Modelling Human-Landscape System Dynamics to Support Reward Mechanisms for Agro-biodiversity Conservation

A multi-agent simulation modelling approach (LB-LUDAS model) wasapplied to simulate and visualize the temporal and spatial scale effects of thePayments for Ecosystem services (PES) scheme on the tradeoffs between goodsand services. The PES scheme under investigation is a form of eco-certification ofbiodiversity-friendly rubber agroforests, with quantitative performance criteriaproposed for the villages of Jambi Province (Sumatra), Indonesia. Within themodel, a process-based decision making sub-model is integrated in the agents’decision-making mechanism of the LB-LUDAS model, while species richness,carbon sequestration, and natural succession sub-models are imbedded in thelandscape agents. The main results showed that PES for jungle rubber could offersynergies among carbon emission reduction, biodiversity and livelihoods whencompared to the current trend (baseline). Thus, such a scheme could reduce thetrade-offs resulting from possible land-use/cover change. The results of thesimulation were validated using a role-playing game testing responses to externalagents.