The economics of ecosystem services of tree-based intercropping systems

Paper presented at the 13th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 19-21, 2013 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.In Poppy, L., Kort, J., Schroeder, B., Pollock, T., and Soolanayakanahally, R., eds. Agroforestry: Innovations in Agriculture. Proceedings, 13th North American Agroforestry Conference, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, June 19-21, 2013.The paper aims to determine the potential environmental benefits of multifunctional tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems. Here we evaluate ten ecosystem services using a mix of mathematical models for quantification and economic valuation. The results reveal a total annual margin of 2 558 CAN$ha-1y-1. The economic value of combined non-market services is 1 634 CAN$ ha-1y-1, which is higher than the value of marketable products (i.e. timber and agricultural products). The present value of the services for a rotation of 40 years is 54 782 CAN$ ha-1, about a third of which is contributed by agricultural products. Water quality regulation ranked highest among the non-market benefits followed by air quality maintenance, soil quality regulation, biological control, and pollination.Mahbubul Alam (1), Alain Olivier (1), Alain Paquette (2), J�rôme Dupras (3), Jean-Pierre Rev�ret (4) and Christian Messier (5) ; 1. D�partement de phytologie, Facult� des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Universit� Laval, Qu�bec City, G1V 0A6, Canada. 2. D�partement des sciences biologiques, Universit� du Qu�bec � Montr�al, Case postale 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montr�al, H3C 3P8, Canada. 3. D�partement de g�ographie, Universit� de Montr�al, Montr�al, Canada. 4. D�partement strat�gie, responsabilit� sociale et environnementale, Universit� du Qu�bec � Montr�al, Montr�al, Canada. 5. Institut des Sciences de la For�t temp�r�e (ISFORT), Universit� du Qu�bec en Outaouais, Ripon, JOV 1V0, QC, Canada.Includes bibliographical references