As there is no general recipe for SAFS (but principles), we use the experience and vision of local “lighthouse” families in field courses and farmer-to farmer exchanges. Concretely we accompany the restoration of degraded plots, and also the implementation of new ones, with a successional focus and without using fire.
During a 12 months modulized training with 8 modules of one week each, farmers a trained in dynamic agroforestry. 5 modules are centralized where the principles of dynamic agroforestry are taught in theory and practice. Between the centralized modules, the participants are implementing according to their specific farm conditions a dynamic agroforestry plantation on their own farm. ECOTOP trainers monitor and supervise them, visiting each participant on their farm. The implementation, costs, challenges, problems, development and success is recorded by each participant. During the last module as "final test" each participant presents his experiences with his garden and lessons learnt. One concept is to grant local innovative farmers a university title of agricultural technicians, which generates prestige in the communities and helps to interact with policy-makers. Many of such “peritos” have become local leaders and are now in various positions, promoting SAF locally.
Rewarded local leaders educated in SAF with a university degree has helped to establish and to develop the vision in various local public and private entities. Especially women have profited increasing their decision-making role in the families, as they were often the first to try SAF with a view to satisfy food security, involving their children in the activities. Often husbands joined later on when seeing benefits in yields and household economy. Crucial of the success is a thorough selection of participants who are committed and open minded.
Those farms that follow the logic of short-term (e.g. food, banana and hibiscus which has a stable market), medium (e.g. fruit trees, coffee, cacao, coca) and long-term (high-value timber) crops have been the most successful. Also, complementing a cash crop (e.g. cacao) with food crops that generates income throughout the year (e.g. banana) has shown to be a successful economic strategy. It is crucial to accompany the process closely from the beginning on. At least 3 on-farm field visits of each farmer with practical instructions is required during the first year. Follow up should be guaranteed during 3 to 5 years. A dynamic and participatory local institutional framework is essential.
-Obstacles are often institutional restrictions or lack of understanding of dynamics of nature, therefore, learning has to be considered as a process in the long term. Another main obstacle is an extractivist logic that has been promoted with the colonization of the Yungas and other tropical areas, an approach where nature and biodiversity are rather seen as threat than as virtue.