Description of the Business As Usual (BAU)
The “Business as Usual” land use is typically specialised agricultural production, where land is managed as either pure arable cropland or permanent grassland. In the EU, these systems are often spatially separated: livestock are kept on pastures, and crops are grown on tilled fields. Both generally lack significant tree cover. This separation limits nutrient cycling efficiency and results in a landscape with low structural complexity and higher vulnerability to climate extremes.
Description of the system change
Agro-silvo-pasture is the most complex agroforestry system, characterised by the intentional integration of three components: trees, crops, and livestock on the same land unit, but at different times. The system change involves transitioning from specialised monocultures to a multi-functional landscape. Trees provide shade, shelter, and fodder; crops utilise the inter-row space; and livestock are managed in a synergistic rotation or simultaneous grazing system. This integration mimics natural ecosystems, creating a highly resilient model that maximises carbon storage across above-ground biomass, deep root systems, and soil organic matter. Animals will often graze on crop residues. Grass may be introduced into silvoarable systems when the shade of the trees becomes too great.