Impact of oil palm plantations on the structure of the agroforestry mosaic of La Gamba, southern Costa Rica: potential implications for biodiversity

Abstract

Human activities often cause changes and homogenization in landscape structure. To investigate the impact of changing cultivation systems on structural and functional aspects of a tropical agroforestry system, we developed satellite based land cover maps of the La Gamba area in southwestern Costa Rica and refined them by mapping fine-scale linear landscape elements. Performing a landscape pattern analysis, we compared eight sections of the study area by landscape metrics. Furthermore we performed a Morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) for hypothetical non-forest, forest generalist and forest specialist species, and compared the current situation to a possible future scenario with double the area covered by oil palm plantations after a virtual conversion of other agricultural patches. The heterogeneous rural sections clearly differed from the homogeneous forests and especially pasture-dominated rural sections included many diverse, small and elongated patches, many linear landscape elements but few big plantations. According to the scenario with double the area covered by oil palm plantations, non-forest species lost large parts of their habitat, while forest species mainly lost corridors. The protection of natural landscape elements that support wildlife movement between forest areas is of major importance, particularly as the globally increasing cultivation of oil palm is significantly altering many tropical land mosaics, including the countryside of La Gamba. We propose the establishment of eight least cost path corridor routes in the study area to make the agricultural area pervious for wildlife.

Landscapes, at your service: applications of the Restoration Opportunities Optimization Tool (ROOT)

“…The presence of natural landscape elements, such as forest patches, riparian forests and live fences, can decrease habitat fragmentation by improving ecological connectivity (Fischer et al, 2006;Harvey et al, 2005;Höbinger et al, 2012;Seaman & Schulze, 2010). An additional restoration prioritisation map is thus added as a final input for the identification of priority areas.…”

Study on Landscape Design of Horticulture Industry Park based on Modern Agriculture

“…First, the overall upgrade design [7]. In general, the modern agricultural park landscape volume is large, in the transformation of the design, it should be from the park status, function, design theme and other overall point of view, the park landscape according to different functions of the district, give full play to the main agricultural Features.…”

Agroforestry landscapes and global change: landscape ecology tools for management and conservation

“…The second set of papers (Baran-Zgłobicka and Zglobicki 2011; Höbinger et al 2011) analysed the impact on agroforestry landscapes due to changes in the intensification of agriculture in two contrasted regions: Europe and Central America. The first paper (Baran-Zglobicka and Zglobicki 2011) analysed the impact of Poland's accession to the EU on the traditional agriculture practices, which were characterised by small, familyowned holdings.…”

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