Agroforestry succeeds when people, culture, and community grow alongside the trees.

Like the mycelial threads connecting the trees and soil in a forest, we focus on encouraging better connectivity between people and organizations, fostering the social mechanisms necessary for long term success. 

Climate change, along with interlocking systems of oppression, threatens agrarian and forest lands, and the rural and urban communities that depend on them. Too often, solutions rush to put trees in the ground while overlooking the time, trust, and care required to help them - and the farmers, land stewards, and rural communities - thrive.

Agroforestry, the purposeful integration of trees and shrubs into farm ecosystems, offers a powerful path forward. Grounded in Indigenous landcare traditions and supported by a robust body of scientific research, agroforestry systems have been shown to:

• Moderate microclimates and reduce the impacts of flood and drought

• Improve soil health and increase long-term carbon storage

• Enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity

• Provide shade, shelter, and fodder for livestock

• Produce food crops such as fruits and nuts

MYCENA exists to change how tree planting happens by centering relationships, local knowledge, and long-term stewardship. We support agroforestry systems that are:

• Shaped by real landscapes and working farm livelihoods

• Planned for long-term success, not short-term funding timelines

• Built through community participation—from propagation through aftercare