Innovations for adopting agroforestry in Ecuador: the role of the APEOSAE Federation

This is the third in a series of case studies on the innovative tactics used by forest and farm producer organisations or Indigenous Peoples and local community groups to improve the uptake of one of three main types of agroforestry system: shade grown cash crops (that mix trees and crops), silvopastoral systems (that mix trees and livestock), and home gardens (that mix trees, crops and livestock).

This case study focuses on how the Association of Small Organic Agricultural Exporters of the Southern Ecuadorian Amazon (APEOSAE) of Ecuador has helped its members to overcome challenges of upscaling agroforestry systems that include mixed coffee, cacao, plantain and cassava crops under tree shade to foster climate-resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods.