Agroforestry as a Nature-Based Solution for the Restoration of Soil Health in Cameroon: Trends and Perspectives
摘要
Restoration of soil health is a major priority today as feeding the world’s over 8 billion inhabitants requires productive and fertile soils which can sustain crop production while improving crop yields. Agroforestry is one of the best practices and nature-based solutions with enormous potentials to enhance the restoration of soil health. It is within this framework that this chapter lays emphasis on the contribution of agroforestry to the restoration of soil health in Cameroon. Based on a review of empirical literature on agroforestry systems and soils in Cameroon, it was found that agroforestry plays a crucial role in the restoration of soil health through soil fertility improvement, improved nutrient cycling, improved diversity of plants and soil fauna, improved soil physical structure and control of erosion, and improved water availability to plants and watersheds. This indicates that agroforestry has a major role to play in the restoration of soil health in Cameroon. There is however the need for favorable policies which encourage the practice of agroforestry across the five agroecological zones of Cameroon.