Ecological–Economic Modelling of Traditional Agroforestry to Promote Farmland Biodiversity with Cost-Effective Payments

Orchard meadows, a traditional agroforestry system in Switzerland combining the dual use fruit and fodder production, are declining, even though farmland managed under agri-environmental schemes (AES) has been expanding. Despite increasing interest research for developing sustainable agriculture, it is poorly understood how subsidies contribute to maintenance of trees on agricultural land promotion biodiversity. Therefore, objective present study examine effects incentive-based AES both farmers’ decisions regarding biodiversity by an ecological–economic assessment model. To explore cost-effective AES, we explicitly consider heterogeneity farm types. We apply this integrated model farms Schwarzbubenland, small hilly region Northern Switzerland. Results show that adoption compliance costs participating considerably vary among types, current do not provide farmers with sufficient payments maintain any type orchard despite ecological benefits meadows. The integrating modeling developed enables us better understand relationship between through facilitates design agroforestry.