On 19 March 2026, ReForest partners participated in the conference “Agroforestry in the Czech Republic – 10 Years of a Common Journey”. The event brought together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to reflect on a decade of agroforestry development in Czechia and to exchange perspectives on its future in Europe.
As part of the programme, Miroslava Hochmalová presented a ReForest poster focusing on the role of culture and heritage in agroforestry systems. Developed together with Tereza Červená, the contribution explored how cultural continuity of landscapes influences the acceptance and successful implementation of agroforestry practices.
The poster emphasised that agroforestry should not be seen solely as a technical or ecological solution, but also as a culturally rooted land-use system. While environmental and economic benefits are important drivers, the uptake of agroforestry across Europe also depends on how well new systems connect to existing landscape identities and traditions.
In this context, particular attention was given to the concept of cultural continuity. This includes elements such as historical landscape structures, long-standing farming practices, and the relationship between people and the land. Features such as hedgerows, orchard meadows, silvopastoral systems and mosaic agricultural landscapes illustrate that agroforestry is not a new concept, but rather a reintroduction and adaptation of traditional land-use systems.
Agroforestry systems are more likely to be accepted and successfully implemented when they are recognisable, culturally meaningful, and aligned with local landscape characteristics. Cultural ecosystem services, such as sense of place, landscape aesthetics and identity, play a significant role in shaping this acceptance.
The conference also featured contributions from ReForest partners Rico Hübner(DeFAF) and Robert Borek (OSA), who brought broader European perspectives into the discussions and contributed to the exchange on agroforestry development across different contexts.
Download Poster on Culture and Heritage (CZ)
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