Effects of agroforestry on farm biodiversity in the UK.

One advantage claimed for agroforestry is that it can bring onto farmland some of the biodiversity benefits associated with woodlands. The aim of this paper is to review recent research in order to describe the potential impact of agroforestry systems on the diversity of plants and animals on British farms. The review suggests that the introduction of silvopastoral systems can lead to an increase in the diversity of invertebrates and perhaps birds on grassland farms. The introduction of silvoarable systems can also lead to an increase in the diversity of airborne arthropods, small mammals and possibly birds on arable farms; however the effects on arable pests are likely to be mixed.