Environmental changes in biodiversity hotspot ecosystems of
South Ecuador: RESPonse and feedback effECTs (FOR2730)

Abstract:

Schemes that reward developing countries for the mitigation of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions through preservation and restoration of their forests are becoming more common. However, efforts to reduce GHG emissions must also consider food production. This creates an apparent conflict, since agricultural production ? a key driver of GHG emissions as a consequence of forest clearance ? will increase as human populations continue to grow. We argue that a mix of small cropland and forest parcels enables sustainable intensification of agriculture by minimizing soil degradation . Economic analyses of the mixed land-use concept suggest an improvement of long-term economic performance by 19?25% relative to conventional industrial agriculture. Adopting this approach requires farm management plans, landscape zoning, and new instruments to finance sustainable agriculture. We conclude that climate policy and food production are reconciled through an integrative landscape concept that combines sustainable intensification of agriculture and reforestation of abandoned lands.