Summary: | Land expansion for agricultural activities has long been recognized as the major factor contributing to the decline of global tropical forests, which eventually led to the loss of biodiversity. What might be assumed as just a small-scale deforestation has brought upon negative cascading effects on all levels of fauna species from invertebrates to large mammals. In Malaysia, some species of large mammals, such as Malayan tiger, Asian elephant, and Malayan tapir, have experienced a steep decline as a result of various factors, which mainly due to habitat loss. As the second and the fifth largest producers of oil palm and rubber in the world, respectively, these agricultural tree crops are taking up so much land, which threaten the remaining natural rainforest in Malaysia. With the aim to lessen the impact of agricultural expansion on biodiversity loss, agroforestry system has started to be implemented by integrating trees in agricultural lands on the same plot. Numerous benefits of agroforestry on the ecosystem have been reported worldwide including an increase in carbon sequestration, improving water and air quality, and enhancing the quality of wildlife habitat. This chapter aims to discuss the current status of agroforestry practices in Malaysia. In addition, the impact of this system on the fauna diversity from arthropods to large mammals will also be deliberated. While agroforestry is mainly practiced by rural communities without realizing it themselves, more effort should be taken to increase the level of awareness and knowledge among these local communities. This will contribute toward maximizing the benefits of agroforestry not only for conservation purposes but also for improvement of the quality of life, which is in line with the global agenda of Sustainable Development Goals. © 2024 Scrivener Publishing LLC.
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