The AFaktive pilot sites are each accompanied by a local project partner. The Association for the promotion of agroforestry in Wallonia and Brussels (AWAF) holds a unique position within the AFaktive consortium as the sole Association for Agroforestry and the only Walloon partner. Though small in number, its expertise is vast. Recently, AWAF has been hard at work designing its first pilot site, focusing on agroforestry systems for water management. This 9-hectare site, suffering from severe erosion and mudflow issues, but managed by an enthusiastic farmer, presents a great opportunity to explore the impact of agroforestry on water-related challenges.
Originally pure arable land with massive erosion problems, the area will be converted into a highly complex agroforestry system in order to combine maximum water retention and erosion control with diverse productivity. The downhill and hilly area will feature a grazed orchard with high-stem fruit trees, while the uphill and flatter sections will host a vegetable garden intercropped with mid-stem fruit trees.
With support from AFaktive partners, AWAF has assisted the farmer in designing this project through multiple site visits and the use of GIS software. Our proposal includes integrating dense hedgerows perpendicular to the water flow paths, swales in the upper sections to enhance water infiltration, and ponds in the lower areas to capture runoff for irrigation. This holistic approach places agroforestry at the heart of water management solutions.
The meadow in the orchard was sown in mid-September, and the fruit trees will be planted at the beginning of November. The trees and the meadow will be allowed to establish roots over the winter, and in spring 2025, the AFaktive team will begin a monitoring program to study some hydrology and biodiversity parameters. For four years, bats, birds and soil insects as well as infiltration, runoff, soil humidity and precipitation will be measured to monitor the impact of the new agroforestry systems on these parameters.
Time to Scale Up! Beyond these pilot sites, the AFaktive project has grand ambitions to replicate this support across pilot regions. Always seeking to build connections and expand its expertise, AWAF joined a 3-day trip to Slovakia at the end of October. Together with some key water management and regenerative hydrology experts from Wallonia and France, AWAF visited some innovative water management installations of the Zilina region and engaged with the local authorities. This journey provided valuable inspiration and insights for designing the future regional pilot sites!
Photos of the pilot farm accompanied by AWAF (© AWAF)