Agroforestry Contributes to Restore Key Ecosystem Services in Tropical Dry Forests

Worldwide deforestation and degradation are limiting the capacity of tropical dry forests (TDFs) to provide environmental services. Agroforestry systems (AFSs), agricultural land systems combining perennial elements with crops, can provide important benefits to people (e.g., timber and non-timber products) and the environment (e.g., hosting biodiversity). Using a semi-quantitative methodology (i.e. weight of evidence), we assessed the role of the three main types of AFSs (intercropping, multistrata and silvopastoral systems) in restoring key ecosystem services in TDFs. We found that each type of AFSs contributed differently to soil quality restoration, diversified production, (agro-)biodiversity conservation and culture preservation. Yet, AFSs can also deliver disservices, such as yield reductions and risk to diminish the pool of local species. Despite the identified knowledge gaps, such as the carbon sequestration capacity, our findings indicate that AFSs can contribute to restore TDFs by providing valuable ecosystem services to halt degradation and sustain people's livelihood.