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

A multi-agent simulation modelling approach (LB-LUDAS model) was
applied to simulate and visualize the temporal and spatial scale effects of the
Payments for Ecosystem services (PES) scheme on the tradeoffs between goods
and services. The PES scheme under investigation is a form of eco-certification of
biodiversity-friendly rubber agroforests, with quantitative performance criteria
proposed for the villages of Jambi Province (Sumatra), Indonesia. Within the
model, 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 the
landscape agents. The main results showed that PES for jungle rubber could offer
synergies among carbon emission reduction, biodiversity and livelihoods when
compared to the current trend (baseline). Thus, such a scheme could reduce the
trade-offs resulting from possible land-use/cover change. The results of the
simulation were validated using a role-playing game testing responses to external
agents.