Plant Diversity in Agroforestry System and food security of Community in Mae Tha Sub-District, Mae On District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

Agro-forestry is a land use practices that are intentional combined trees with crops and or livestock. The agro-forestry system would contribute to conserve, restore forest resources and help to enhance biodiversity as well as to stabilize the natural and environmental ecosystem. This research aimed at studying plant diversity and potential role of agro-forestry system in household food security. The study was conducted in the Community Land Allocation Project of Chiang Mai province using household interviews and biodiversity assessment at plot level.               The study found that there were 243 plant species in the agro-forestry system. These included 144 woody perennial tree species and 99 species of agricultural crops. The woody perennial tree species can be classified into 5 groups that were trees (77 species), fruit trees (26 species), Shrub (27 species), palm and rattan (7 species) and bamboo (7 species). Diversity index of woody perennial tree species was 2.99. In addition, the research revealed the potential role of agro-forestry system in 4 aspects that were source of food, source of fuel wood, creating suitable environment for cropping and source of family income. It was found that there were 163 woody perennial tree species can provide food products of family, 87 species of tree species for fuel wood, 9 species of nitrogen fixing tree species and average family income earned from agro-forestry was 112,942 baht per year.