Forests sustaining agriculture: A systematic review of multi-functional landscapes for food security...

Samson FoliTerry SunderlandJames ReedJessica ClendenningJake SnaddonGillian Petrokofsky

Forests sustaining agricultureA systematic review of multi-functional landscapes for food security and biodiversity conservation

Objectives of this discussion To gain insight and feedback on relevance of our

research project.

To explore and help merge potential research topics that will contribute to the core research question

To define main research question in plenary with contribution from important stakeholders and explore potential collaboration

Multi-functional Landscapes (Sayer et al. 2013)

“Areas that have the potential to provide material and immaterial good to satisfy social needs” Barkmann et al. 2004

Forest-Agricultural Landscapes provide food, fibre and fuel through ecosystem services provisioning

Agricultural systems within the landscapes impact ecosystem services and biodiversity

Perfecto et al 2009

Problem statementThere is little integration of agriculture and biodiversity conservation priorities in Forest-Agriculture landscapes. Partly due to limited knowledge on the socio-ecological flows of services and values that support sustainable agriculture and conservation of ecosystem services in the landscape.

ObjectivesEstablishing the evidence base on multifunctional landscapes for food and biodiversity conservation demands. Identify, appraise and synthesize the existing research on the importance of ecosystem services and dis-services on food production, the impacts of agriculture on biodiversity and models of landscapes that combine different human demands without comprising forest ecosystems.

Justification

The need for better understanding of landscape approaches for food security, biodiversity conservation and sustainability of ecosystem services.

Prioritise research to contribute to evidence based policy making on forestry and food security.

Undertake further data collection to answer important questions (derived from results of this systematic review) and contribute to filling knowledge gaps.

Landscape components of interest

Population Intervention Comparators  Outcomes

Agricultural landscapes in the proximity of tree cover

Data collection and analysis on ecosystem services, biodiversity and agricultural production in forest-agriculture landscapes and the interactions between them

Crop production, biodiversity (conservation/degradation), food security indicators within and outside proximity to tree cover

The analysed impact (quantitative/qualitative) of biodiversity, ecosystem function, food security on identified Comparators

Scoping studyMain terms• Forest-agriculture landscapes• Agroforestry systems• Farming/cropping systems

Exposure terms Ecosystem services and dis-services

Outcome terms Crop productivity Resource use efficiency (RUE) Biodiversity conservation/degradation

OR/AND

OR/AND

ES in general  ES in Agriculture Measured0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1070

192

39

Num

ber o

f studies 

Scoping study

Scopus search

30% on pollination

services alone

Research topics for discussion

Topic 1Multi-functional landscapes for food and

biodiversity conservation What is the contribution of ecosystem services in multi-

functional landscapes to agriculture and food security?

How do different agricultural production systems in forest-agricultural landscapes benefit from and affect biodiversity to varying extents?

Are smallholder production systems enhanced by proximity to trees and forests and what is the impact of these systems on forest biodiversity and sustainability of ecosystems services provisioning? 

Topic 2

Ecosystem services and dis-services in forest-agriculture landscapes.

What are the ecosystem services and dis-services in forest-agriculture landscapes how do they contribution to agriculture and food security?

What are the inter-linkages between ecosystems services and dis-service, agricultural systems and biodiversity and how do these interact in forest-agriculture landscapes?

Discussion

Thank you

Review timeline…

Gauging relevance of systematic review in expert discussion 30th September 2013

Complete draft protocol early November 2013 1st stakeholder meeting late November 2013 Submit draft protocol early December 2013

Linking Ecosystem Services and Food Security (Richardson et al. 2010)

Wild pollinators enhance flowering and fruit set (Garibaldi et al. 2013)

Buffering of extreme weather conditions to allow for cultivation (Tougiani et al. 2009)

Nitrogen fixation by trees substitute for purchased inputs and better soil fertility (Sendzimir et al. 2011)

Nutrient cycling between tree-fallow-crop ecosystems (Power 2010)

Water regulation and conservation for crop uptake in dry season (Jose 2009)