<p>It reveals that on more than one billion hectares -- which make up 46 percent of the world's farmlands and are home to more than half a billion people -- tree cover exceeds 10 percent. That includes 3.2 million sq km in South America, 1.9 million in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.3 million in Southeast Asia.<br /><br />Scientists from the World Agroforestry Centre (WAC) using detailed satellite imagery have reported the discovery.<br /><br />This is the first study to quantify the extent to which trees are a vital part of agricultural production in all regions of the world. <br /><br />"The area revealed in this study is twice the size of the Amazon, and shows that farmers are protecting and planting trees spontaneously," WAC Director General Dennis Garrity said. <br /><br />"Trees are providing farmers with everything from carbon sequestration, to nuts and fruits, to windbreaks and erosion control, to fuel for heating and timber for housing," he added.<br /><br />"Unless such practices are brought to scale in farming communities worldwide, we will not benefit from the full value trees can bring to livelihoods and landscapes," Garrity added.<br /><br />"If planted systematically on farms, trees could improve the resiliency of farmers by providing them with food and income," said Tony Simons, deputy director general at the WAC. <br /><br />"Whilst Western Europe has some 250 native tree species and North America has a larger set of 600 trees species -- the developing tropics has a staggering 50,000 tree species to manage and utilise," said Simons, according to a WAC release. <br /><br />"For example, when crops and livestock fail, trees often withstand drought conditions and allow people to hold over until the next season."</p>
<p>It reveals that on more than one billion hectares -- which make up 46 percent of the world's farmlands and are home to more than half a billion people -- tree cover exceeds 10 percent. That includes 3.2 million sq km in South America, 1.9 million in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.3 million in Southeast Asia.<br /><br />Scientists from the World Agroforestry Centre (WAC) using detailed satellite imagery have reported the discovery.<br /><br />This is the first study to quantify the extent to which trees are a vital part of agricultural production in all regions of the world. <br /><br />"The area revealed in this study is twice the size of the Amazon, and shows that farmers are protecting and planting trees spontaneously," WAC Director General Dennis Garrity said. <br /><br />"Trees are providing farmers with everything from carbon sequestration, to nuts and fruits, to windbreaks and erosion control, to fuel for heating and timber for housing," he added.<br /><br />"Unless such practices are brought to scale in farming communities worldwide, we will not benefit from the full value trees can bring to livelihoods and landscapes," Garrity added.<br /><br />"If planted systematically on farms, trees could improve the resiliency of farmers by providing them with food and income," said Tony Simons, deputy director general at the WAC. <br /><br />"Whilst Western Europe has some 250 native tree species and North America has a larger set of 600 trees species -- the developing tropics has a staggering 50,000 tree species to manage and utilise," said Simons, according to a WAC release. <br /><br />"For example, when crops and livestock fail, trees often withstand drought conditions and allow people to hold over until the next season."</p>
