| Title: | Model-based evaluation of land management strategies with regard to multiple ecosystem services |
| Authors: | Zarrineh, N., K.C. Abbaspour, A. van Griensven, B. Jeangros and A. Holzkämper |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Journal: | Sustainability |
| Volume (Issue): | 10(11) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 3844 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/su10113844 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic and pollutant |
| Primary Application Category: | land use change assessment |
| Secondary Application Category: | ecosystem and/or biodiversity services |
| Watershed Description: | 630 km^2 Broye River, located in the southwest part of the Swiss Central Plateau in southwest Switzerland. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | In agroecosystem management, conflicts between various services such as food provision
and nutrient regulation are common. This study examined the trade-offs between selected ecosystem
services such as food provision, water quantity and quality, erosion and climate regulations in an
agricultural catchment in Western Switzerland. The aim was to explore the existing land use conflicts
by a shift in land use and management strategy following two stakeholder-defined scenarios based on
either land sparing or land sharing concepts. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used
to build an agro-hydrologic model of the region, which was calibrated and validated based on daily
river discharge, monthly nitrate and annual crop yield, considering uncertainties associated with land
management set up and model parameterization. The results show that land sparing scenario has the
highest agricultural benefit, while also the highest nitrate concentration and GHG emissions. The land
sharing scenario improves water quality and climate regulation services and reduces food provision.
The management changes considered in the two land use scenarios did not seem to reduce the conflict
but only led to a shift in trade-offs. Water quantity and erosion regulation remain unaffected by the
two scenarios. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | SWAT model; model parameterization; land sharing; land sparing; water quantity;
water quality; greenhouse gas emissions; agriculture; multifunctionality |