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Agro-ecological zoning
system
Methodology and software use
several databases, models and decision support tools for better planning,
management and monitoring of land resources. Ordering details.
The main system for land resource
assessment is FAO’s agro-ecological zoning (AEZ) methodology and
supporting software packages for application at global, regional, national
and sub-national levels. AEZ uses various databases, models and decision
support tools which are described below.
When to use AEZ
Useful as a tool of assessment of land resources for better planning and
management and monitoring of these resources. AEZ can be used in various
assessment applications, including:
- land resource inventory;
- inventory of land utilization types
and production systems, including indigenous systems, and their
requirements;
- potential yield calculation;
- land suitability and land productivity
evaluation , including forestry and livestock productivity;
- mapping agro-climatic zones, problem
soil areas, agro-ecological zones, land suitability, quantitative
estimates on potential crop areas, yields and production;
- land degradation assessment,
population supporting capacity assessment and land use optimization
modelling.
What is AEZ
The AEZ concept involves the representation of land in layers of spatial
information and combination of the layers of spatial information using a
Geographic Information System (GIS). The combination/overlay of layers
produces agro-ecological cells. In this way a land resources database is
created which contains information on the AEZ cells. AEZ integrates in the
database various kinds of geo-referenced data sets , which can include the
following:
- topography;
- administrative boundaries;
- road/communications;
- towns and settlements;
- rivers/water bodies;
- geology;
- soil;
- physiography;
- landform;
- erosion;
- rainfall;
- temperature;
- moisture regime;
- watersheds;
- irrigable areas;
- land use/land cover and forest
reserves;
- population.
AEZ models are applied on
the database to analyse potentials of land for various kinds of use. The
AEZ models include models for the calculation of length of growing period,
irrigation requirements, crop biomass, land suitability, land
productivity.
The FAO AEZ system as
used in a recent Kenya study comprises four groups of compound activities
as follows:
- formulation of LUTs and their ecological requirements;
- compilation of land resource database;
- assessment of land productivity, including cropping patterns, linkage to
livestock and forestry production systems and soil conservation;
- analysing optimal land use scenarios.
The land suitability and
land productivity results are recorded for each AEZ cell or record in the
database and constitute an entry point for land use analysis, using
decision support tools such as multi-criteria analysis and simulation.
Two PC software packages
have been prepared in collaboration with the International Institute for
Applied System Analysis (IIASA).to implement AEZ models: one software
package for global and regional application; and another package for more
detailed application at country level. The second package is called AEZWIN
and runs on WINDOWS 95 and WINDOWS NT.
AEZ applications
Global and regional
The AEZ methodology and models have been applied in developing a global
digital AEZ land resources database based on the digitized soil map of the
world (DSMW). The database contains information on soil and landform,
temperature regime and length of growing period, agro-ecological zones,
forest and protected areas, land suitability for about 30 main crops.
The database has been
used in global land productivity potential studies within the framework of
FAO AT2010 study, including estimation of arable land potentials for
agricultural expansion by country. It has been used in regional and
country studies on land use change, population supporting capacity and
land suitability for aquaculture. It has also been used in applications
involving integration of bio-physical and socio-economic data such as
studies on land carrying capacity and the effects of climate change on
agricultural productivity potentials. The database will be used in
regional food insecurity and vulnerability mapping (FIVIMS) programme of
the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
National
The AEZ methodology and software packages have been used in studies which
address a wide range of land management issues: improved land use planning
(China, Kenya, Mozambique, Grenada, Tanzania), formulation of population
policies (Malaysia, Philippines, China), national agricultural development
(Kenya, Bangladesh), agricultural research planning and management
(Bangladesh and Indonesia), natural resources management (Brazil),
technology targeting (Bangladesh) and disaster preparedness (Bangladesh)
Maps of Bangladesh:
Availability
AEZ is available as FAO Publications in the form of reports in English,
French or Spanish and can be purchased locally through the authorized FAO
Sales Agents or directly from
Sales and Marketing
Group
FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome (Italy)
E-mail: Publications-sales@fao.org
An AEZ software package
called AEZWIN can be downloaded from FAO's FTP server at the following
address: ftp://ftp.fao.org/Public/AGL/AGLS/AEZWIN/98_dec.exe.
Contact for technical queries
Jacques.Antoine@FAO.ORG
Freddy.Nachtergaele@fao.org
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