UNHIDE Agroforestry booklet 2025.09.22 - Flipbook - Page 45
Agnis Graudulis.
trees etc to provide nuts, timber, honey and sap.
the variation between day and night temperatures, sun and shade is greater. This reduction
of heat and water stress, seems to result in
both stronger growth in an early stage and
in better winter hardiness — the winters here
can be really harsh. A slightly late leaf-out and
budding seems to favour young, frost sensitive
nut trees.
The trees planted in the forest are grown from
seed and planted out with an earth auger, without
fertilizers, wood chips or irrigation. Part of the forest plantings are done without fencing to compare
possible browsing damage. Wildlife populations
in the area are managed through agreements with
local hunters.
•
Carefully establishing a food and timber system in
an existing forest has several advantages:
•
Taller trees around favor lower evaporation,
resulting in higher soil moisture. Thanks to
surrounding native trees, air movement is also
more even, compared to grasslands, where
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa).
A species rich vegetation with structural diversity and a variety of ages in different layers
provides for habitats for beneficial animals
that regulate the presence of insect pests. A
diverse vegetation also extends the pollen and
nectar season for honey-bees, compared to a
monoculture landscape, and can offer a possible extra income. The trees provide a wind
