Agroforestry : new landuse, new landscapes

Abstract

A new alternative landuse, developed, and proven technically and economically feasible will create changes to the landscape. If the new landuse is widely accepted there will be widespread landscape changes – NEW LANDSCAPES. As a landuse, Agroforestry is relatively new in New Zealand. It can be defined as farming and forestry activities consciously combined vertically and/or temporally on the same piece of land. The development of this concept has been the result of changes within both the farming and forestry sectors. Over the last decade the Agroforestry concept has been developed through the investigation and implementation of the Forest-Farm system, by a team of scientists, from the New Zealand Forest Research Institute and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This Forest-Farm system, has alternative management options which involve the integration primarily of Pinus radiata, pasture, sheep and cattle. Woodstock, a joint Lands and Survey and New Zealand Forest Service project is being developed to investigate and demonstrate the Forest-Farm concept, as a commercial enterprise within Hawkes Bay. As a demonstration Agroforestry landscape, Woodstock will become a significant visual resource, expressing change in the fundamental landuse - landform relationship. Landmanagers, and the general community will respond to this change in accordance to their different needs and values. The Landscape Architect's role is to predict, compare and evaluate visual implications before implementation. There should be no excuse for unanticipated, illogical and incompatible surprises. There should be no reason for the different needs and values of the regions small grower, and community not to be satisfied. If the researched Agroforestry options available have limitations in fitting in requirements of both the site and people, then other options within the system will need to be investigated. Design opportunities need to be recognised within the Agroforestry system, so its management will produce a logical, harmoniously integrated landscape.