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Review

A Natural Capital Approach to Agroforestry Decision-Making at the Farm Scale

by
Zara E. Marais
1,*,
Thomas P. Baker
1,
Anthony P. O’Grady
2,
Jacqueline R. England
3,
Dugald Tinch
4 and
Mark A. Hunt
1
1
School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, ARC Industrial Training Centre for Forest Value, Sandy Bay, TAS 7001, Australia
2
CSIRO Land and Water, Sandy Bay, TAS 7001, Australia
3
CSIRO Land and Water, Clayton South, VIC 3169, Australia
4
Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS 7001, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Forests 2019, 10(11), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10110980
Submission received: 23 September 2019 / Revised: 1 November 2019 / Accepted: 1 November 2019 / Published: 5 November 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroforestry Systems: The Role of Trees in Ecosystem Services—A Special Issue in Collaboration with the 4th World Congress on Agroforestry)
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Abstract

:
Background: Agroforestry systems can improve the provision of ecosystem services at the farm scale whilst improving agricultural productivity, thereby playing an important role in the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Natural capital accounting offers a framework for demonstrating the capacity of agroforestry systems to deliver sustained private benefits to farming enterprises, but traditionally is applied at larger scales than those at which farmers make decisions. Methods: Here we review the current state of knowledge on natural capital accounting and analyse how such an approach may be effectively applied to demonstrate the farm-scale value of agroforestry assets. We also discuss the merits of applying a natural capital approach to agroforestry decision-making and present an example of a conceptual model for valuation of agroforestry assets at the farm scale. Results: Our findings suggest that with further development of conceptual models to support existing tools and frameworks, a natural capital approach could be usefully applied to improve decision-making in agroforestry at the farm scale. Using this approach to demonstrate the private benefits of agroforestry systems could also encourage adoption of agroforestry, increasing public benefits such as biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. However, to apply this approach, improvements must be made in our ability to predict the types and amounts of services that agroforestry assets of varying condition provide at the farm or paddock scale.

Graphical Abstract

1. Introduction

1.1. Background

The projected increase in global demand for agricultural commodities is expected to be met mainly through the continued intensification of agricultural production [1]. Production gains to-date have placed pressure on stocks of natural capital and the ecosystem services that they provide [2,3,4]. Future strategies for intensification must balance the need to increase yields with objectives such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, improved soil and water management, and the protection of ecosystem services that support production [5]. Agroforestry is one land management strategy that farmers could employ to meet this challenge. Agroforestry describes any land-use system, practice, or technology, where woody perennials are integrated with agricultural crops and/or animals in the same land management unit (e.g., shelterbelts, alley cropping, integrated remnant vegetation) [6]. Proponents of agroforestry describe it as a ‘win-win’ approach, as carefully designed systems can balance the production of food, fibre, and fuel while restoring natural capital and thereby enhancing the provision of ecosystem services (e.g., erosion control, microclimate regulation) [7]. Increasing forest cover is also the cheapest and most direct method to reduce atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases [8], and while most of this is likely to occur on land unsuitable for agriculture, agroforestry has been recognised as an important component of this reforestation effort [9].
Although the benefits of agroforestry systems are well-researched, adoption of agroforestry in temperate developed agricultural systems, particularly in Australia, remains constrained [10,11]. While technical, social and policy impediments exist [12], studies have shown that the perceived economic value of trees is often an important determinant of a farmer’s decision to adopt agroforestry [13,14]. Clear demonstration of the capacity of agroforestry systems to deliver long-term economic benefits to the farm enterprise may therefore improve levels of uptake [15], which could increase delivery of public benefits such as biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Concepts that capture both commercial and non-commercial benefits, such as the valuation of ecosystem services as part of a broader natural capital accounting approach, may be useful tools in this regard. These concepts may also be useful for developing tools that improve agroforestry-related decision-making at the farm scale (i.e., deciding what type of agroforestry system best suits the objectives of the enterprise). This review considers how a natural capital approach, which has traditionally been applied at national or regional scales, may be practically applied to demonstrate the value of agroforestry systems and improve agroforestry decision-making at the farm or paddock scale.

1.2. Natural Capital and Agriculture

Natural capital is the stock of renewable and non-renewable resources (e.g., plants, animals, air, water, soils, and minerals) that combine to yield a flow of ecosystem services, which in turn provide a variety of benefits to people [16,17]. All industries depend to some extent on natural capital and its benefits, and most businesses also impact on natural capital through their operations or use of products. Primary industries are particularly reliant on stocks of natural capital. In the case of agriculture, producers manage stocks of natural capital to deliver provisioning services in the form of food and fibre. At the same time, management activities may affect the capacity of the same natural capital to provide services into the future. Because interactions between agricultural businesses and natural capital may not immediately affect market values, cash flows, or prices, impacts and dependencies on natural capital are typically considered externalities and are often under-valued or not considered at all in valuation. Intensified production coupled with a failure to account for impacts on natural capital has led to the depletion of natural capital stocks (e.g., soil, biodiversity, water, vegetation) across many of the world’s agricultural landscapes [18,19,20].
To address this, approaches that account for impacts and dependencies on natural capital have recently been developed [21,22,23]. Building on several decades of environmental economics research [24], natural capital accounting provides information on the stocks and flows of natural resources in a given ecosystem, region, or indeed enterprise, in physical or monetary terms. This information facilitates measurement and tracking of natural capital and an examination of how actions inhibit or improve its capacity to generate goods and services on an ongoing basis. Most natural capital accounting work that has been undertaken to-date focuses on valuing natural capital stocks for the purpose of conserving biodiversity at global, national, and regional scales [22,25,26]. While interest in the application of natural capital accounting to agriculture is increasing, particularly with the recent release of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) AgriFood report [27], the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [28], and the Natural Capital Finance Alliance Agriculture Sector Guide [29], the concept is rarely applied in the context of farm-scale decision-making.
When applied to agriculture at the farm scale, natural capital accounting can be used to determine the nature and magnitude of a farming operation’s impacts and dependencies on natural capital and the associated business risks and opportunities [21,29,30]. This can help farmers and investors identify the specific types and levels of farming activity that pose material risks in terms of impacts or dependencies on natural capital. Conversely, the same approach can be used to identify management interventions that reduce these risks. In the case of agroforestry, there may be unexploited potential to increase adoption by using natural capital accounting to demonstrate farm-scale benefits or avenues for risk mitigation. Where sufficient information is available, these concepts can also be applied to compare the benefits of alternative agroforestry scenarios at the paddock or farm scale (Section 3).

1.3. Approach

In Section 2, we consider how a natural capital accounting framework could be applied to demonstrate the economic benefits of agroforestry at the farm scale and whether existing methods for quantifying and valuing ecosystem services are suitable in this context, based on a review of:
  • The conceptual framework for natural capital accounting (Section 2.1);
  • Methods for quantifying ecosystem services at the farm scale (Section 2.2);
  • Methods for valuing ecosystem services at the farm scale (Section 2.3).
In Section 3 we discuss how natural capital accounting may be usefully and practically applied to improve farm-scale agroforestry decision-making (Section 3.1 and Section 3.2). We present an example of a conceptual model that could be used to this effect (Section 3.3). This conceptual model is based on the findings of existing reviews on ecosystem services in agroforestry systems, as well as direct references from farmers. We also highlight the challenges and opportunities presented by this decision-making approach and suggest areas for further research (Section 3.3).

2. Natural Capital at the Farm Scale

2.1. Applying the Natural Capital Accounting Framework to Agroforestry

The conceptual framework underpinning natural capital accounting (Figure 1) consists of natural capital assets which, depending on their condition, provide a flow of ecosystem services from which we derive value in the form of benefits to business and society. In the context of agroforestry systems, the asset is the integrated ‘woody’ component, e.g., shelterbelts, woodlots, or integrated remnant vegetation. Ecosystem services and benefits provided by these assets are likely to be numerous and diverse and will depend on the condition of the vegetation (e.g., composition, structure, configuration) [31].
Identification of ecosystem services and the benefits that they yield is central to the natural capital accounting framework. To reduce inconsistencies in measurement and valuation of services due to omission and/or double counting, the concept of ‘final ecosystem services’ [32] has been developed within ecosystem accounting frameworks. ‘Final services’ are directly obtained by specific human beneficiaries and are distinct from ecosystem functions/processes, or ‘supporting services’ (e.g., photosynthesis) [32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39]. Although the term ‘final services’ has been retained there is growing consensus among experts that, to reflect the role that they play in producing final services, ‘intermediate’ services (e.g., pollination) must also be considered in ecosystem accounting [40]. This is an important development in the context of agroforestry systems, as most of the services provided by agroforestry assets are considered intermediate. Although the debate on ecosystem accounting approaches and ecosystem service classification is ongoing [41], coverage of this debate is beyond the scope of this review. Rather, current classification concepts are used in this review to identify relevant ecosystem services for the purpose of discussing the merit of valuing these services to aid in farm-scale decision-making. The classification system currently used in the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting–Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA), Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) [42], applies a suitably broad interpretation of final ecosystem services, which includes several intermediate services and is therefore well-suited to agroforestry systems. An example of the application of CICES (V5.1) classification is provided below (Table 1) for a list of services compiled from several reviews on agroforestry ecosystem services [7,43,44]. The CICES system provides an efficient means of identifying and classifying ecosystem services in an agroforestry context, reduces double-counting, and allows for inclusion of the full range of services described in the cited reviews.
While there is a good understanding of the services that can be provided by agroforestry systems (Table 1), measurement or valuation of these services at the farm or paddock scale has been more limited. However, research in this area is developing rapidly, and there have been several recent studies that value a combination of private and public ecosystem services at the farm scale [45,46,47]. In Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 we consider the current methodologies for both measurement and valuation to determine their application to agroforestry at the farm scale.

2.2. Measuring Ecosystem Services at the Farm Scale

Measurement of ecosystem services (Figure 1) is often a pre-requisite to their valuation [48]. High demand for information to support decision-making in resource management has stimulated rapid progress in the development of approaches to measuring ecosystem services [49,50]. Here we provide an overview of the leading methods and tools for measuring ecosystem services and their suitability in the context of farm-scale measurement of services provided by agroforestry assets (see Table 1).
Availability and quality of primary data varies between different ecosystem services, but for many services, a lack of data is the most significant constraint to their quantification [51,52]. As a result, most quantitative estimates of ecosystem service provision at the landscape scale are based on secondary data or spatial proxies, which tend to be derived from either topographical data or land use land cover (LULC) datasets [53,54]. While estimates based on LULC proxies are useful for broad or rapid assessments over large areas [55,56], they are generally unsuitable for fine-scale (e.g., farm-scale) assessments as the coarse resolution of LULC data may not account for actual spatial variability in biophysical measurements of ecosystem services [52]. Importantly for farm-scale agroforestry assessments, readily available remotely sensed LULC data often fail to capture fine-scale landscape features such as shelterbelts and individual trees, which provide important ecosystem services at smaller scales. Use of LULC proxies also requires well-established links between land cover and ecosystem service provision. At a fine scale, ecosystem service provision is highly dependent on the condition of the natural capital (e.g., vegetation structure and composition). Although resolution of LULC data is improving, many aspects of condition remain difficult to establish from remotely sensed land cover data. This makes proxy-based techniques particularly unsuitable for farm-scale agroforestry assessments, where the condition of the asset (e.g., the configuration and height of a shelterbelt) has a significant influence on provision of key services (e.g., wind speed reduction).
One alternative to proxy-based measurement is the use of models that can capture processes at finer scales [57]. Models consider a wider set of local ecological variables as inputs and are therefore more reliable for fine-scale assessments, compared to LULC proxy-based measurement. One widely applied fine-scale modelling tool is InVEST: Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs [58]. InVEST estimates levels of ecosystem services and their economic value using a suite of models ranging in complexity from proxy-based mapping e.g., carbon sequestration, to complex site-specific process models, e.g., pollination services [59]. Its ability to capture relatively fine-scale processes makes InVEST a potentially useful tool for measuring agroforestry ecosystem services at the farm-scale, although to our knowledge, it has yet to be used for such purposes. Several other advanced models exist that cater specifically for agroforestry systems, although they focus primarily on provisioning services and typically require a high degree of technical competency, e.g., CABALA, Farm Forestry Toolbox, for predicting quantities of timber/fibre; Yield-SAFE, SCUAF, APSIM, for predicting crop growth with tree interactions; and SPIF, for timber and environmental outcomes [60,61,62,63,64,65,66].
To improve the breadth and usefulness of fine-scale models, we first need to improve our understanding of how different natural capital assets influence ecosystem service inflows to agricultural systems and how the condition of these assets affects the types and amounts of services provided. Simple field measurements could then be used as either direct indicators, or model inputs, to accurately quantify multiple ecosystem services. For example, the USDA Forest Service’s online toolkit ‘i-Tree’ contains a series of models that estimate ecosystem services provided by trees based on their physical properties [67]. Using simple input requirements, e.g., diameter at breast height, species, total height, alongside environmental and location variables, i-Tree employs a suite of models to forecast the provision of a range of services such as pollution reduction, public health benefits, carbon sequestration, and avoided run-off. While services important in an agroforestry context such as crop/livestock shelter, erosion control, indirect pollination and biological control are not yet included, an approach similar to i-Tree could be taken to quantify ecosystem services provided by agroforestry systems at the farm scale. However, we first need to address gaps in our understanding of how the condition of agroforestry assets (e.g., species composition, height, root depth, and configuration in relation to crops, livestock, and other landscape features) affects the services that they provide. Using these physical characteristics as inputs alongside environmental data, existing models may be able to predict quantities for several services including provisioning services (e.g., timber/fibre, food, and fuel), and regulating services (carbon sequestration, erosion control, and microclimate regulation).
One approach to improve accuracy of existing models is to conduct ‘bottom-up’ assessments where services are measured directly at the farm or paddock level, providing fine-resolution site-specific information that is directly relevant to the farmer. Sandhu et al. [68] and Porter et al. [69] measured biophysical indicators of multiple ecosystem services in order to compare land management techniques based on the value of services that they provide. These studies provide examples of how a wide range of services may be quantified at the farm or paddock scale based on observational data. In the case of cultural services where supply is more closely related to user appreciation than to ecosystem condition, measurement can also be achieved through incorporation of qualitative techniques such as interviews and surveys [45,70,71]. Participatory methods could be used in conjunction with biophysical measurement to ensure cultural ecosystem services are adequately represented in farm-scale assessments of agroforestry systems. Although broad uptake of bottom-up approaches is limited by the practical constraints and costs of data collection, they are likely to play an important role in improving the accuracy and relevance of existing models.
For measurement of ecosystem services provided by agroforestry systems at the farm scale, the key is striking an appropriate balance between practicality and the suitability of outputs for decision making. While rough estimates of ecosystem service supply can be derived relatively easily from an LULC proxy, farmers are generally faced with decisions at finer scales (i.e., the paddock or farm scale) that require more detailed site-specific information. In these cases, use of fine-scale models supported by quantitative and qualitative primary data appears to be the most appropriate approach to measuring a wide range of ecosystem services at the farm scale. While there are many promising techniques and packages that could be applied to agroforestry systems, there are still key gaps that need to be addressed, e.g., quantifying the impact of condition.

2.3. Valuing Ecosystem Services at the Farm Scale

Once ecosystem services have been quantified, the next step is to determine the extent to which these services are valued by relevant beneficiaries. Ecosystem service valuation may also be conceptualized as the measurement of the dividends or ‘ecosystem income’ yielded by natural capital [72,73,74]. As described by Fenichel et al. [74], marginal valuation of natural capital for the purpose of constructing accounts requires an understanding of the links between natural capital, human behaviour, and valued service flows. They identify the importance of political and social institutions in driving the management of ecosystem assets which impact upon the ecosystem income, or flow of value from ecosystem services. They further relate the values of ecosystem income and ecosystem stocks to sustainability at a country level, in essence as a measure of genuine savings [75]. However, accounting for the value of stocks of natural assets at this macro level is beyond the scope of this review, which focuses instead on the valuation of ecosystem service flows from agroforestry assets to inform decision-making at the farm or paddock scale. Here we describe methods for economic valuation of relevant ecosystem services (Table 2) and discuss different approaches to valuation of agroforestry systems at the farm scale. For the purposes of this review, the value of an asset refers to its Total Economic Value (TEV) (Figure 2), which encompasses both ‘use’ and ‘non-use’ values [76]. In this context, TEV is defined as the aggregation of the values of all service flows generated by natural capital both now and in the future [76].
An important consideration when valuing ecosystem services is defining the beneficiary. Ecosystem services provided by agroforestry assets can be valued based on the benefits that they provide to the public (e.g., erosion control for improved downstream water quality), to the farmer (e.g., erosion control for retention of soil), or a combination of these approaches. As the purpose of valuation in the context of this review is to demonstrate the long-term benefits of agroforestry to farmers, we reviewed valuation strategies focusing on the farmer as the beneficiary.
It is important to note that valuation pathways of ecosystem services provided directly and indirectly by agroforestry assets vary in complexity. While agroforestry provides provisioning services that are directly harvested from the trees/shrubs themselves, e.g., food, fibre, or fuel, agroforestry assets also provide regulating services that indirectly influence other flows of provisioning services on the farm (e.g., increasing lamb survival through regulation of microclimate). In addition, agroforestry assets can also influence stocks of other forms of natural capital (e.g., by providing habitat for insects) which can indirectly influence flows of regulating services such as pollination. Therefore, some valuation pathways lead to monetary values (e.g., market value for provisioning services), whereas others lead to less-tangible forms of value (e.g., farmer well-being). In many cases, particularly where the intention is to justify an investment in agroforestry assets, valuation pathways that lead to a marketable product will form a compelling case. However, non-market values such as amenity, cultural value, and bequest value can also be important drivers for decision-making on farms. Monetary values alone will often fail to capture the full value of an agroforestry asset, which is why it is important to consider a range of ecosystem services that provide a broader perspective of value.
Economic valuation of agroforestry as a land-use system usually takes one of two forms: either a financial analysis of revenues received by the landowner at the enterprise or farm-scale, or an expanded analysis that includes ‘externalities’ or impacts beyond the farm boundaries [78]. Although some farm-scale financial analyses include hypothetical payments for regulating ecosystem services or taxes for disservices (e.g., pollution) [46,79], non-provisioning ecosystem services are generally not included in traditional farm-scale profitability studies. In studies where regulating and cultural services such as soil protection, carbon sequestration, air quality, and amenity are included, these services tend to be valued with public beneficiaries in mind, rather than as ‘inflows’ to the agricultural enterprise [80]. Exceptions do exist, including work by Ovando et al. [45], in which the private amenity of Mediterranean agroforestry farms is considered to ultimately be ‘consumed’ by the farmer through its effect on land prices [47,81]. Despite increasing demand for information in this space, there are still a limited number of studies assessing farm-scale economic benefits of agroforestry systems based on a broad range of use and non-use values, and fewer still that focus on the value of regulating services from a productivity perspective.
Most agroforestry valuation studies that incorporate a broad suite of ecosystem services employ an equally broad suite of valuation methods, e.g., Porter et al. [69]. This usually includes market valuation, avoided expenditure, replacement costs, and some form of stated preference. Benefit transfer is often used for some or all of these valuations, depending on the focus of the study and the resources available to the investigator.
Some agroforestry valuation studies consider multiple beneficiaries, combining private and public perspectives. For example, de Jalón et al. [88] and Kay et al. [46] use a range of valuation techniques to compare the productivity and profitability of different agroforestry landscapes against conventional agricultural and forestry systems. Across these studies, the value of sequestered carbon is based on a carbon price, disservices of soil erosion and nitrogen/phosphorus surplus are valued based on the cost of removing these materials from public watercourses, and pollination is valued according to a production function [46,88]. Services such as windspeed reduction and noise reduction are excluded despite their potential to deliver significant private benefits to farmers. Valuation studies that combine private and public benefits may be appropriate in some cases, for example when designing payments for ecosystem services. However, the objectives of the agroforestry venture must be clear to ensure that key ecosystem services are included and that the results of the valuation are relevant to the decision-maker.
If the purpose of the valuation is to encourage private investment in agroforestry, it makes sense to focus on ecosystem services that deliver private benefits to farmers and value those services accordingly. Porter et al. [69] and Alam et al. [85] take this approach, borrowing techniques used by Sandhu et al. [68] to value field-scale ecosystem services in agroforestry systems. Production of food and raw materials is valued at market prices; nitrogen regulation, soil formation, groundwater recharge, and pollination are valued according to replacement costs; biological control of pests according to avoided cost of pesticides; and aesthetics through benefit transfer, derived from a contingent valuation study. The broad range of services included in these studies, and the focus on the farmer as the beneficiary in most valuation methods, ensures that the final estimate of each system’s economic value reflects a range of values that are directly relevant to the farmer.
In natural capital accounting, valuation methods should be chosen to suit the purpose of the study and the types of services that are being valued. In the case of agroforestry systems, there is merit in recognising the role of farmers as decision-makers and ensuring that the information produced is directly relevant to them. Strategies for achieving this could include incorporating a broad range of use and non-use values and valuing regulating services from a productivity perspective, rather than as externalities.

3. A Natural Capital Approach to Agroforestry Decision-Making at the Farm Scale

As farmers consider strategies to enhance the long-term productivity of their enterprise while protecting the natural capital base that supports it, they are likely to benefit from the availability of tools that support their decision-making. Here we draw on findings from Section 2 to discuss the usefulness and feasibility of applying a natural capital approach to farm-scale agroforestry decision-making.

3.1. Advantages of a Natural Capital Approach

As demonstrated in Section 2, a natural capital accounting framework can be applied to agroforestry systems to establish the value of agroforestry assets at the farm scale. The framework identifies links between stocks of natural capital, ecosystem service provision, and farm-scale benefits (value). Farmers who conceptualise their farm in this way and understand these links may be more inclined to adopt strategies that protect or enhance natural capital. Natural capital accounting can therefore be useful in justifying private investment in agroforestry. Farmers may also choose to communicate their awareness and management of natural capital impacts and dependencies to internal or external stakeholders to attract new investors or customers. Indeed, agribusiness lenders are showing increasing interest in using natural capital approaches to account for the value of natural capital stocks in farm valuations and credit risk assessments [89].
The natural capital approach also highlights the flexibility of agroforestry systems, i.e., that they can be designed to deliver a range of benefits depending on the objectives of the farm enterprise. Farmers who are looking to adopt agroforestry will be faced with decisions about the type, extent, location, and configuration of agroforestry assets. Natural capital approaches can be used to compare the benefits of different agroforestry options, in terms of the value of the ecosystem services that each might provide. In this way, there is potential for the natural capital framework to be used as the basis for the development of tools that assist farmers in choosing between alternative agroforestry scenarios based on costs and benefits to the enterprise (Section 3.3).

3.2. Existing Frameworks for Natural Capital Accounting at the Farm Scale

While general awareness of the role of natural capital in agriculture is increasing [90], the concept is rarely applied in the context of farm-scale decision-making. There are still relatively few studies that attempt to value or account for stocks of natural capital at a scale that is useful for decision-making on farms. Although natural capital accounting is being used broadly to appeal for changes in agricultural practice that will protect the natural capital base [27], little practical guidance exists for farmers and other practitioners looking to construct accounts of their own. This may be due in part to a lack of consensus on the best approach for farm-scale natural capital assessment and accounting. Here we describe several tools and frameworks that may fill this gap and bring us a step closer to a standardised, practical natural capital approach to farm-scale decision-making.
At the outset, it is necessary to undertake some form of natural capital assessment to understand risks and dependencies relating to natural capital stocks and to gain an appreciation of the value of specific natural capital assets to the farm. The Natural Capital Protocol provides a general approach for natural capital assessments [21]. Although the Natural Capital Protocol offers little guidance on how their approach may be implemented in practice, other projects have applied the framework to undertake natural capital assessments in agriculture, e.g., the FAO’s report on Natural Capital Impacts in Agriculture, which highlights trade-offs between different farming practices (e.g., organic vs. conventional) based on costs to human health and ecosystems [30]. Although some case studies touch on internal benefits, most valuations are not considered from the perspective of the farmer, and this approach is therefore not useful as a template for assessments to support farm-scale decision-making. In a more transferable approach, Ascui and Cojoianu [29] provide a generic procedure for lenders to undertake farm-specific natural capital credit risk assessments (based on the Natural Capital Protocol). In their approach, biophysical indicators (such as percentage vegetation cover) are valued based on evaluation of risks to the lender, which informs whether credit should be extended to the farmer. Although their approach focuses on the value perspective of the lender, there is scope for this procedure to be used by farmers to prioritise management interventions based on assessment of key risks to their business.
Once natural capital risks, dependencies, and the value of natural capital assets have been established, farmers may wish to track the value or condition of natural capital assets through time to inform decisions around investment and operations. Three frameworks exist that provide a standardised approach to natural capital accounting at the farm scale. These are founded on the SEEA-EEA, which has not yet developed to cover farm-scale accounts but nonetheless provides a framework for tracking changes in the extent, condition, and monetary value of ecosystem assets over time across a given spatial area [22]. There is also potential for SEEA-EEA itself to be developed for use at the farm scale in the future. The Wentworth Group’s ‘Accounting for Nature’ method is currently being adapted for use at the farm scale [23] and focuses on the construction of ‘asset condition accounts’ which provide information about changes to the condition of assets over time, based on measuring biophysical indicators. The second framework proposes an ‘ecological balance sheet’ (EBS) that enables the application of accrual accounting principles to ecological assets at the farm scale [91]. The advantage of the EBS is that it deliberately incorporates natural capital accounts into the farm’s existing accounting system so that financial and environmental performance can be tracked simultaneously. Perhaps the most advanced of the existing frameworks is the ‘Agroforestry Accounting System’ (AAS) which estimates total income accrued from a range of market and non-market products delivered by agroforestry systems [92,93]. While application of the AAS to-date has focused on comparing the value of woodland agroforestry systems to other forest types [45], there is potential for this framework to be applied more broadly: at different scales and for different types of agroforestry systems. Each of these existing frameworks brings us closer to tracking the condition and value of natural capital assets through time at a scale that is useful for decision-making on farms.
Although these frameworks form a sound theoretical foundation for farm-scale natural capital accounting, it is important to recognise that they all rely on evidence-based conceptual models that demonstrate how agricultural systems function. In agriculture, key forms of natural capital may include soils, vegetation, fauna (including livestock and fisheries), and water [91]. Although it is conceptually easy to calculate stocks of the asset (woody vegetation) and determine its condition (i.e., age, structure, species composition, configuration, etc.), each form of natural capital yields multiple ecosystem services and disservices that may interact in additive, synergistic, or detractive ways. Many of these services are difficult to quantify, interactions between them are often poorly understood, and condition is rarely tracked. Additionally, there is a gap in our ability to predict the types and amounts of services that assets of varying condition provide at the farm scale, and how these services translate to benefits received by the farmer. While efforts are underway to improve our understanding of the value of some natural capital assets in complex agricultural systems [94], we do not yet have an adequate model for agroforestry assets. Conceptual models must also account for the impact that changes in asset condition have on value, particularly in agroforestry systems where the condition of the asset can significantly affect service provision. Such a model would greatly improve the applicability of existing natural capital accounting tools to farm-scale agroforestry decision-making.

3.3. A Conceptual Model for Agroforestry Decision-Making

A conceptual model for valuation of agroforestry assets may serve multiple purposes: firstly, to establish common understanding of causal pathways for the flow of benefits from agroforestry assets and, secondly, to facilitate rapid assessment of the benefits of various agroforestry options. Here we present an example of a conceptual model for farm-scale valuation of an agroforestry asset (Figure 3) and discuss how it may be used as the basis for farm-scale decision-making.
The model in Figure 3 illustrates how the framework in Figure 1 can be applied conceptually to an agroforestry system where the ‘asset’ is a shelterbelt and the farmer is considered the beneficiary. This conceptual model is based on studies describing the ecosystem services provided by agroforestry systems [7,43,44,95] and was developed in consultation with farmers and colleagues working in the field. This model (Figure 3) illustrates benefits in a temperate pasture/livestock system but could be adapted to suit other systems such as dairy or horticulture.
Although many of the services listed in Table 1 are featured in the model, some have been adapted or broken down into a series of biophysical processes to highlight interactions and trade-offs within the system. For example, the service of ‘regulation of temperature’ is captured in the provision of shade and the reduction in wind speed provided by the shelterbelt. Each pathway within the conceptual model linking the asset to a benefit involves a combination of measurement and valuation of one or more ecosystem services. For example, the extent of wind speed reduction caused by the shelterbelt can be measured, as can the resulting effects on evaporation and pasture growth on the leeward side of the shelterbelt [96,97]. Once the relationship between wind speed reduction and pasture yield has been quantified, this service can be valued based on the extent to which the increase in yield reduces costs associated with supplementary feeding and the positive effect that this has on gross profit margin. Depending on the situation, the effect of competition may also be measured, and the associated pasture yield decrease accounted for. Potential valuation pathways in the conceptual model will vary considerably in terms of methods and complexity.
From an accounting perspective, the development of conceptual models is an important first step in valuing and accounting for changes in natural capital assets on farms. Conceptual models are useful for establishing common understanding of key causal pathways amongst experts and stakeholders, [98]. In this case, it is useful for practitioners to build an understanding of the multiple ecosystem services that may flow from agroforestry assets, and the types of benefits that these services provide. This common understanding will enable more consistent valuation of agroforestry assets in accounting exercises at various scales (e.g., Accounting for Nature, AAS, SEEA-EEA). Conceptual models can be developed further to include a broader range of beneficiaries (e.g., the general public) and used as a ‘blueprint’ for valuation to suit a range of purposes. For example, government agencies may use an adapted version of the model in Figure 3 to determine the return on investment in agroforestry assets at the farm or landscape scale, considering both private and public benefits. Lenders and investors may also use similar models to conceptualise the value of agroforestry assets from a risk management perspective [29]. Conceptual models are an ideal tool for this purpose given their flexibility and capacity to clearly communicate relationships within complex systems such as agroforestry systems. These models can be more powerful if underpinned by an evidence-based review [99].
The conceptual model also provides the basis for development of tools that can assist in agroforestry-related decision-making at the farm or paddock scale. Farmers are the primary decision-makers and creating tools that cater for them and the types of decisions that they face is crucial. The farm-scale value of services provided by agroforestry assets may be highly dependent on the location of the farm, the objectives of the farm enterprise, and the context of the asset within the farm [100]. Farmers require tools that enable them to make decisions about investing in agroforestry systems and designing them in such a way that maximises benefits to their particular enterprise. Conceptual models can enable them to make these decisions without having to undertake complex, expensive natural capital assessments that would require direct measurement and valuation of ecosystem services. For example, a farmer planning to invest in agroforestry would first need to decide what type of asset best suits the objectives of their enterprise. They may seek to maximise provision of services that improve productivity or reduce operational risk while waiting for longer-term returns from marketable wood products. If one of their priorities is to reduce lamb losses due to cold winds they may decide to invest in shelterbelts, based on the benefits demonstrated in a conceptual model of this system (Figure 3). The next phase will involve deciding how many shelterbelts to plant, the dimensions and orientation of each shelterbelt, and their location in relation to other elements of the farm. In making these decisions they may refer to other sections of the conceptual model to consider a wider range of potential benefits (e.g., amenity, reducing spray drift) and disbenefits (e.g., competition effects). Used in this way, conceptual models can provide a low-cost, rapid approach to agroforestry decision-making at the farm or paddock scale.
Although the evidence base that supports conceptual models for farm-scale valuation of agroforestry assets is growing [7], there are still gaps in our biophysical understanding of agroforestry systems [95]. While a lack of quantitative evidence may not necessarily restrict the usefulness of these models for farm-scale decision-making, it is helpful to have confidence in the direction of relationships (i.e., positive or negative) and the relative quantities of ecosystem services provided by different types of assets. Where conceptual models currently fall short is in demonstrating the impact of asset condition on the flow of services and benefits. Having chosen to plant shelterbelts, a farmer may eventually have to decide on the configuration and composition of the shelterbelts. They are also likely to be interested in changes to the flow of services and benefits over time, from planting to harvest/senescence. The effect of asset condition at fine scales is an important research gap that must be filled in order to improve the usefulness of these conceptual models.
Where sufficient quantitative evidence exists, conceptual models can also form the basis of more precise, predictive tools for decision-making. These tools may facilitate fine-scale, quantitative valuation of services that are of particular importance to farmers (e.g., shelter). Increasingly, valuation methods are being incorporated into ecosystem service models (e.g., InVEST, i-Tree Eco v6) and economic analysis tools, some of which are designed specifically for integrated farming systems (e.g., Imagine, Farm-SAFE) [101,102]. Conceptual models can guide the development of these tools by demonstrating the complexity of the system as a whole, ensuring that the tools account for interactions and trade-offs that might otherwise be missed. To improve useability, it may be advantageous to compile all relevant models into a single toolkit (similar in style to InVEST or i-Tree) or to incorporate ecosystem service models into an existing package (e.g., Farm Forestry Toolbox) or farm enterprise platform (e.g., DAS Rural Intelligence Platform, FarmMap4D) [62,103,104]. Data accessibility (including cost and usability) is an important consideration in the development of such a toolkit, as a collaborative approach is likely to greatly improve the scope and reliability of outputs.
Conceptual models can enhance the applicability of existing natural capital accounting tools to farm-scale agroforestry decision-making. They can improve consistency in the valuation of agroforestry assets for accounting purposes, guide rapid decision-making at the farm or paddock scale, and form the basis for development of quantitative decision-making tools. To improve the useability of conceptual models in this context, we need to expand the evidence base that supports them with particular focus on the impact of asset condition on ecosystem service provision.

4. Conclusions

The natural capital accounting framework provides a logical and increasingly consistent approach to the valuation of impacts and dependencies on natural capital. Findings from this review suggest that there is potential for this framework to be usefully applied to demonstrate the capacity of agroforestry systems to deliver sustained private benefits to farming enterprises.
Despite difficulties in obtaining information for many ecosystem services, tools and models for measuring services continue to advance and improve. In the case of measuring ecosystem services provided by agroforestry systems, the key is striking an appropriate balance between practicality and the relevance of outputs to decision-making. Use of fine-scale models supported by quantitative and qualitative primary data may be the most appropriate approach to measuring a wide range of ecosystem services at the farm scale. While promising advancements continue to be made in the development of tools to model service provision at these fine scales, there are still some key gaps that need to be addressed, e.g., quantifying the impact of condition.
As the evidence base for the value of natural capital in agriculture continues to grow, methods and tools for measuring this value are also improving. Methods for valuing ecosystem services should be chosen to suit the purpose of the valuation and the types of services that are being valued. In the context of demonstrating farm-scale benefits of agroforestry, valuations should be directed at farmers as key beneficiaries, incorporate a broad range of use and non-use values, and value regulating services from a productivity perspective rather than as externalities. Natural capital accounting can be applied to communicate the broad range of values that farmers can derive from agroforestry assets, thereby encouraging appropriate levels of investment.
A natural capital approach can also be applied to assist farmers in making decisions about agroforestry at the farm or paddock scale. While work is currently underway to develop a standardised natural capital approach to farm-scale decision-making, existing tools rely on conceptual models for the provision and valuation of ecosystem services that flow from natural capital assets in agricultural systems. To usefully apply a natural capital approach to farm-scale agroforestry decision-making, we should look to develop adequate conceptual models for agroforestry systems. Underpinned by evidence-based reviews, these models could be useful for improving consistency in the valuation of agroforestry assets, guiding decision-making at the farm or paddock scale and supporting development of quantitative decision-making tools.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Z.E.M., M.A.H., T.P.B., A.P.O., D.T., and J.R.E.; investigation, Z.E.M.; writing—original draft preparation, Z.E.M.; writing—review and editing, T.P.B., A.P.O., D.T., J.R.E., and M.A.H.; supervision, M.A.H. and T.P.B.

Funding

This project was supported by an Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre grant ICI150100004, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Rural Research for Profit Program, and a cooperative funding grant from the Forest Practices Authority.

Acknowledgments

We thank Daniel Mendham and William Jackson for constructive comments on an early draft of the manuscript and Private Forests Tasmania for introductions to landowners.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Figure 1. Flowchart adapted from the Natural Capital Protocol [21] illustrating the relationship between a natural capital asset, the condition of that asset, the ecosystem services that flow from the asset, and the benefits that those services provide to people.
Figure 1. Flowchart adapted from the Natural Capital Protocol [21] illustrating the relationship between a natural capital asset, the condition of that asset, the ecosystem services that flow from the asset, and the benefits that those services provide to people.
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Figure 2. TEV typology adapted from [77], which classifies values associated with direct use, indirect use, and non-use of service flows generated by natural capital.
Figure 2. TEV typology adapted from [77], which classifies values associated with direct use, indirect use, and non-use of service flows generated by natural capital.
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Figure 3. Conceptual model for ecosystem services and associated benefits provided by one common type of agroforestry asset (shelterbelt) in a temperate pasture/livestock system. Blue lines represent negative effects (i.e., reduction), and green lines positive effects.
Figure 3. Conceptual model for ecosystem services and associated benefits provided by one common type of agroforestry asset (shelterbelt) in a temperate pasture/livestock system. Blue lines represent negative effects (i.e., reduction), and green lines positive effects.
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Table
Table 1. Farm-scale ecosystem services provided by agroforestry assets (adapted from CICES V5.1).
Table 1. Farm-scale ecosystem services provided by agroforestry assets (adapted from CICES V5.1).
SectionGroupService
ProvisioningCultivated terrestrial plants for nutrition, materials, or energyCultivated trees or shrubs grown for nutritional purposes (food), fibres and other materials (timber), or energy (fuel)
Regulation & MaintenanceMediation of wastes/toxic substances by living processesSequestration of atmospheric carbon
Mediation of nuisances of anthropogenic originNoise attenuation
Visual screening
Regulation of baseline flows and extreme eventsControl of erosion rates
Hydrological cycle and water flow regulation (including flood control)
Wind protection
Lifecycle maintenance, habitat, and gene pool protectionPollination (habitat for pollinators)
Pest and disease controlPest control (habitat for pest-predators)
Regulation of soil qualityDecomposition and fixing processes and their effect on soil quality
Water conditionsRegulation of the chemical condition of freshwaters through run-off control and nutrient uptake by trees and shrubs
Atmospheric composition and conditionsRegulation of temperature and humidity, including ventilation and transpiration
CulturalPhysical and experiential interactions with natural environmentCharacteristics of agroforestry systems that enable activities promoting health, recuperation, or enjoyment through active or immersive interactions orpassive or observational interactions
Intellectual and representative interactions with natural environmentCharacteristics of agroforestry systems that are resonant in terms of culture or heritage or enable aesthetic experiences
Other biotic characteristics that have a non-use valueCharacteristics of agroforestry systems that have an existence value or an option or bequest value
Table
Table 2. Methods for valuing ecosystem services provided by agroforestry assets at the farm scale with examples of how they might be applied if the farmer is considered the primary beneficiary.
Table 2. Methods for valuing ecosystem services provided by agroforestry assets at the farm scale with examples of how they might be applied if the farmer is considered the primary beneficiary.
Valuation MethodDescriptionServices (See Table 1) that Could Be Valued Using This Method
Direct market valuationWhere commercial markets exist for services, market prices can be used to represent their value.Food, fibre, timber, or fuel from cultivated trees or shrubs.
Sequestration of atmospheric carbon
Production functionWhere a service plays an intermediate role in the production of a marketable good, production functions can be used to estimate the contribution of that service as a proportion of the market price.Pollination (habitat for pollinators), e.g., Morse and Calderone [82].
Regulation of temperature and humidity, including ventilation and transpiration.
Wind protection.
Averted expenditureService is valued based on costs associated with declining benefits due to the loss of that service.Control of erosion rates, e.g., [83].
Regulation of the chemical condition of freshwaters through run-off control and nutrient uptake by trees and shrubs.
Hydrological cycle and water flow regulation (including flood control).
Replacement costService is valued based on the cost of replacing that service entirely with an artificial or technical solution. This method is often employed to value regulating services in agriculture.Pollination (habitat for pollinators), e.g., Winfree et al. [84].
Pest control (habitat for pest-predators).
Decomposition and fixing processes and their effect on soil quality, e.g., Sandhu et al. [68], Alam et al. [85].
Control of erosion rates.
Regulation of temperature and humidity, including ventilation and transpiration.
Revealed preference: hedonic pricingEstimates the value of people’s preferences for characteristics of a place based on their contribution to property prices.Various (potentially difficult to isolate value of individual services) e.g., Polyakov et al. [86].
Stated preference: contingent valuation or choice experimentThese methods use questionnaires about hypothetical scenarios of environmental change to estimate economic value.Use and non-use values of a broad range of services including: amenity, cultural heritage, recreation, aesthetics, and existence or bequest value, e.g., Shrestha and Alavalapati [87].
Benefit transferWhere resources do not allow for original economic valuation using one of the above methods, it is possible to use data from comparable studies to value services.Any of the above

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Marais, Z.E.; Baker, T.P.; O’Grady, A.P.; England, J.R.; Tinch, D.; Hunt, M.A. A Natural Capital Approach to Agroforestry Decision-Making at the Farm Scale. Forests 2019, 10, 980. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10110980

AMA Style

Marais ZE, Baker TP, O’Grady AP, England JR, Tinch D, Hunt MA. A Natural Capital Approach to Agroforestry Decision-Making at the Farm Scale. Forests. 2019; 10(11):980. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10110980

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marais, Zara E., Thomas P. Baker, Anthony P. O’Grady, Jacqueline R. England, Dugald Tinch, and Mark A. Hunt. 2019. "A Natural Capital Approach to Agroforestry Decision-Making at the Farm Scale" Forests 10, no. 11: 980. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10110980

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