A compelling new study from Benin reveals that integrating indigenous trees into dairy farming could be a powerful defense against climate change. In the country’s drylands, where shorter rainy seasons and heatwaves threaten livestock, researchers compared traditional open grazing with established agroforestry systems. The results were striking: cows grazing within tree-based farms produced up to three times more milk daily and had higher calf survival rates. The trees provide vital shade, lowering stress, while their leaves offer crucial nutrition when grasses wither. This practice, long used by local farmers, also enriches soil and provides additional resources like fruit and firewood. The study champions these proven, local strategies as essential for resilience, urging policymakers to support and fund these climate-smart systems.
The Conversation
