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Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Systems and Global Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 29298

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jay Mar D. Quevedo

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Guest Editor

Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: ecosystem services; community perceptions; blue carbon
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Norie Tamura

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Guest Editor

Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
Interests: agroforestry; fishery; forest science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yuta Uchiyama

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Guest Editor

Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
Interests: urban regional management; GIS; land-use dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ryo Kohsaka

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Guest Editor

Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho Chikusa-ku, Nagoya D2-1 464-8601, Aichi, Japan
Interests: landscape approach to forestry; resource management; geographical indications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite researchers in the fields of agriculture and forestry sciences, urban/agricultural planning, land-use change dynamics, mangrove forests management, and ecology with a multidisciplinary approach to submit papers to this Special Issue.

Agroforestry is gaining salience in the field of climate-smart agricultural schemes due to its ability to sequester carbon while delivering other important ecosystem services that contribute to a more sustainable environment. Understanding the land consumption, degradation, and management of agroforestry systems is therefore needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

This Special Issue aims to develop our understanding of the sustainable land management and ecosystem services in agroforestry systems, which include land use and land cover change, land systems science and socio-ecological systems research, land management (including application of ecosystem services), land observation and monitoring, and urban contexts (e.g., urban–rural interactions, urban agriculture.)

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Land-use dynamics, including identification of drivers and management schemes in agroforestry systems such as urban agriculture and urban beekeeping. Works concerning land consumption and degradation in mangrove forest habitats are also highly encouraged, particularly regarding silvofishery (a type of agroforestry system), as well as the implications of degraded systems in different economic settings, particularly the impact to stakeholders who are highly dependent on them.
Case studies and/or theoretical topics of remote sensing technologies highlighting new and innovative methodologies and indicators, stakeholder perceptions of land-use change dynamics, ecosystem services valuations, payment for ecosystem services, and sustainable management schemes.
Urban–rural contexts, in which different types of policies and management actions can influence agroforestry systems.
International-level management schemes such as REDD+ and Nature-based Solutions context for regional and global strategies of agroforestry systems that promote sustainable management.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jay Mar D. Quevedo
Dr. Norie Tamura
Dr. Yuta Uchiyama
Prof. Dr. Ryo Kohsaka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

agroforestry systems
ecosystem services
land management
land-use/land-cover change
community perceptions
urban agriculture
urban beekeeping
nature-based solutions

Related Special Issue

Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems II in Land (5 articles)

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

External Benefits of Irrigation in Mountain Areas: Stakeholder Perceptions and Water Policy Implications

by Silvia Novelli, Francesca Moino and Patrizia Borsotto

Land 2022, 11(9), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091395 - 25 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1531 | Correction

Abstract

Irrigation contributes to land and ecosystem degradation, especially in intensive farming areas. However, in marginal areas, long-established irrigation systems also supply agroecosystem services. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the external benefits provided by irrigation in extensive grazing farms in an Italian alpine region (Aosta Valley, NW Italy). Three local stakeholder groups (land irrigation consortia members, non-farmer users of the irrigation water service, and non-user citizens) engaged in focus group discussions. The transcriptions were analyzed with an integrated subjective and computer-assisted approach. The main result of the study showed that a convergence of stakeholder opinions led to prioritization of the same four benefits, i.e., hydro-geological and land maintenance, traditional agricultural landscape conservation, biodiversity conservation, and leisure recreational activities provision. Incorporating this information into decision-making processes is relevant in marginal mountain areas, especially in light of the implementation of the water pricing policy laid down in the EU Water Framework Directive. To this end, the economic value of the external benefits should be considered along with the recovery costs for water services. Such information is essential to balance the environmental costs of irrigation and to compare the resource cost of alternative water uses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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25 pages, 4460 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecosystem and Driving Force Evaluation of Northeast Forest Belt

by Zhihong Liao, Kai Su, Xuebing Jiang, Xiangbei Zhou, Zhu Yu, Zhongchao Chen, Changwen Wei, Yiming Zhang and Luying Wang

Land 2022, 11(8), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081306 - 13 Aug 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1410

Abstract

The ecosystem in the Northeast Forest Belt (NFB) can provide various ecosystem services, such as soil conservation, habitat provision, water conservation, and so on. It is essential for maintaining the ecological environment in Northeast China and the entire country. In the face of increasingly severe environmental problems, the comprehensive and accurate evaluation of ecosystem conditions and their changes is significant for scientific and reasonable recovery and protection measures. In this study, the NFB was taken as the research area. The spatio-temporal changes in ecological quality from 2005 to 2015 and the main driving factors behind them were analyzed by constructing the comprehensive ecosystem evaluation index. The results showed that: The landscape types of the NFB were mainly forest, cropland, and grassland. And the better ecological environment of the NFB was mainly distributed in the south of Changbai Mountains (CBM), the middle of Lesser Khingan Mountains (LKM), and the northwest of Greater Khingan Mountains (GKM). In contrast, the northeast of CBM, the southwest of LKM, and the edge of southern GKM were relatively poor. During 2005–2015, the ecosystem in the NFB was in a relatively good state as a whole, showing a steady-to-good development trend. However, more attention needed to be paid to some areas where degradation still existed. Land use/cover, climate (annual average rainfall, etc.), and human disturbance were potential factors affecting ecosystem evolution in the NFB. This study aims to provide an effective scientific basis and policy reference for the environmental protection and construction of the NFB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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23 pages, 31807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design Model and Management Plan of a Rice–Fish Mixed Farming Paddy for Urban Agriculture and Ecological Education

by Jinkwan Son, Minjae Kong and Hongshik Nam

Land 2022, 11(8), 1218; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081218 - 02 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2658

Abstract

Imparting knowledge on agriculture and ecology is important for the preservation of nature. This study suggested the design of a rice–fish mixed farming (RFMF) paddy for urban agriculture and ecological education in Korea. This RFMF paddy supports the growth of rice as well as freshwater fish. ANOVA statistical analysis was conducted, and an RFMF paddy was necessary for urban agriculture/education and confirmed that biodiversity was high. To this aim, the design of a 10 m × 10 m RFMF paddy was suggested. Vegetation, insects, and aquatic invertebrates of the RFMF paddy constituted approximately 40 species more than a conventional paddy. The quality of an actual farm’s soil and water was assessed, and techniques for the co-cultivation of rice and fish are proposed. The soil must comply with the standards of Korean paddy soil, and the water must be in the temperature range of 15 to 35 °C. In the proposed design, approximately 44.0 kg rice can be produced, and catfish can grow up to 30 cm. The study suggested many experiences using rice and freshwater fish. On the basis of our study design, a virtual model of an RFMF paddy was developed in consideration of the accessible space. The development of RFMF paddies in educational institutions can promote biodiversity in cities while providing ecological education regarding aquatic plants and insects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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18 pages, 1029 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nexus between Coping Strategies and Households’ Agricultural Drought Resilience to Food Insecurity in South Africa

by Yonas T. Bahta

Land 2022, 11(6), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060893 - 11 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2907

Abstract

Farmers in Africa, including those in South Africa, rely on rain-fed agriculture, which exposes them to the risks of agricultural drought. Agricultural drought has become a major threat to agricultural production, including the extreme mortality of livestock in recent years, thus negatively impacting household food security. Hence, this paper is aimed at (i) assessing the coping strategies employed by smallholding livestock-farming households during food insecurity shocks, and (ii) assessing the relationship between coping strategies and agricultural drought resilience to food insecurity in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Interviews, more specifically survey interviews, were conducted with 217 smallholder livestock farmers. The data was analyzed using the agricultural drought resilience index (ADRI), the household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), and structural equation modeling. Smallholder livestock farming households utilized various coping strategies, ranging from selling livestock (21%) to leasing out their farms (1%). The coping strategies of farming households included using alternative land (20%), storing food (20%), requesting feed for their animals (16%), searching for alternative employment (6%), migrating (6%), raising drought-tolerant breeds (5%), receiving relief grants (3%) and using savings and investments (2%). A statistically significant relationship between coping strategies and agricultural drought resilience to food insecurity means that these strategies have important policy implications. Implementing strategies that encourage households to protect their livelihood and utilize their assets (selling livestock) to increase their resilience is crucial for reducing food insecurity and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger and poverty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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17 pages, 940 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Impact of Forest Tenure Reform on Farmers’ Investment in Public Welfare Forest Areas: A Case Study of Gansu Province, China

by Yuge Wang, Apurbo Sarkar, Min Li, Zehui Chen, Ahmed Khairul Hasan, Quanxing Meng, Md. Shakhawat Hossain and Md. Ashfikur Rahman

Land 2022, 11(5), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050708 - 09 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1897

Abstract

In recent times, forest tenure reform has become one of the most discussed agendas among local and global policymakers. Forest tenure is a contract that specifies who has rights to forestry resources and depicts who should utilize, maintain, and acquire them. It can have a significant impact on whether farmers invest in their forestland. The study’s primary purpose is to explore whether and how the reform of forest rights affects farmers’ investment in public welfare forestry. More specifically, the study thoroughly analyzes the impact of primary and supplementary reforms on farmers’ investment in public welfare forest areas. We have outlined the theoretical framework using the theory of property rights and utilized the fixed-effect model and the Difference in Differences (DID) model to achieve research objectives. However, the empirical setup of the study has comprised time series data of 500 farmers, which was collected via interviews conducted at regular time intervals (2011—before the reform; 2013, 2015, and 2017— after the reform). The collective forest land welfare areas in Gansu Province, China, have been selected as the key data collection area. The study concludes that: (i) although the principle reform of forest tenure can stimulate farmers’ investment intensity in the short term, it is insufficient in the long term. (ii) The supplementary reform of forest tenure can significantly promote farmers’ long-term effective investment. There is a significant difference in forest land investment between the experimental and control groups, and this difference gradually expands over time. The study suggests that the government should pay more attention to the relevance of additional reforms to encourage the growth of forest rights mortgages and circulation. Moreover, the core themes of sustainable development in forestry should be highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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15 pages, 796 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Gardening and Wellbeing in Pandemic Era: Preliminary Results from a Socio-Environmental Factors Approach

by Diana Harding, Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Matheus Jingga, Yuta Uchiyama, Jay Mar D. Quevedo and Ryo Kohsaka

Land 2022, 11(4), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11040492 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5064

Abstract

The nature and impacts of living in urban settings are gaining their saliences in developed and developing countries alike, particularly during the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the crisis, the wellbeing of urban society became intertwined with a so-called “new lifestyle”, which involved quarantine and working in a home environment. Facing such challenges, urban gardening is deemed as an alternative intervention to enhance residents’ wellbeing and the environmental sustainability of urban areas, including Indonesian cities. A preliminary study was conducted to monitor the wellbeing of urban gardening practitioners, as well as investigate the motivation and any association between gardening and wellbeing with the COVID-19 pandemic situation by analysing data from Indonesian metropolitan areas. The study utilized instruments of “satisfaction with life scale (SWLS)” and “scale of positive and negative experience (SPANE)” to investigate the subjective wellbeing of 67 respondents. Amongst others, we identified that urban gardening practitioners tend to be in positive moods and have better overall wellbeing; 52.24% of the respondents were highly satisfied with their life. Furthermore, we observed a variety of motivations to start gardening, with hobby and utilization of free space as prominent reasons, followed by other motivations such as environmental benefit and aesthetic. Integrating the environmental benefits of urban gardening and the implications for an individual’s wellbeing can be reflected for sustainable urban development and policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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23 pages, 4327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Impact of Ecological Property Rights to Trigger Farmers’ Investment Behavior—An Example of Confluence Area of Heihe Reservoir, Shaanxi, China

by Min Li, Apurbo Sarkar, Yuge Wang, Ahmed Khairul Hasan and Quanxing Meng

Land 2022, 11(3), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11030320 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1824

Abstract

Property rights of natural resources have been acting as a critical legislative tool for promoting sustainable resource utilization and conservation in various regions of the globe. However, incorporating ecological property rights into the natural resources property rights structure may significantly influence farmers’ behavior in forestry investment. It may also trigger forest protection, water conservation, and urban water security. The main aim of the research is to evaluate the impact of ecological property rights and farmers’ investment behavior in the economic forest. We have constructed an analytical framework of collective forest rights from two indicators of integrity and stability, by adopting the theory of property rights and ecological capital to fulfill the study’s aims. The empirical data has been comprised of the microdata of 708 farmers, collected from the confluence area of the Heihe Reservoir, Shaanxi, China. The study also conducted pilot ecological property rights transactions in the surveyed area. The study utilized the double-hurdle model to test the proposed framework empirically. The results show that forest land use rights, economic products, and eco-product income rights positively affect farmers’ forestry investment intensity, and disposal rights (forest land transfer rights) negatively affect farmers’ investment intensity. However, in terms of the integrity of property rights, only the right to profit from ecological products affects farmers’ forestry investment willingness, and other property rights are insignificant. The study also found that the lower the farmers’ forest land expropriation risk is expected, the greater the possibility of investment and the higher the input level. However, we traced that the farmers’ forest land adjustment has no significant impact on farmers’ willingness to invest. Obtaining the benefits of ecological products has been found as the primary motivation for forestry investment within the surveyed area. The completeness of ownership rights positively impacted farmers’ investment intensity. Farmers should realize the ecological value of water conservation forests through the market orientation of the benefit of ecological products. Therefore, the government should encourage farmers and arrange proper training to facilitate a smooth investment. A well-established afforestation program should also be carried out. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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18 pages, 1258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Income Change and Inter-Farmer Relations through Conservation Agriculture in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan: Empirical Analysis of Economic and Behavioral Factors

by Yoshitaka Miyake, Shota Kimoto, Yuta Uchiyama and Ryo Kohsaka

Land 2022, 11(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020245 - 06 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2699

Abstract

Conservation agriculture, also known as environment-friendly agriculture, is expected to contribute to global climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. To understand the effect of conservation agriculture on farmers and identify those factors, such as farmers’ income change, that might affect practices of conservation agriculture, perceptions, and output, this study examined farmers’ economic and behavioral factors, motivation, and satisfaction. We surveyed 51 farmers who are receiving subsidies to practice conservation agriculture in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The survey is one of the first prefectural-scale studies that combines unique quantitative analysis of motivation and satisfaction levels (e.g., behaviors) in temporal sequence from the initial to current time to practice conservation agriculture. Our results showed that years of experience, trade with a retail shop, and the farmer’s age can affect income change. With regard to social factors, the satisfaction of their fellowship with other farmers practicing conservation agriculture was also significantly correlated with income change. Simultaneously, this category of satisfaction was difficult to attain compared to the other categories. Thus, greater effort is needed to enhance support networking among conservation farmers. Furthermore, the work presented here also provides the opportunity for future research on temporal and spatial questions surveying economic and behavioral effects with consideration of the heightened policy promotion and entrance of large retail industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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11 pages, 1981 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Experimental Trial of Effects of Lattice Fence Installation on Honey Bee Flight Height as Implications for Urban Beekeeping Regulations

by Tomonori Matsuzawa and Ryo Kohsaka

Land 2022, 11(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010019 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3306

Abstract

Urban beekeeping has gained salience because of its significance in biodiversity conservation and community building. Despite this, beekeeping practices in urban areas have received negative perceptions from residents, which stem from public safety concerns. There is, therefore, a need to enhance and/or work on appropriate rules for maximizing the profits while minimizing the risks. Amongst the present regulations, the installation of barriers and setbacks is the most common rule for public safety. However, only a limited number of empirical studies have reported on their effective location and height. Thus, in this study, an experimental apiary was set up with different types of barriers installed with varying distances to observe and measure flyway patterns of honey bees. We used a 3D laser scanner, which obtained 8529 points of highly accurate flight location data in about five hours. Results showed that the heights (1.8 and 0.9 m) of the barriers installed were effective in increasing the flight altitudes. The distance of the fence, which was installed as close as 1 m from the hives, was effective as well. These findings, which showed that barriers and setbacks are effective, can have regulatory implications in designing apiaries in urban spaces, where location is often restricted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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Review

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13 pages, 2771 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

State of the Art Review on Land-Use Policy: Changes in Forests, Agricultural Lands and Renewable Energy of Japan

by Ryo Kohsaka and Satomi Kohyama

Land 2022, 11(5), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050624 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3524

Abstract

Policies in Japan are shifting focus on sustainable land-use management-related policies through consensus building, given the complex options for the community and the landowners. For instance, conversion of agricultural lands to renewable energy sites, which is an example of “land-use conversion for a newly found objective”, is rapidly progressing, and actions on “managing of croplands in a minimal (low labor demand) way” has been embodied in certain policies. Currently, there are political and scientific efforts to balance environmental conservation with production activities in agriculture and forestry sectors based on science and evidence. With policies catching up, it is possible to confirm what has been moved from the planning to the implementation stage of the proposed consensus-building system by summarizing and discussing the current progress of the project. More specifically, we highlighted the trends in reusing agricultural lands under the current national-level policies and management options for croplands, such as the “less maintenance way.” We also discussed and presented the preliminary results, insights, and prospects from the ongoing project, which then led to the discussion of future considerations in sustainable land-use management in Japan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Services in Agroforestry Systems)

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