Agroforestry
Driven by the evidence of the system’s divergence from key natural factors, such as tree stratification, in 2017 we organized an international and collective reflection at Freixo do Meio on the theme of the “new Montado,” which resulted in a clear strategy for the future development of a relationship with the natural system that is more dignifying for all involved. We named this approach the Novo Montado (New Montado).
This fundamentally involves structuring the relationship with the land around a central axis—the dynamically successional stratified forest.
This concept was introduced to Montado do Freixo do Meio by Ernst Götsch in 2017. This vision represents a significant milestone in the “Agricultural” approach by aligning human activities with the natural reality of ecosystem succession and other fundamental principles.
Successional agroforestry systems are dynamic ecosystems with the continuous inclusion of humans, trees, primary plants, animals, and all other beings from different kingdoms that can fulfill the functions required by the system. This allows the system to evolve and, in its final climax stage (abundance), enables the community to utilize the system’s surpluses without disrupting its natural dynamics.
However, there are multiple perspectives on how to interact with the “Ager” (the land), maintaining the tree as a key element of the system. All these perspectives contribute positively to the cause, though none are perfect or entirely incorrect.
Although our ancestors have interacted with forests for millennia to integrate them and obtain necessary resources, it was only in 1973 that Canadian John Bene proposed the term “Agroforestry,” identifying the need to reverse the dominant trend of removing trees from all agricultural and livestock systems.
Nonetheless, the concept is ancient, with the first written work on the subject, *Tree Crops*, published in 1929 by American Russell Smith. Today, in temperate climates, there are more than definitions—there are six major typologies in the characterization of agroforestry systems, which can and should be interrelated:
A final relevant issue in defining these systems is natural succession. They are all, by nature, ecosystems and thus subject to succession whether we wish it or not. However, these typologies perform differently at various stages of succession. Some are better suited to the installation phase, others to the accumulation phase, and others to the climax. The concept introduced by Ernst Götsch innovatively links the use of natural succession dynamics to the effective implementation of forest gardening systems.
Our project realizes in the agroforestry model the visions of Agroecology, Permaculture, and Food Sovereignty as a way to address the present and build the future.
This path is focused on ecosystem preservation and sustainable food production, without resorting to processes and concepts alien to the natural system, as a means to address, among other things, the challenge of mitigating climate change.
Our mission is to build a community around Herdade Freixo do Meio that is democratic, inclusive, transparent, autonomous, and resilient, that achieves a constantly improving relationship with natural resources, and that encourages personal development.
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