Developing a Landscape Design Approach for the Sustainable Land Management of Hill Country Farms in New Zealand

Duy X. Tran, Diane Pearson, Alan Palmer and David Gray
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Duy X. Tran: School of Agriculture and Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4414, New Zealand
Diane Pearson: School of Agriculture and Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4414, New Zealand
Alan Palmer: School of Agriculture and Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4414, New Zealand
David Gray: School of Agriculture and Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4414, New Zealand

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-29

Abstract: Landscape modification associated with agricultural intensification has brought considerable challenges for the sustainable development of New Zealand hill country farms. Addressing these challenges requires an appropriate approach to support farmers and design a better landscape that can have beneficial environmental outcomes whilst ensuring continued profitability. In this paper we suggest using geodesign and theories drawn from landscape ecology to plan and design multifunctional landscapes that offer improved sustainability for hill country farm systems and landscapes in New Zealand. This approach suggests that better decisions can be made by considering the major landscape services that are, and could be, provided by the landscapes in which these farm systems are situated. These important services should be included in future landscape design of hill country by creating a patterning and configuration of landscape features that actively maintains or restores important landscape functioning. This will help to improve landscape health and promote landscape resilience in the face of climate change. Through illustrating the potential of this type of approach for wider adoption we believe that the proposed conceptual framework offers a valuable reference for sustainable farm system design that can make an important contribution to advancing environmental management globally as well as in New Zealand.

Keywords: multifunctional landscapes; landscape services; geodesign; landscape ecology; agricultural landscape planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:6:p:185-:d:366943

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