Decision making under the scope of forest policy: sustainable agroforestry systems in less favoured areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
Jason Papathanasiou ◽  
Stefanos Tsiaras
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Agroforestry Systems

scholarly journals Implications of Temperate Agroforestry on Sheep and Cattle Productivity, Environmental Impacts and Enterprise Economics. A Systematic Evidence Map

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1321
Author(s):  
Matthew W. Jordon ◽  
Kathy J. Willis ◽  
William J. Harvey ◽  
Leo Petrokofsky ◽  
Gillian Petrokofsky
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Evidence Map ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Temperate Agroforestry ◽  
Heat And Cold Stress ◽  
Context Specific

The environmental impacts of ruminant livestock farming need to be mitigated to improve the sustainability of food production. These negative impacts have been compounded by the increased spatial and cultural separation of farming and forestry across multiple temperate landscapes and contexts over recent centuries, and could at least in part be alleviated by re-integration of livestock and trees via agroforestry systems. Such integration also has the potential to benefit the productivity and economics of livestock farming. However, the delivery of hoped-for benefits is highly likely to depend on context, which will necessitate the consideration of local synergies and trade-offs. Evaluating the extensive body of research on the synergies and trade-offs between agroforestry and environmental, productivity and economic indicators would provide a resource to support context-specific decision making by land managers. Here, we present a systematic evidence map of academic and grey literature to address the question “What are the impacts of temperate agroforestry systems on sheep and cattle productivity, environmental impacts and farm economic viability?”. We followed good practice guidance from the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence to find and select relevant studies to create an interactive systematic map. We identified 289 relevant studies from 22 countries across temperate regions of North and South America, Australasia and Europe. Our preliminary synthesis indicates that there is an emerging evidence base to demonstrate that temperate agroforestry can deliver environmental and economic benefits compared with pasture without trees. However, to date measures of livestock productivity (particularly weather-related mortality and heat- and cold-stress) have received insufficient attention in many temperate agroforestry systems. The evidence base assembled through this work provides a freely accessible resource applicable across temperate regions to support context-specific decision making.

Experiences with participatory approaches in the forestry field in Flanders

2001 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Lust
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Participatory Approaches ◽  
Forestry Sector ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Forest Legislation ◽  
External Actors

Participation  into the forestry decision making is in Flanders not to be considered as a  real new    fact. A number of important forestry topics can be mentioned; whereby  participation played a    role: (1) forest legislation and forest policy; (2) management plans; (3)  National Forest Plan; (4)    criteria for sustainable forestry; (5) the Spatial Structure Plan Flanders;  (6) establishment of    urban forests.    The Forest administration, the Flemish Supreme Forestry Council, forest  owners, forest    associations and scientific institutes are well known internal actors,  whereas the agricultural    sector and the nature conservation sector are the most salient external  actors.    However, a distinction must be made between participation and external  pressure. Real    participation supposes that it is institutionalized and that it is  considered as a normal fact. Today,    the pressure behind the screen is very great and the real decision making  obviously occurs    there. At least the impression exists that external actors such as the  economic sector, the nature    sector and the agricultural sector, which are often not directly involved  in the forest decision    making, pIesently ore determine many forest policy topics than the forestry  sector itself.    Besides, participation is not a priori a basis of success.

The Evaluation of the Implementation of Sustainability Norms

2013 ◽  
pp. 32-45
Author(s):  
Helga Pülzl ◽  
Doris Wydra
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Problem Analysis ◽  
Practical Deliberation ◽  
Interactive Process ◽  
Democratic Dialogue ◽  
The World ◽  
Dominant Paradigm ◽  
Brundtland Report

Since the Brundtland report the world is still struggling to solve the riddle of sustainability. If there is no “blueprint” for implementing sustainable development, the practical meaning has to emerge out of an interactive process of social dialogue and reflection. Sustainability therefore goes through a constant process of redefinition and interpretation. This question of values and different approaches to implementation becomes particularly important when decision-making and the evaluation of the implementation is taking place in different fora. According to the dominant paradigm the policy process is a linear exercise of problem solving, i.e., the problem is identified, data for the problem analysis is collected and according advice is given to the policy-maker to enable his decision, which is then implemented. The implementation is evaluated by experts who determine the merit, worth or value of the result of this process, thus deciding upon its effectiveness. Against this dominant view, the authors hold that the purpose of evaluation and policy analysis is more than simply “client-oriented” advice, but should be rather about democratic dialogue and critique. Building on the methods of practical deliberation a model for evaluating sustainable development is built using the example of forest policy.

The diversity of ancient woodlands in Austria: Historical developments and contemporary social importance

2018 ◽  
pp. 155-181
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Johann
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Historical Developments ◽  
Social Importance

Austrian landscapes range from plains at approximately 100 metres above sea-level to the Alps with peaks at almost 4,000 m. With a share of 47% the forest surface is an important element.One can assume that forests have been used intensively in the course of time and have been impacted by an increasing industry and population, but also by climate change. In some areas the utilization caused the modification of forest stands in particular with regard to the density, composition of tree species and age structure and reduced the extent of the forest area. However, despite these long-term interventions in the forest ecosystem the forests have never been cleared totally and about 30% of the territory remained wooded even in times of heavy exploitation. This is the reason why the share of natural forests is still relatively high. Today, some of these forests now form important assets of the Austrian network of protected forest areas. In this study I want to highlight the socioeconomic and ecological factors in the past which were responsible for this development. It will be illustrated by two case studies from different geographical regions. This examination can contribute to improving the knowledge base for decision making at the internodes of energy, biodiversity and forest policy as well as in forest resource management.

scholarly journals A Natural Capital Approach to Agroforestry Decision-Making at the Farm Scale

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zara E. Marais ◽  
Thomas P. Baker ◽  
Anthony P. O’Grady ◽  
Jacqueline R. England ◽  
Dugald Tinch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Private Benefits ◽  
Public Benefits ◽  
Current State ◽  
Farm Scale ◽  
Natural Capital Accounting ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Made In

Background: Agroforestry systems can improve the provision of ecosystem services at the farm scale whilst improving agricultural productivity, thereby playing an important role in the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Natural capital accounting offers a framework for demonstrating the capacity of agroforestry systems to deliver sustained private benefits to farming enterprises, but traditionally is applied at larger scales than those at which farmers make decisions. Methods: Here we review the current state of knowledge on natural capital accounting and analyse how such an approach may be effectively applied to demonstrate the farm-scale value of agroforestry assets. We also discuss the merits of applying a natural capital approach to agroforestry decision-making and present an example of a conceptual model for valuation of agroforestry assets at the farm scale. Results: Our findings suggest that with further development of conceptual models to support existing tools and frameworks, a natural capital approach could be usefully applied to improve decision-making in agroforestry at the farm scale. Using this approach to demonstrate the private benefits of agroforestry systems could also encourage adoption of agroforestry, increasing public benefits such as biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. However, to apply this approach, improvements must be made in our ability to predict the types and amounts of services that agroforestry assets of varying condition provide at the farm or paddock scale.

The Evaluation of the Implementation of Sustainability Norms

2012 ◽  
pp. 869-882
Author(s):  
Helga Pülzl ◽  
Doris Wydra
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Problem Analysis ◽  
Practical Deliberation ◽  
Interactive Process ◽  
Democratic Dialogue ◽  
The World ◽  
Dominant Paradigm ◽  
Brundtland Report

Since the Brundtland report the world is still struggling to solve the riddle of sustainability. If there is no “blueprint” for implementing sustainable development, the practical meaning has to emerge out of an interactive process of social dialogue and reflection. Sustainability therefore goes through a constant process of redefinition and interpretation. This question of values and different approaches to implementation becomes particularly important when decision-making and the evaluation of the implementation is taking place in different fora. According to the dominant paradigm the policy process is a linear exercise of problem solving, i.e., the problem is identified, data for the problem analysis is collected and according advice is given to the policy-maker to enable his decision, which is then implemented. The implementation is evaluated by experts who determine the merit, worth or value of the result of this process, thus deciding upon its effectiveness. Against this dominant view, the authors hold that the purpose of evaluation and policy analysis is more than simply “client-oriented” advice, but should be rather about democratic dialogue and critique. Building on the methods of practical deliberation a model for evaluating sustainable development is built using the example of forest policy.

scholarly journals Timber production in smallholder agroforestry systems: Justifications for pro-poor forest policy in Peru

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sears R. ◽  
Cronkleton P. ◽  
Perez-Ojeda del Arco M. ◽  
Robiglio V. ◽  
Putzel L. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Policy ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Timber Production

scholarly journals USING GUYANA’S MONITORING REPORTING & VERIFICATION SYSTEM TO GUIDE NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT & DECISION MAKING

2020 ◽  
Vol XLII-3/W11 ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
N. Dewnath ◽  
P. Bholanath ◽  
R. Rivas Palma ◽  
B. Freeman ◽  
P. Watt
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Science Data ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Verification System ◽  
Forest Area Change

Abstract. The Guyana Forestry Commission’s (GFC) Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System (MRVS) is a combined Geographic Information System (GIS) and field-based monitoring system, which has underpinned the conducting of a historical assessment of forest cover as well as eight national assessments of forest area change to date. The System seeks to provide the basis for measuring verifiable changes in Guyana’s forest cover and resultant carbon emissions from Guyana’s forests, which will provide the basis for results-based REDD+ compensation in the long-term. With the continuous compilation, analysis and dissemination of MRVS results on a typically annual basis, the GFC envisioned a larger role for this data, in informing national processes such as natural resources policy and management. This resulted in a significant broadening of the application of the MRVS data and products for purposes that are aligned or complementary to national REDD+ objectives and forest policy and management. These broader applications have allowed for a beneficial shift towards the increased use of remote sensing data and scientific reporting to inform forest management, governance and decision making on natural resource management across forested land. This has resulted in a transformation in the nature of data available to inform decision making on forest management and governance, and overall environmental oversight, from predominantly social science data and factors to now incorporating remote sensing and scientific observations and reporting. Primary decision makers are turning to scientific based reporting to determine best approaches for developmental initiatives in Guyana. This study shows how Guyana has demonstrated significant progress in making remote sensing products accessible and useful to policy makers in Guyana.

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