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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212145
Title: Managing multi-scale diversity to support multiple ecosystem services in complex landscapes

Author
item Havstad, Kris
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item HUBER-SANNWALD, B. - IPICYT
item LIBERMAN, MAXIMO - LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
item AYARZA, M - CIAT
item BROWN, J. - NRCS
item REYNOLDS, J - DUKE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2007
Publication Date: 5/22/2007
Citation: Herrick, J.E., Havstad, K.M., Bestelmeyer, B.T., Huber-Sannwald, B.T., Liberman, M., Ayarza, M., Brown, J.R., Reynolds, J. 2007. Managing multi-scale diversity to support multiple ecosystem services in complex landscapes. [Abstract]. Ecological Complexity and Sustainability Abstracts of EcoSummit 2007. May 22-26, 2007, Beijing, China. p. 115. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Landscapes around the world are undergoing dramatic changes in response to agricultural intensification, expansion, and abandonment. These changes can simultaneously increase and reduce diversity at different scales. The objective of this paper is to explore the relative importance of the nature, scale and pattern of these changes in determining the effects of land use change (LUC) on ecosystem services including food and fiber production, soil and water conservation and carbon sequestration. We will briefly describe three case studies that illustrate the value of considering diversity at multiple scales when assess the effects of LUC in global agroecosystems. These case studies include (1) expansion and mechanization of quinoa production in the southern altiplano of Bolivia, (2) adoption of an agroforestry system in western Honduras and the potential effects of increased livestock use of crop residues, and (3) agricultural land abandonment and changes inland use patterns in northern Mexico. We will also consider how studying the effects of land use changes at different scales can lead to very different conclusions about their effects on different ecosystem services.