Constructing an ecoagriculture feasibility index for a transfrontier conservation area in Southern Africa

Abstract

In landscape studies, indices are important for revealing underperforming dimensions of a landscape and for helping landscape managers to direct effort and resources accordingly. Indices also enable comparison across different landscapes. The present study was conducted in a peasant farming community within a transfrontier conservation area and which is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot. This is an area designated for balancing farming, natural resource utilisation and biodiversity conservation. This study demonstrates a method of constructing an index for estimating the feasibility of planning and implementing agriculture-biodiversity integration for livelihood improvement (known as ecoagriculture) within specified socio-economic and environmental conditions. Often, complex mathematical computations are employed in constructing feasibility indices. In this study an ecoagriculture feasibility index for a particular landscape is calculated based on evaluation of the landscape. The resultant ecoagriculture feasibility index is 5.90 (or 74%) implying a relatively high feasibility for systematic ecoagriculture implementation in the area. The criterion for quantifying ecoagriculture feasibility suggested here is intended to be as user-friendly as possible to enhance its adoption by peasant farmers and other end-users. The study brings up a new landscape evaluation tool useful to other researchers and practitioners seeking to promote more sustainable relationships between farmers and the biodiversity they depend on.