Main Agroecological Structure (MAS) as a Tool for Resilient Farm Planning
Friday, 2024/01/05 | 08:46:15
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Figure: By Neidy Clavijo and Thomas Gómez, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana CGIAR January 4 2024
In the endeavor to co-design cocoa and livestock low-emission agri-food systems that foster peace, sustainability, and resilience to climate change in the Caquetá department of Colombia, understanding the intricate biophysical and social dynamics of these agroecosystems is of paramount importance. This comprehension is essential for gauging the resilience of these systems in the face of climate change.
Therefore, the analysis of the Main Agroecological Structure (MAS) becomes an invaluable tool for evaluating agroecosystems in their biophysical and cultural complexity, contributing to the planning of low-emission agri-food systems resilient to disturbances. This method evaluates the design, landscape connectivity, and management of cocoa and livestock agroecosystems to propose potential strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate variability. Concurrently, it aims to produce food and enhance the livelihoods of farmers.
The MAS considers the internal spatial arrangement of farms, as well as the landscape structure surrounding them. It assesses the distance between cocoa and livestock agroecosystems and their relationship with surrounding fragments of natural vegetation cover, water sources, and the extent and diversity of internal connectors (Map 1). Consequently, five ecosystem criteria are evaluated to obtain the MAS: Connection with the main Ecological Structure of the Landscape (CESL), Extension of External Connectors (EEC), Diversification of External Connectors (DEC), Extension of Internal Connectors (EIC), and Diversification of Internal Connectors (DIC). Additionally, five cultural criteria are utilized for the set of social relationships: Land Use (LU), Agricultural Management Practices (AMP), Conservation Practices (CP), Perception-Awareness-Knowledge (PAK), and Capacity for Action (CA).
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