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The objective of this research work is the evaluation of the impact of agricultural practices on the landscape by means of an indicator.
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This indicator is actually under construction. To obtain more information about the Landscape Indicator Project, contact Ph. Girardin, research director.
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Some agronomists have been trying, since 1994, to estimate the sustainability of farms using indicators which reflect the impact of agricultural practices on the environment. These agro-environmental indicators (Girardin and Bockstaller, 1997) represent a compromise between scientific results and the need for concise information. Hence, although they are presented in index form, they must be sufficiently representative of reality in that they satisfy various tests of sensitivity, probability, and usage value. |
Several agro-environmental indicators have already been developed, notably for the influence of inputs (nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, organic matter or water), crop rotation and crop cover, on the environment. In view of the large number of questions about the effect of agricultural practices on the landscape, it is proposed to create a Landscape Indicator. |
This indicator corresponds to the degree of agreement between the landscape supply by farmers and the landscape demand of the society.
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The landscape supply |
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The objective aspects of the landscape can be likened to a landscape "supply" which is the contribution of shapes introduced into the landscape by the farmer |
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The landscape demand |
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The demand corresponds to the requests of social groups most affected by the evolution of the agricultural landscape, such as associations for nature conservation or leisure activities, tourist offices or residents' associations. |
The supply, as well as the demand, are evaluated by four criteria : "Diversity", "Maintenance", "Opening" and "Heritage".
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For each criterion, the user has to ask the following questions :
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 What does he favour : a wild landscape or a groomed landscape ? |
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What is important : an open field or a closed landscape ? |
| What does he prefer in this area : an innovative or a traditionnal landscape ?
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What is important : a homogeneous or a variegated landscape ? |
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