Bio-engineering multi-functional silvopastoral landscapes: A case study in Nicaragua

MF-Landscapes aims at understanding how to bio-engineer livestock production landscapes in Nicaragua, i. e. how to exploit new opportunities and solve problems within the domain of a multifunctional silvopastoral system (SP) that maximizes provisioning of ecosystem services and economically efficient food production at the farm and landscape level. We will assess the multiple functions and services that SP can provide in two study areas with different climate, which of these functions and services are far mer priorities and which factors determine the farmer?s choice of SP species. Second, we will link these services to SP species functional attributes and assess which species combinations can best serve multi-function SPS at the farm and landscape scale, analyzing trade-offs and synergies between functions. Third, using models that take into account uncertainty, we will analyze the consequences of the farmer?s preferences on the provisioning of services at farm and landscape levels and make recommendation s on which mechanisms can be used to improve the benefits obtained from silvopastoral practice in the region.