a simple and rapid approach for assessing agroecological function in tropical home gardens in...
DESCRIPTION
Bioversity International scientist Simon Attwood presents on how to do a Landscape Function Analysis through community particpation, giving the particular example of home gardens in Timor Leste. This presentation was presented for Simon by Bioversity colleague Fabrice DeClerck at the Ecosystem Services Partnership Conference in Costa Rica, 2014. Find out more about our research on agricultural ecosystems: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/agricultural-ecosystems/TRANSCRIPT
Perennial garden (hills)A simple and rapid approach for assessing agroecological function in tropical home gardens in Timor-LesteSimon Attwood, Sarah Park, Doug Beare
Ecosystem services and communities
Seppalt et al. 2011
Ecosystem service research and poverty
Human impacts → ES decline → Disproportionate impact on very poor (MEA 2005; Bremner et al. 2012)
ES central to community livelihoods
Provisioning—fish, other aquatic organisms Provisioning — water for
irrigation, domestic, transport
Regulating—filtration
Supporting—nutrient cycling,primary production, soil formation
Regulating— water quality, detoxification
Regulating—pest control, pollination
Cultural—sense of place, local agronomic and ecological
knowledge
Cultural – ecotourism
Provisioning — crops, livestock, building materials
Supporting — flood retention
Photo: Eric Baran
Stage 1: community participatory workshop
Community identify NRM/Ag research prioritiesExample: Timor-Leste, climate change adaptation
Priority agricultural issues:
1. Soil productivity and nutrients
2. Soil erosion
3. Water availability/mgt/retention Image: Gerard Schut
Perennial garden (hills)
Home gardens
Home gardens – primary source of agricultural produce
Variety of forms, composition, location, management – e.g.
1. Annual crops (village)
2. Perennial crops (village)
3. Perennial crops (foothills)
Perennial garden (village)
Annual garden (village)
Landscape Function Analysis (LFA)
What is LFA?A rapid assessment process of soil function:1) Soil stability2) Nutrient cycling3) Water infiltration/run-off
Questions1) How well do different land uses function?2) Which elements contribute to/detract from function?
What we found
10
Garden complexity results
Annual
Perennial
11
Garden complexity recommendations
Key Findings Key recommendations
Perennial garden more complex than annual garden —greater resistance/resilience to pests, drought, crop failure
Make annual gardens more complex
Perennial garden = more biodiversity and ecosystem function (e.g. more beneficial arthropods)
Juxtapose perennial gardens and annual gardens for ES transfer
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Garden type function results
13
Garden type recommendations
Key Findings Key recommendations
Perennial garden functions more effectively than annual garden —e.g. leaf litter
Increase ground/canopy cover in annual crops—reduce soil temperature, retain moisture, > N and C, > beneficials
14
Garden element function results…
15
Garden element function recommendations
Key Findings Key recommendations
Bare soil reduces function Minimise bare soil
Leaf litter, crop trash, dead wood and palm leaves all increase function
Leaf litter - retain, collect/distribute, compost; distribute CWD to intercept resource flows; stop burning crop trash
Banana leaves increase soil function
Use banana litter
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Conclusions
1) A rapid and effective tool for impact of land use and management on ecological function
2) Tools, data collection method and analysis all amenable to teaching local extension or NGO staff
3) Can be used to develop management recommendations
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