Agroforestry: Planting Trees, Hedges, and Promoting Meadows to Capture Carbon and Enhance Biodiversity

Agroforestry is a farming approach that combines trees, hedges,  and  meadows  within  agricultural  parcels, enhancing biodiversity, capturing carbon, and improving climate resilience. In slow-growing broiler systems, it provides  shade and  shelter  for  chickens,  encourages exploration of the range, improves welfare, and supports environmental sustainability through better soil and water management and carbon storage. For example, an organic broiler farmer has implemented 8 hectares of agroforestry over 2–3 years, planting over 600 trees and shrubs, including 260 meters of hedges to protect poultry from wind and to structure the landscape. Local, melliferous, and climate-resilient species were selected to promote biodiversity and pollinator presence. His system increased poultry use of the range by 15–20%, and various insects and bird species previously absent have reappeared. With support from the Chamber of Agriculture and his producers’ organisation,  and  thanks  to  regional  and  European subsidies, the project was fully or largely funded. Planting rows were spaced for easy maintenance, and pruning is done by the farmer to improve wood quality. His farm was the first in poultry production to receive the “Bee Friendly” label. Agroforestry supports both short- and long-term goals: improving animal welfare, reducing environmental impact, and adapting farms to climate change. It is a practical and replicable solution for poultry farms seeking greater sustainability.

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