20 Sep 2006 16:00
Unit:
Wageningen University
Location:
Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation:
Wageningen University
Promotor:
prof.dr.ir. A.K. Bregt (Geo-information Science)
Co Promotor:
Prof.dr.ir. G.M.J. Mohren (Promotor)
Silvoarable agroforestry (SAF) relates to the integration of trees and arable crops in the same field. In Europe, agroforestry systems have been used mainly in traditional agriculture to provide a variety of agricultural and tree products. However, during the last three centuries, the agricultural landscape in Europe has seen a steady reduction of agroforestry due to land consolidation programmes and agricultural mechanisation.
An integrated assessment of the environmental and economic performance of SAF was undertaken with the objective of assisting decision-makers implement ecologically sound land management practices.
An environmental assessment methodology was developed which enabled to systematically assess the environmental effects of SAF for a stratified random sample of 19 landscape test sites (LTS) in Mediterranean and Atlantic regions of Europe. The environmental results were coordinated with a profitability evaluation and both were integrated into a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This work provided an initial approach for an integrated environmental and economic analysis of SAF systems.