ECOLIMITS Ecological Hypotheses
Figure 1 illustrates the main relationships ECOLIMITS wishes to explore; namely, how to do ecosystem services vary with intensity of agriculture and existing ecosystem stocks. Do ecosystem services show a rapid decline with agricultural intensity or more gradual (see Fig 1b) and is it necessary for a large ecosystem stock to be present before ecosystem services can increase (Figure 1c). Finally, can we discern a peak in agricultural productivity, whereby increasing intensity of agriculture actually cause a decrease in productivity (Figure 1a).
Figure 1 illustrates the main relationships ECOLIMITS wishes to explore; namely, how to do ecosystem services vary with intensity of agriculture and existing ecosystem stocks. Do ecosystem services show a rapid decline with agricultural intensity or more gradual (see Fig 1b) and is it necessary for a large ecosystem stock to be present before ecosystem services can increase (Figure 1c). Finally, can we discern a peak in agricultural productivity, whereby increasing intensity of agriculture actually cause a decrease in productivity (Figure 1a).
Table 1: Ecosystem Services to be measured
Ecological Measurements
ECOLIMITS will be focusing on two globally significant crops, coffee and cocoa, which are economically vital for Ethiopia and Ghana respectively. Intensive ecosystem plots and household surveys have been undertaken across a landscape of communities and protected forest in Kakum, Ghana and Yayu, Ethiopia.
The main ecological variables to be measured are presented in Table 1 in order to estimate the contribution of each of these services to plot-level harvest.
ECOLIMITS will be focusing on two globally significant crops, coffee and cocoa, which are economically vital for Ethiopia and Ghana respectively. Intensive ecosystem plots and household surveys have been undertaken across a landscape of communities and protected forest in Kakum, Ghana and Yayu, Ethiopia.
The main ecological variables to be measured are presented in Table 1 in order to estimate the contribution of each of these services to plot-level harvest.