Expanding opportunities for agroforestry education in the U.S. and Canadian universities

Abstract

A telephone survey of 39 U.S. and Canadian University forestry schools accredited with the Society of American Foresters, conducted in November 1988, showed that 25 had courses in tropical and international forestry, and 14 university faculties had been conducting research in agroforestry. Field-oriented training in agroforestry is also offered in North America, especially for voluntary and relief organization personnel. Many of the agroforestry courses have been established recently in response to desires of students with international interests and/or experience. Most of such courses are integrated programs, initiated by forestry faculty, and most of these are seminars or colloquia incorporating the experience of both faculty and students with focus on systems and issues rather than technical processes. Ideas for agroforestry course content offered by North American forestry faculty include: integration of social and technical aspects of agroforestry and social forestry, involvement of multidisciplinary teams, focus on managing marginal lands, and consideration of the importance of agroforestry systems in North America and other temperate zones.