I worked in agroforestry in Central & West Africa because it provided long-term food production solutions. In the picture below you will see how we got breadfruit and jackfruit trees to Mimpoutou, Republic of Congo in 2004. I haven’t been back since, but I sure hope those trees are now producing fruit.
Agroforestry has great value, but it comes with many hazards for the young fruit trees (and old fruit trees). In Wongo, CAR we planted a breadfruit tree, but kids fooling around with a machete ended its life. Slash and burn agriculture brings the danger of fire to our orchards. We lost a few fruit trees at the Dongou Training Center when the owner of the neighboring lot set a fire. This is the same place where a village pastor sent a bulldozer to flatten our oil palm orchard (It is a long story). I once ran to our orchard in Ngenze, CAR after I saw a fire approaching. The local Bayaka residents calmed me down and showed me the fire break they made. I was impressed by their foresight.
Now in suburbia I have encountered another hazard to trees. We bought a vacant lot below our house. On the road frontage along Sherry Lane I planted 14 Norway Spruce and Leyland Cypress. I figured that alternating the tree species would look good. Each year the Carter County Hwy Dept mows 8 feet along the edge of the road. I planted the trees 11 feet from the road. This year the irresponsible cowboy at the controls of the mower mowed 20 feet cutting down my trees. I arrived just after the devastation. There was a chance to yell and scream, but after a brief and unsatisfying conversation I calmed down and walked away. One more way to lose trees.
Adventures in Suburbia 