Spatial trade-off analysis of short rotation coppice in Belgium: Effects on ecosystem services and biodiversity

Julie Callebaut, Jomme Desair, Maarten Stevens, Salma Elahmadi, Amaury Sonneville, Marijke Steenackers

Research output: Book/ReportReports of Research Institute for Nature and Forest

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Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive spatial trade-off analysis of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) cultivation in Belgium and its impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity. The results indicate that SRC delivers more ecosystem services and can host more biodiversity compared to the agricultural land use it substitutes. Biomass production from SRC and agricultural production can also be combined when SRC is planted as small landscape elements or in agroforestry systems. In this way the wider range of ecosystem services delivered by SRC are combined with food production. Planting SRC as small landscape elements, or in combination with agroforestry practices, could therefore potentially be a balanced and achievable vision for the future.
Original languageDutch
PublisherInstituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek
Number of pages92
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Publication series

NameRapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek
No.36

Thematic List 2020

  • Forest
  • Agriculture
  • Nature & society
  • Ecosystems
  • Spatial developments

Taxonomic list

  • poplar (Populus spp.)

Policy

  • forest and agriculture policy
  • economics of nature, forest and biodiversity policy
  • ecosystem services
  • Climate policy (inc. Biomass energy with carbon capture and storage)
  • spatial planning

Geographic list

  • Belgium

Technological

  • modelling

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