Agriculture and water resources are two strategic sectors vulnerable to climate change and climate variability in Central America. The integration of soil and water conservation (SWC) techniques into small-scale hillside farming systems has been considered in recent strategies of adaptation. Several SWC techniques have been adopted by small-scale hillside farmers. The most frequently adopted techniques are those involving biomass management. Crop residue management, no-slash-and-burn and living hedgerows of several plant species are some examples.

Agroforestry is a broad term for land-use systems where woody perennials such as trees, shrubs or bamboos are grown and used in fields and farming landscapes. This can be carried out at the same time as in intercropping systems where trees and crops are grown together, or at different times such as in rotational practices. This booklet describes ways in which crops and trees can be grown together in an attempt to increase productivity and diversity whilst ensuring sustainability.

According to this study, a range of land management practices is available to help improve green water use efficiency. These practises can be classified according to their function. Hedgerow barriers and terraces can mitigate runoff; infiltration rates below hedgerows in Kenya were found to be three to eight times higher than where the crop was grown. Mulch that triggers soil fauna can improve water availability; mulching with straw from a local perennial grass in Burkina Faso doubled the water use efficiency from 1 kg mm-1 without fauna to 2 kg mm-1 with fauna.