Exploring the relationships between farm management, biphysiscal and sociocultural factors in ecosystem service coproduction

Authors and Affiliations: 

Mario Torralba (1), Elisa Oteros-Rozas (1,2), Gerardo Moreno (3), Tobias Plieninger (1)

(1) Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Fredriksberg C, Denmark
(2) Social and Participatory Action Research Group, Department of Social Anthropology, Basic Psychology and Public Health, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
(3) Forestry School, INDEHESA, University of Extremadura, Plasencia 10600, Spain

Corresponding author: 
Mario Torralba
Email: 
mtv@ign.ku.dk
Abstract: 

Traditionally characterized by multifunctional low-intensity management that enhanced a wide range of ecosystem services, dehesas are complex social-ecological systems which are product of a long-term interaction between society and the landscape in which it is embedded. However, current farm management has shifted from traditional towards more intensified farm models. This paper assesses the coproduction of ecosystem services (ES) in the dehesas by exploring the relationship between biophysical and sociocultural factors and farm management practices. Based on 42 farm surveys and using multivariate techniques, we explore the synergies and tradeoffs associated with the farm management, analyzing how biophysical and sociocultural factors influence the range of management styles based on 16 quantitative farm management indicators, biophysical factors and sociocultural factors. The results show that farm management is the outcome of the dynamics between biophysical and sociocultural factors, which influence farmers’ choices about what to prioritize and to invest in. We find that in the study area, the interaction between all the above-mentioned element covariates consistently, generating in the study area bundles of ES associated with three management styles depending on the intensity of the farm management.

References: 

Fischer, A., Eastwood, A., 2016. Coproduction of ecosystem services as human–nature interactions - An analytical framework. Land Use Policy 52, 41–50. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.12.004

Garrido, P., Elbakidze, M., Angelstam, P., Plieninger, T., Pulido, F., Moreno, G., 2017. Stakeholder perspectives of wood-pasture ecosystem services: A case study from Iberian dehesas. Land Use Policy 60, 324–333. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.10.022

Plieninger, T., Hartel, T., Martín-López, B., Beaufoy, G., Bergmeier, E., Kirby, K., Montero, M.J., Moreno, G., Oteros-Rozas, E., Van Uytvanck, J., 2015. Wood-pastures of Europe: Geographic coverage, social–ecological values, conservation management, and policy implications. Biol. Conserv. 190, 70–79. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.05.014

Palomo, I., Felipe-Lucia, M.R., Bennett, E.M., Martín-López, B., Pascual, U., 2016. Disentangling the Pathways and Effects of Ecosystem Service Co-Production. Advances in Ecological Research. 54, 245–283. doi:10.1016/bs.aecr.2015.09.003

Symposium: 
Beyond the mosaic: a better characterisation of landscapes would help to understand ecological patterns and processes
Oral or poster: 
Oral presentation
Attachment: 
PDF icon exploring-relationships-between-farm-management-biphysiscal-and-sociocultural-factors-ecosystem.pdf
Abstract order: 
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