Last Call to Register for Agroforestry Conference
http://cinram.umn.edu/afta2005/index.html

Less than a month remains until the opening of the Ninth North American Agroforestry Conference, "Moving Agroforestry into the Mainstream," o­n June 12 in Rochester, MN. Late/on-site registration is available for US $290 for regular participants or US $125 for students. Registration details and special room rates at the Kahler Grand Hotel are available o­n the registration information page. In addition to the conference website, more information is available in the latest issue of the Temperate Agroforester.

Appalachian AgroForestry Forum
http://www.bscit.net/2004fall/bl_feldhakerl/project/project.htm

The Appalachian region is a biologically diverse ecosystem of relatively steep topography that is well suited to tree crops and agroforestry. This website provides a good overview of trees species, including black walnut and pawpaw, that can cultivated for value-added products. Silvopasture under white oak or pine is another suitable practice for this region. A beginning list of print and web resources is also available.

Quebec Intensive Silviculture Net
http://www.unites.uqam.ca/rlq/anglais/accueilfr.htm

A new organization for research and development in intensive silviculture has been created in the province of Quebec. The network fosters a cooperative working relationship among researchers from University of Quebec in Montreal and Laval University in Quebec City. In addition, the network invites the collaboration of six other universities in the province, six industrial partners, both the provincial and federal government and representatives from the private sector. The mission of this organization is to coordinate existing projects and initiate new efforts in the area of research and development and technology transfer in intensive silviculture, in collaboration with diverse partners.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis
http://www.millenniumassessment.org//en/index.aspx

Four years in the making, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) involved 1,300 experts from 95 countries to conduct a global inventory of the state of the world's major ecosystems, quantify the effect that human activities are having o­n them and make suggestions for the future. The services that ecosystems provide, e.g. clean water, climate stabilization, natural resources, are critical to human health and livelihood, and should not be taken for granted, according to the report. The MA Synthesis Report is now available for download (6.6 MB PDF); a print version will be published next month by Island Press. The synthesis report recognizes agroforestry as an example of positive synergy that can be achieved in balancing conservation with production: "Agroforestry can meet human needs for food and fuel, restore soils, and contribute to biodiversity conservation. Intercropping can increase yields, increase biocontrol, reduce soil erosion, and reduce weed invasion in fields." (page 78)