Agroforestry systems as land use alternatives in Germany? A comparison with approaches taken in other countries

The growing and utilization of woody plants on agricultural land used to be a part of traditional land use systems in many countries, including Germany. In the tropics, 'modern' agroforestry systems have been propagated since the 1970s, and countries of the temperate zones have also been researching and testing them. In Germany, the question of (re)introducing agroforestry systems has been raised only in recent years. As yet, few plots have been established. How appealing is this kind of land use to German farmers? The current situation in Germany is analysed and compared with the reasons for the implementation of agroforestry systems elsewhere.