How local knowledge and adaptive practices are redefining conservation and livelihoods in one of the world’s most vital ecosystems.

In the vibrant bustle of Tropentag 2025, one poster quietly pulled visitors in. Its muted greens and earthy tones hinted at its focus: “Agroforestry Systems in the Peruvian Amazon: Farmers’ Perceptions and Management Adjustments.” But the real draw wasn’t the visuals—it was the story behind them. Leidy Johana Bedoya Giraldo’s research, which won the Best Poster Presentation Award, spotlighted a simple but powerful truth: the people who manage the land every day hold vital knowledge for its conservation.

Leidy Johana Bedoya Giraldo’s research, which won the Best Poster Presentation Award, spotlighted a simple but powerful truth: the people who manage the land every day hold vital knowledge for its conservation.

The Peruvian Amazon is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions—but it faces growing threats. By 2018, Peru ranked as the seventh most deforested country globally. In San Martín, intensive farming and land clearing have left soils depleted, reduced tree cover, and contributed to rising carbon emissions. In this context, agroforestry—integrating trees with crops—has been promoted as a way to restore landscapes, diversify farmers’ incomes, and secure food supplies.

Yet the success of agroforestry depends largely on the people managing it. Leidy Johana Bedoya Giraldo’s study shows that farmers are far from passive adopters of prescribed systems. They experiment with tree and crop combinations, rotate traditional shade trees like Guaba, and adjust planting strategies to improve soil health, increase yields, and respond to changing market conditions. Even when legal frameworks or financial incentives are weak, many maintain tree cover out of environmental awareness and a sense of long-term stewardship.

The benefits of agroforestry are tangible. Shade trees protect crops, organic matter enriches soils, and fruit or timber trees provide new income opportunities. At the same time, these systems support biodiversity and capture carbon, contributing to broader ecological goals. But challenges remain: high maintenance costs, unclear land rights, limited market access, and climate variability all make it difficult for farmers to realize lasting gains.

The lessons from San Martín resonate beyond Peru. Agroforestry thrives where local knowledge, supportive policies, and fair market access intersect. Planting trees alone is not enough; communities need resources, recognition, and decision-making tools. Platforms such as the Agroforestry Box Tool and the SMART Platform help connect farmers’ experiences with broader planning efforts, ensuring their voices guide strategies at scale.

Leidy Johana Bedoya Giraldo’s research reframes agroforestry as a living, evolving system—shaped as much by human ingenuity as by ecological principles. In the Peruvian Amazon, sustaining forests may depend not just on planting trees, but on listening carefully to the farmers who tend them.

After all, the health of the forest is inseparable from the knowledge and care of the people who live within it.