Centre has risky and time-consuming exercise. Manual extraction of 
turned its attention to improving the processing and 1 kg of kernels takes approximately 60 minutes. The use 
marketing of njansang (Riconodendron heudelottii), of a cracking machine, in contrast, dramatically reduces 
whose spicy nuts are rich in essential oils and widely processing time. It takes just over 2 minutes to crack the 
consumed across most of West and Central Africa. nuts and a further 39 minutes to sort the kernels from the 
Njansang’s economic importance has long been shells. This represents a saving of around 20 minutes for 
recognized, but the processing of its hard nuts is a each kilogram of kernels. 
time-consuming and sometimes dangerous business. 
However, that’s beginning to change, thanks to the So far, the World Agroforestry Centre has provided 
recent development of a cracking machine. six njansang cracking machines in Cameroon. “The 
handing over of the machines is one of the crowning 
“We are all very happy today because many people in achievements of our relationship with local populations,” 
our village are now processing njansang,” says Bridgitte says Zac Tchoundjeu, regional coordinator for West 
Biloa, president of the women’s group in Epkwassong and Central Africa. “Originally, the villagers were only 
village in Cameroon. “Thanks to the income we producing njansang for local consumption, but the 
generate, we’re now able to pay for our children’s school machines are helping them tap into the large urban 
fees.” The village was one of the first to be involved in market.”
participatory tree domestication; now, it has benefited 
© ICRAF
© ICRAF
OUR PEOPLE
Annexes Board of Trustees
Prof. Eric Tollens Ms. Hilary Wild Prof. Olavi Luukkanen Dr. Rita Sharma Dr. John Lynam
Chair
Dr. Romano Kiome Dr. Hosny El-Lakany Dr. Hector Cisneros Dr. Paco Sereme Prof. Tony Simons 
ex-officio ex-officio
50 51
Senior Leadership Team
Tony Simons Ravi Prabhu August Temu Laksiri Abeysekera Stella Kiwango
Director General Deputy Director General, Deputy Director General, Deputy Director General, Director of Administration
Research Partnerships and Impact Finance and Corporate Services
© ICRAF/Valter Ziantoni
Investors 2011
Africa Wildlife Foundation International Development Research Centre - IDRC
Management Team AGEFO International Food Policy Research Institute - IFPRI
AGROFUTURO Global SL International Fund for Agricultural Development - IFAD
Agropolis Foundation International Institute for Sustainable Development - IISD
Research Programme Leaders Australian Aid International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre - CIMMYT
• Ramni Jamnadass, Global Research Priority 1 – Quality Trees Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research - ACIAR International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
Austria International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
• Fergus Sinclair, Co-leader, Global Research Priority 2 – On-farm Productivity and CRP 6.1 Component Leader Belgium International Water Management Institute - IWMI
• Antoine Kalinganire, Co-leader, Global Research Priority 2 – On-farm Productivity Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le 
Biodiversity Transect Monitoring Analysis in Africa Développement - CIRAD
• Steve Franzel, Global Research Priority 3 – Marketing and Extension BOTH ENDS (Environment and Development Service) Ireland
• Keith Shepherd, Global Research Priority 4 – Land Health Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation - EMBRAPA Italy
• Heinrich Neufeldt, Global Research Priority 5 – Climate Change Bridgestone Japan
British Trust for Ornithology Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences
• Meine van Noordjwijk, Chief Science Advisor and Leader, Global Research Priority 6 – Environmental Services Canadian International Development Agency - CIDA Kenya
CARE International Kyoto University
CATIE Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research e.V.
Regional Coordinators Centre for Development Research Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
• Zac Tchoundjeu, Regional Coordinator, West and Central Africa Centre for International Cooperation Mars Inc
Centre for Mountain Ecosystem Studies National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi
• Sileshi G Weldesemayat, Regional Coordinator, Southern Africa Centro Internacional de Agricultural Tropical, Colombia Netherlands
• Jeremias Mowo, Regional Coordinator, Eastern Africa CGIAR Research Programme 6 Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
• Ujjwal Pradhan, Regional Coordinator, Southeast Asia CGIAR Research Programme 7 Overseas Development Institute
China Packard Foundation
• Virendra Pal Singh, Regional Coordinator, South Asia Chinese Academy of Science PanEco Foundation for Sustainable Development and 
52 • Jonathan Corenelius, Regional Coordinator, Latin America Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Intercultural Exchange 53
Climate Works Foundation Peru
Comart Foundation Plan International
Research Support Common Market for East and Southern Africa - COMESA Rainwater Harvesting Implementation Network Foundation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Republic of Maldives
• Anja Gassner, Co-leader, Research Methods Group Concern Worldwide Rights and Resources Group
• Delia Catacutan, Social Scientist Consortium for Study and Development of Participation Rockefeller Foundation
• Constance Neely, Leader, Programme Development Unit Cooperation of Common Fund for Commodities Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Cornell University Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority
• Frank Place, Impact Assessment Advisor Corporacion Colombiana de Investigacion Agropecuaria Scottish Agricultural College
Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Department for International Development (DFID) Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Heads of Units Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit - GTZ Swiss Development Corporation
• Paul Stapleton, Head of Communications Unit Ebony Enterprises Ltd Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation
European Union The Centre for International Forestry Research - CIFOR
• Ian Moore, Manager, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Finland The Nature Conservancy
• Idah Ogoso, Human Resource Manager Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations The WorldFish Centre - formerly known as ICLARM
Unilever
• Thomas Zschocke, Head of Training Unit Ford Foundation
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen United Nations Environmental Programme - UNEP
Global Canopy Foundation United Nations Office at Nairobi - UNON
Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services United Nations Office for Project Services – UNOPS
Government of Rwanda United States Agency for International Development – USAID
Heifer International United States Department of Agriculture
HK Logistics LTD. Global Solutions University of Copenhagen
IFAR Wilfried Thalwitz Scholarship Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
India Council for Agricultural Research Wajibu MS Ltd
Indonesian Palm Oil Commission Waseda Environment Research Institute
For a full staff list, please see the comprehensive version of this report at www.worldagroforestry.org/ar2012 International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas - William J. Clinton Foundation
ICARDA World Bank
International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics - World Wildlife Fund
ICRISAT
Financial Highlights
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION       FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011 (In US Dollars ‘000’)
 AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2011 (In US Dollars ‘000’) 2011 2010
Restricted
 Note  2011  2010 Note  Unrestricted temporarily Total  Total 
ASSETS Revenue, Gains and other Support     
Current assets
Grant revenue 22               5,721            36,175        41,896        40,931 
      Cash and cash equivalent 5  20,873  16,940 
      Short term investments 6  13,450  10,368 Other revenue and gains 23               1,196                    -          1,196          2,123 
      Accounts receivables Total revenue and gains               6,917            36,175        43,092        43,054 
           Donor 7  7,241  9,345     
           Employees 8  94  96 Expenses and losses     
           Other CGIAR Centres 9  297  186     
           Other 10  3,462  2,596 Program related expenses 24               6,497            30,685        37,182        30,827 
      Inventories - net 11  84  88 Management and general expenses 25               3,451                 668          4,119          4,360 
      Prepaid expenses 12  742  839 CGIAR Gender and Diversity Program 26               4,822          4,822          5,501 
      Total current assets  46,243  40,458 
Sub total expenses and losses               9,948            36,175        46,123        40,688 
Non-current assets
      Property and Equipment 13  5,350  5,429 Overhead cost recovery 27             (4,232)  -         (4,232)         (2,822)
      Long term investments 14  3,020  5,044 Total expenses and losses               5,716            36,175        41,891        37,866 
Total non-current assets  8,370  10,473     
54 TOTAL ASSETS       54,613  50,931 Net Surplus               1,201                    -          1,201          5,188 55
    
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Expenses  by natural classification     
Current liabilities     
      Accounts payable Personnel cost               6,018            11,225        17,243        15,854 
           Donor 15  12,389  12,241 
Supplies and services               2,294            13,851        16,145        14,402 
           Employees 16  871  1,012 
           Other CGIAR Centres 17  436  428 Collaborators/partnerships                    18              5,234          5,252          4,180 
           Other 18  2,609  1,805 Operational travel               1,183              4,583          5,766          5,292 
      Accruals 19  6,292  4,483 Depreciation                  435              1,282          1,717             960 
Total current liabilities  22,597  19,969 Overhead cost recovery             (4,232)                    -         (4,232)         (2,822)
Non-current liabilities Total          5,716           36,175      41,891      37,866 
      Accounts payable
           Employees 20  5,263  5,410 
Total Non-current liabilities  5,263  5,410 
TOTAL LIABILITIES  27,860  25,379 
NET ASSETS
Unrestricted
Designated 21  16,847  15,939 
Undesignated 21 9,906  9,613 
26,753  25,552 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 54,613  50,931 
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 3 May 2012
Board Statement on Risk Performance Indicators
Management
The Performance Measurement (PM) system of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) 
The Board of Trustees and Management of the World identifies, evaluates and prioritizes risks and opportunities measures the performance of the Centres it supports in terms of their results and potential to perform.
Agroforestry Centre have reviewed the implementation across the organization; develops risk mitigation strategies The PM system provides the Centres with a method to better understand their own performance and demonstrate 
of the risk management framework during 2011 and the which balance benefits with costs; monitors the implementation accountability. Due to the ongoing changes in the CGIAR consortium, the Performance Measurement exercise was not 
Board is satisfied with the progress made. of these strategies; and periodically reports to the Board conducted centre-wide this year. However, the World Agroforestry Centre did collect some information for its own internal 
The Board of Trustees has the responsibility of ensuring on results. This process draws upon risk assessments and use. These are presented below.
that an appropriate risk management process is in place to analysis prepared by staff of the Centre’s business unit, 
identify and manage current and emerging significant risks internal auditors, Centre-commissioned external reviewers 
to the achievement of the Centre’s business objectives, and and the external auditors. The risk assessments also Results for the World Agroforestry Centre
to ensure alignment with CGIAR principles and guidelines incorporate the results of collaborative risk assessments 
as adopted by all CGIAR Centres. These risks include with other CGIAR Centres, office system components, and Publications
operational, financial and reputation risks that are inherent other entities in relation to shared risks arising from jointly 
in the nature, modus operandi and locations of the Centre’s managed activities. The risk management framework seeks 1. Composite measure of Centre research publications:
activities. They are dynamic owing to the environment to draw upon best practices, as promoted in codes and  Number of peer-reviewed publications per scientist in 2011 that are published in journals listed in
in which the Centre operates. There is potential for loss standards promulgated in a number of CGIAR member  Thomson Scientific/ISI: 1.92
resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes or countries. It is subject to ongoing review as part of the  Number of externally peer-reviewed publications in 2011: 213
systems, human factors or external events. Centre’s continuous improvement efforts.
Risks include: Risk mitigation strategies include the implementation of 2. Percentage of scientific papers published with developing country partners in refereed journals, conference and 
systems of internal controls, which, by their nature, are 
56 1. Misallocation of scientific efforts away from agreed workshop proceedings in 2011: 20.8%
designed to manage rather than eliminate risk. The Centre 57
priorities endeavours to manage risk by ensuring that the appropriate 
2. Loss of reputation for scientific excellence and infrastructure, controls, systems and people are in place Institutional health
integrity throughout the organization. Key practices employed 5D: Percentage of women in management: 33%
3. Business disruption and information system failure in managing risks and opportunities include business 
4. Liquidity problems environmental scans, clear policies and accountabilities, Financial health
transaction approval frameworks, financial and management 
5. Transaction processing failures reporting, and the monitoring of metrics designed to highlight 6A: Long-term financial stability (adequacy of reserves): 194 days where the minimum benchmark is 90 days
6. Loss of assets, including information assets positive or negative performance of individuals and business 6B: Cash management on restricted operations: 0.61 where the benchmark is less than 1.00
7. Failure to recruit, retain and effectively utilize processes across a broad range of key performance areas. 
qualified and experienced staff The design and effectiveness of the risk management 
8. Failure in staff health and safety systems system and internal controls is subject to ongoing review 
9. Failure in the execution of legal, fiduciary and Centre by the Centre’s internal audit service, which is independent 
responsibilities of the business units, and which reports on the results of 
its audits directly to the Director General and to the Board 
10. Withdrawal or reduction of funding by donors due to through its Finance and Audit Committee.
the financial crisis
11. Lack of funding to, or non-prioritization of The Board also remains very alive to the impact of external 
agroforestry in the mega programmes due to the events over which the Centre has no control other than to 
CGIAR change management process monitor and, as the occasion arises, to provide mitigation.
12. Subsidization of the cost of projects funded from Eric Tollens
restricted grants and/or partial non-delivery of Chair
promised outputs, due to inadequate costing of Board of Trustees 
restricted projects.
World Agroforestry Centre 
The Board has adopted a risk management policy that 
includes a framework by which the Centre’s management 3rd May 2012 
Selected Publications Our Offices
Books Sotelo Montes C, Silva DA, Garcia RA, Muñiz GIB, Weber JC. 
2011. Calorific value of Prosopis africana and Balanites aegyptiaca 
Barrios E, Coutinho HLC, Medeiros CAB. 2011. InPaC-S: integração 
wood: relationships with tree growth, wood density and rainfall HEADQUARTERS
participativa de conhecimentos sobre indicadores de qualidade 
gradients in the West African Sahel. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35 (1). World Agroforestry Centre
do solo – guia metodológico. 183p. Nairobi: World Agroforestry United Nations Avenue, Gigiri
Centre, Embrapa & CIAT. Thomas E, Semob L, Morales M, Noza Z, Nuñez H, Cayuba A, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
Noza M, Humaday N, Vaya J, van Damme P. 2011. Ethnomedicinal 
Pramono AA, Fauzi MA, Widyani M, Hariensyah I, Roshetko Tel: +254 20 7224000
practices and medicinal plant knowledge of the Yuracarés and 
JM. 2011. Managing smallholder teak plantations: field guide for Via USA +1 650833 6645
Trinitarios from indigenous territory and national plant Isiboro-
farmers. Bogor: Center for International Forestry. Fax: +254 20 7224001
Sécure, Bolivian Amazon. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 133(1). Via USA +1 650833 6646 
Pushpakumara DKNG, Gunasena HPM, Gunathilake HAJ, Singh 
van Noordwijk M, Lusiana B, Villamor GB, Purnomo H, Dewi S. Email: worldagroforestry@cgiar.org
VP. 2011. Increasing coconut land productivity through agroforestry 
2011. Feedback loops added to four conceptual models linking land www.worldagroforestry.org
interventions. Colombo: Peradeniya Publishers.
change with driving forces and actors. Ecology and Society, 16 (1). 
van Noordwijk M, Hoang MH, Neufeldt H, Öborn I, Yatich T (eds) 
Wils THG, Sass-Klassen UGW, Eshetu Z, Bräuning A, Gebrekirstos 
2011. How trees and people can co-adapt to climate change: 
A, Couralet C, Robertson I, Touchan R, Koprowski M, Conway EASTERN AFRICA REGIONAL SOUTHEAST ASIA REGIONAL China
reducing vulnerability through multifunctional agroforestry landscapes. 
D, Briffa KR, Beeckman H. 2011. Dendrochronology in the dry PROGRAMME PROGRAMME Beijing Office
Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre.
tropics: the Ethiopian case. Trees – Structure and Function, 25 (3). United Nations Avenue, Gigiri JL, CIFOR, Situ Gede #12 Zhongguancun Nan Da Jie
Xu JC, Kim GJ, He J. 2011. Participatory agroforestry development PO Box 30677, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya Sindang Barang, Bogor 16115 CAAS Mailbox 195
Zhou D, Grumbine RE. 2011. National parks in China: experiments 
in DPR Korea. Kunming: World Agroforestry Centre. Tel: +254 20 7224000 PO Box 161, Bogor 16001 Post code 100081, Beijing China
with protecting nature and human livelihoods in Yunnan province, Via USA: +1 650833 6645 Indonesia Tel: +86 10 8210 5693
People’s Republic of China. Biological Conservation, 144 (5). Fax: +254 20 7224401 Tel: +62 251 8625415 Fax: +86 10 8210 5694
Journal Articles Zhu Y, Xu J, Mortimer PE. 2011. The influence of seed and oil Via USA: +1 650833 6646 Kenya Via USA: +1 6508336665 Email: J.C.Xu@cgiar.org or cmes-icraf@
Email: j.mowo@cgiar.org Fax: +62 251 8625416 mail.kib.ac.cn
Abasse T, Weber JC, Katkore B, Boureima M, Larwanou M, storage on the acid levels of rubber seed oil, derived from Hevea 
Via USA: +1 650 833 6666
58 Kalinganire A. 2011. Morphological variation in Balanites aegyptiaca brasiliensis grown in Xishuangbanna, China. Energy, 36 (8). Kisumu, Kenya Email: u.pradhan@cgiar.org Kunming Office 59
fruits and seeds within and among parkland agroforests in eastern PO Box 2389 – 40100                Centre for Mountain Ecosystem Studies
Niger. Agroforestry Systems, 81 (1). Occasional Papers Kisumu, Kenya Philippines c/o Kunming Institute of Botany
Asaah E, Tchoundjeu Z, Ngahane W, Tsobeng A, Kouodiekong L, Tel: +254 57 2021234/2021456 2nd Fl., Khush Hall Bldg. 3/F, North Research Building
Bayala J, Kalinganire A, Tchoundjeu Z, Sinclair F, Garrity D. 2011. 
Jamnadass R, Simons A. 2011. Allanblackia floribunda: a new oil Mobile: +254 722 631983 International Rice Research Institute Heilongtan, Kunming, 650201, China
Conservation agriculture with trees in the West African Sahel – a 
tree crop for Africa: amenability to grafting. New Forests, 41 (3). Email: g.aertssen@cgiar.org Los Baños, 4031 Tel: +86 871 5223014
review. Occasional paper no. 14. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre. Laguna, Philippines Fax: +86 871 5223377
Clark WC, Tomich TP, van Noordwijk M, Guston D, Catacutan 
Kiptot E, Franzel S. 2011. Gender and agroforestry in Africa: are Tanzania Tel: +63 2 5805600/49 5362701-5 Ext. Email: cmes@mail.kib.ac.cn
D, Dickson NM, McNie E. 2011. Boundary work for sustainable c/o Mari-Mikocheni
women participating? Occasional paper no. 13. Nairobi: World 2675/2544/2580
development: natural resource management at the Consultative Coca-Cola Road Fax: +63 49 5392925 SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL PROGRAMME
Agroforestry Centre. 
Group on International Agricultural Research. Proceedings of the PO Box 6226 Email: icrafphi@cgiar.org or r.lasco@ 1st floor, Block C, National Agricultural 
National Academy of Sciences, Early Edition. Nang’ole E, Mithöfer D, Franzel S. 2011. Review of guidelines and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania cgiar.org Science Complex (NASC)
manuals for value chain analysis for agricultural and forest products. Tel: +255 22 2700660 Dev Prakash Shastri Marg
Cornelius JP, Sotelo Montes C, Ugarte-Guerra LJ, Weber JC. 2011. 
Occasional paper no. 17. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre. Mobile: +255 684 223889 Vietnam Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India 110012
The effectiveness of phenotypic selection in natural populations: Email: a.kimaro@cgiar.org No. 8 lot 13A, Trung Hoa Street Tel: +91 11 25609800/25847885/6
a case study from the Peruvian Amazon. Silvae Genetica, 60 (5). Thorlakson T. 2011. Reducing subsistence farmers’ vulnerability Yen Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District Fax: +91 11 25847884
to climate change. Occasional paper no. 16. Nairobi: World 
Fungo B, Clark L, Tenywa MM, Tukahirwa J, Kamugisha R, Birachi Uganda Ha Noi, Viet Nam Email: v.p.singh@cgiar.org
Agroforestry Centre.
E, Wanjiku C, Bizoza AR, Wimba B, Pali P, Adewale A, Olowole F. c/o NARO-NARL, Kawanda Tel: +84 4 3783 4645
2011. Networks among agricultural stakeholders in the southwestern PO Box 26416 Fax: +84 4 3783 4644 Sri Lanka
highlands of Uganda. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Kampala, Uganda Email: d.c.catacutan@cgiar.org Dr DKNG Pushpakumara
Trees for Change Tel: +256 414 220 600  Country Liaison Scientist for Sri Lanka
Development, 3 (6). 
Pye-Smith C. 2011. Cocoa futures: an innovative programme of Mobile: +256 772 786 816 Thailand c/o Faculty of Agriculture
Grumbine RE, Xu J. 2011. Mekong hydropower development. research and training is transforming the lives of cocoa growers Fax: +256 414 220 611 Faculty of Social Sciences University of Peradeniya
Science, 332 (6026). in Indonesia and beyond. Trees for change no. 9. Nairobi: World Email: j.tukahirwa@cgiar.org   5th Floor, Chiang Mai University Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
PO Box 267, CMU Post Office Tel: +94 81 239 5110 
Martin FS, Bertomeu M, van Noordwijk M, Navarro-Cerrillo RM. Agroforestry Centre. 
Rwanda Chiang Mai 50202 Fax: +94 81 239 5110/81 2388041
2011. Understanding forest transition in the Philippines: main Pye-Smith C. 2011. Rich rewards for rubber? Research in Indonesia c/o IRST Campus, Thailand Mobile: +94 714933591
farm-level factors influencing smallholders’ capacity and intention is exploring how smallholders can increase rubber production, retain (Huye)-Butare Tel: +66 5335 7906 or 5335 7907 Email: ngpkumara@pdn.ac.lk or 
to plant native timber trees. Small-scale Forestry, 11 (1). biodiversity and provide additional environmental benefits. Trees Tel: +250 25 2531350 Fax: +66 5335 7908 d.pushpakumara@cgiar.org
for change no. 8. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre. Mobile: +250 788 210530 Email: p.wang@cgiar.org or 
Email: mukuratha@yahoo.com icraf@icraf-cm.org
For a complete list of publications, visit our publications page on http://worldagroforestry.org/our_products/publications
List of Abbreviations
Bangladesh SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA AfSIS  Africa Soil Information Service
Dr Giashuddin Miah PROGRAMME REGIONAL PROGRAMME AHI African Highlands Initiative
Country Liaison Scientist for Bangladesh Chitedze Research Station, off Mchinji Rd PO Box 16317 Yaounde, Cameroon
c/o Department of Agroforestry and PO Box 30798 Tel: +237 22 215084 ALLREDI Accountability and Local Level Initiative to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation
Environment Lilongwe 3, Malawi Fax: +237 22 215089 AMCOW African Ministers’ Council on Water
Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman Tel: +265 1 707328/319 Email: z.tchoundjeu@cgiar.org or ASARECA Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa
Agricultural University (BSMRAU)
 Fax: +265 1 707319 icraf-aht@cgiar.org
Gazipur - 1706, Bangladesh Email: s.weldesemayat@cgiar.org CATIE Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre
Tel: +88 02 9205310-14, Ext: 2104 Mali CCAFS Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
Fax: +88 02 9205330/9205333 Mozambique BP E5118, Bamako, Mali CDM Clean Development Mechanism
Mobile: +88 01715401443 
 Caixa Postal 1884 Tel: +223 2023 5000/2022 3375
Email: g.miah@cgiar.org Av. das FPLM 3698, Mavalane Fax: +223 2022 8683 CER Certified Emission Reduction
Maputo, Mozambique Email: icraf-wca@cgiar.org CFL Compact Fluorescent Light
LATIN AMERICA REGIONAL Tel: +258 21 461775 CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
PROGRAMME Email: arnela.mausse@yahoo.com Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
c/o International Potato Centre c/o INERA CIAT International Centre for Tropical Agriculture
Av. La Molina N 1895 Zambia Avenue des cliniques No 13 COP Conference of the Parties
PO Box 1558 c/o Provincial Agriculture Office Commune de la Gombe, Kinshasa Corpoica Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria
Lima 12, Perú (Eastern Province) Tel: +243 817762807 / 993373922
Tel: +511 349 6017 Msekera Agriculture Research Fax: +243 990592200 DFBA Dairy Farmers Business Association
Fax: +511 317 5326 PO Box 510046, Chipata, Zambia Email: a.biloso@cgiar.org DRC Democratic Republic of Congo
Email: j.cornelius@cgiar.org Tel: +260 62 21404  EADD East African Dairy Development
Fax: +260 62 21725 Côte d’Ivoire
60 Brazil Email: drsmartlungu@yahoo.com Zone Portuaire, Immeuble BNI FEAST Feed Assessment Tool 61
Instituto Iniciativa Amazônica – IIA/ICRAF 01 BP 2024 San Pedro 01 FLD Forest and Landscape Denmark
(Embrapa Amazônia Oriental) Zimbabwe Tel: +225 34 711895 GIZ Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
Trav. Dr Enéas Pinheiro s/n° c/o DRSS, 5th Street Email: icraf.cdi@cgiar.org
66095-100, Marco-Belém/PA, Brazil Extension, PO Box 594, Causeway, ICRAF World Agroforestry Centre
Tel: +55 91 3204 1239 Harare Nigeria IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development 
Zimbabwe Edo ADP Premises, Ogba Road, Oko IIAM National Institute of Agronomic Research
Tel: +263 4704531 PMB 1698, Benin City
Fax: +263 4728340 Edo State, Nigeria ILRI International Livestock Research Institute
Email: l.matarirano@cgiar.org Tel: +234 052 894 750 IMP Irrigation Master Plan
Email: icraf-nigeria@cgiar.org InPaC-S Integração Participativa de Conhecimentos sobre Indicadores de Qualidade do Solo
LDSF Land Degradation Surveillance Framework
MICCA Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture
MRC Mekong River Commission
NAIP National Agricultural Innovation Project
NGO Non-governmental Organization
REALU Reducing Emissions From All Land Uses
REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
UN United Nations
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
US$ United States Dollar
USA United States of America
WHO World Health Organization
WWF World Wide Fund for Nature
62 63
Writer: Charlie Pye-Smith
Other contributors: Kate Langford, Rob Finlayson, Geoff Thompson, Jason Donovan, Chris Mesiku, Julius Atia
Coordination, compilation, editing/proofreading: Betty Rabar, Paul Stapleton
Design and layout: Martha Mwenda 
Cover photo: ICRAF/Nigel Pavitt
Financial information: Francis Kinyanjui
Performance indicators: Stella Muasya
Publications: Jacinta Kimwaki
Staff list: Faith Wambua-Luedeling
Distribution: Naomi Kanyugo
Annexes
64
United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, P.O Box 30677-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: + (254) 20 722 4000, Fax: + (254) 20 722 4001
Via USA phone: (1-650) 833-6645, Fax: (1-650) 833-6646, Email: worldagroforestry@cgiar.org
www.worldagroforestry.org