Ecological Development and function of Shelterbelts in Temperate North America

Mize, Carl W.; Brandle, James R.; Schoeneberger, Michele; Bentrup, Gary

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6572-9_3

Cited by 36 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…More water can mean higher production, leading to important economic benefits to farmers [80]. On a farmstead, windbreaks can decrease the heating and cooling needs for living and working spaces by reducing indoor air exchange caused by wind [81].…”

Section: Windbreaksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroforestry—The Next Step in Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture

2016

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Agriculture faces the unprecedented task of feeding a world population of 9 billion people by 2050 while simultaneously avoiding harmful environmental and social effects. One effort to meet this challenge has been organic farming, with outcomes that are generally positive. However, a number of challenges remain. Organic yields lag behind those in conventional agriculture, and greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching remain somewhat problematic. In this paper, we examine current organic and conventional agriculture systems and suggest that agroforestry, which is the intentional combination of trees and shrubs with crops or livestock, could be the next step in sustainable agriculture. By implementing systems that mimic nature's functions, agroforestry has the potential to remain productive while supporting a range of ecosystem services. In this paper, we outline the common practices and products of agroforestry as well as beneficial environmental and social effects. We address barriers to agroforestry and explore potential options to alter policies and increase adoption by farmers. We conclude that agroforestry is one of the best land use strategies to contribute to food security while simultaneously limiting environmental degradation.

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Section: Windbreaksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroforestry—The Next Step in Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture

2016

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“…Hedgerows, windbreaks, fence lines and field edges, silvopasture, and other woody vegetation are examples of agroforestry found in agroecosystems. These examples of planned diversity (Matson et al 1997) provide environmental benefits including mitigation of climate change (Schoeneberger 2009), regulation of nonpoint source pollution (Udawatta et al 2011), and provisioning of habitat for native pollinator and wildlife species (Mize et al 2008, Batáry et al 2011). This case study draws upon wildlife conservation efforts in the eastern half of Nebraska via woody cover in the extensive and intensive agricultural systems emblematic of the Midwestern United States.…”

Section: Case Study #2: Agroecosystems In the Midwest And Great Plainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of a coupled human natural system framework to organize and frame challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation on private lands.

Quinn¹,

Wood²

2017

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Conservation science addresses the complementary goals of preventing future biodiversity loss while sustaining critical human foundations. In this paper we use two case studies focused on land management to discuss how private lands conservation can be more effective by considering how planning and decision making reflects a coupled human and natural system (CHANS). The first case study focuses on conservation easements in the temperate forests of eastern United States; the second focuses on conservation opportunities in Midwestern agroecosystems, in particular the value of agroforestry. For each case study we discuss the natural and human subsystems, how elements and interactions within and between subsystems (as organized by elements of CHANS) create challenges and opportunities for conservation, and the importance of considering relevant scales of subsystems. Review of these case studies demonstrates that additional insight gained by using a CHANS perspective, particularly given how the subsystems interact at different scales, improves identification of important points of social and ecological overlap, ultimately enhancing conservation research, planning, and practice.

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“…‚ Predators (fox, coyote, wolf) of livestock and crop damaging species (deer, elk) may use tree corridors to travel on farmland [198]. ‚ Heavy poplar browsing by cervids and beaver can results in poor tree survival/establishment [104,163,164,199], and thus poor ecosystem service provision.…”

Section: Habitat Provisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential for Hybrid Poplar Riparian Buffers to Provide Ecosystem Services in Three Watersheds with Contrasting Agricultural Land Use

Fortier¹,

Truax²,

Gagnon³

2016

Forests

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Abstract:In temperate agricultural watersheds, the rehabilitation of tree vegetation in degraded riparian zones can provide many ecosystem services. This study evaluated ecosystem service provision potential following the conversion of non-managed herbaceous buffers to hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) buffers in three watersheds (555-771 km 2 ) of southern Québec (Canada), with contrasting agricultural land uses. To extrapolate services at the watershed level, total stream length where hybrid poplars could be established was calculated using GIS data from hydrological and land cover maps. After nine years, a 100% replacement of herbaceous buffers by hybrid poplar buffers along farm streams could lead to the production of 5280-76,151 tons of whole tree (stems + branches) biomass, which could heat 0.5-6.5 ha of greenhouses for nine years, with the potential of displacing 2-29 million litres of fuel oil. Alternatively, the production of 3887-56,135 tons of stem biomass (fuelwood) could heat 55-794 new farmhouses or 40-577 old farmhouses for nine years. Producing fuelwood in buffers rather than in farm woodlots could create forest conservation opportunities on 300-4553 ha. Replacing all herbaceous buffers by poplar buffers could provide potential storage of 2984-42,132 t C, 29-442 t N and 3-56 t P in plant biomass, if woody biomass is not harvested. The greatest potential for services provision was in the Pike River watershed where agriculture is the dominant land use. A review of the potential services of poplar buffers is made, and guidelines for managing services and disservices are provided.

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Ecological Development and function of Shelterbelts in Temperate North America

Cited by 36 publications

References 80 publications

Agroforestry—The Next Step in Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture

Agroforestry—The Next Step in Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture

Application of a coupled human natural system framework to organize and frame challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation on private lands.

Potential for Hybrid Poplar Riparian Buffers to Provide Ecosystem Services in Three Watersheds with Contrasting Agricultural Land Use

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