Systems Approach: Socio-Ecological Systems/Rural Livelihoods

气候多变和变化、人口增加和农业集约化对东非生产性和生态价值很高的土地构成了巨大压力。山地森林支持高密度的人口和农业生产，例如乞力马扎罗恰加家庭花园每平方公里有1000人(Hamp，2013)。这种多功能农业景观马赛克支持高水平的生物多样性，同时也支持当地生计和区域粮食安全(Miner等人，2015年)。除了供应服务，山地森林还在调节水、碳、土壤生产力、授粉和病虫害防治方面发挥重要作用(Swetnam等人，2013年)。在前所未有的气候变化和生态系统面临的社会压力的背景下，如何为适应气候变化和社会经济可持续发展的多方面目的而最好地分配和管理这些农业土地利用系统的生态系统服务是一个复杂而具有挑战性的问题。增进对ALM系统动态和对环境变化的反应的了解，可加强以社区为基础的知情管理、政策和干预措施，以加强水和土地综合管理进程，并改善农业生态系统的功能和生产力。但是，越来越多的人认识到，在如此复杂的系统中成功管理自然资源和适应变化也取决于知识共享和联合生产的过程，其潜力由不同利益相关者之间的社会、文化和政治关系塑造(Whitfield，2016)。在这里，将居民和土地管理者的当地和经验知识与社会生态系统绘图的技术和工具相结合，为管理提供了一种建立全面和适当的证据基础的手段。对社会动态和不完整的知识政治的批判性思考对于在这种管理中实现公正的结果是至关重要的。目标通过参与式地理信息系统绘制农业土地利用矩阵图，评估肯尼亚南部泰塔山区马尔玛的相互关联的功能和服务。对照预测的未来变化和当地优先考虑的需求(例如，实现粮食安全、提供生计机会、维持生物多样性和满足文化、美学、保护和娱乐需求)，评估基于自然的适应做法(植树造林、保护性农业、灌溉和水资源管理以及病虫害综合治理)。批判性地反思政治和社会动态在这一知识产生和管理过程中的发挥方式

Climate variability and change, population increase, and agricultural intensification represent significant pressures on productive and ecologically valuable land in East Africa. Montane forests support high densities of populations and agricultural production, e.g. 1000 people per km2 in the Chagga home-gardens of Kilimanjaro (Hemp, 2013). Such Multifunctional Agricultural Landscape Mosaics (MALM) support high levels of biodiversity while also underpinning local livelihoods and regional food security (Miner et al., 2015). In addition to provisioning services, there is an important role for montane forest in the regulation for water, carbon, soil productivity, pollination and pest control (Swetnam et al., 2013). Hence, MALM can provide an agricultural land use matrix in which all critical aspects of sustainability (ecological, social, economic, political and cultural) are incorporated.In a context of unprecedented climatic change and social pressure on ecosystems, how the ecosystem services of these MALM systems are best distributed and managed for the multifaceted purposes of climate change adaptation and socio-economic sustainability is a complex and challenging question. Improved understanding of MALM system dynamics and responses to environmental change could underpin informed community-based management, policy, and interventions that enhance integrated water and land management processes, and improve agro-ecosystems function and productivity. But, it is increasingly recognised that successful management of natural resources and adaptation to change within such complex systems depends too on processes for knowledge sharing and co-production, the potential for which is shaped by social, cultural and political relations between diverse stakeholders (Whitfield, 2016).Here, the combining of the local and experiential knowledge of residents and land managers with the techniques and tools of socio-ecological system mapping offer a means to building a holistic and appropriate evidence base to inform management. Critical reflection on social dynamics and incomplete knowledge politics will essential for achieving just outcomes within such management.ObjectivesTo assess the interrelated functions and services of MALM in the Taita Hills of southern Kenya by mapping, through participatory GIS, the agricultural land use matrix.To evaluate nature-based adaptation practices (afforestation, conservation agriculture, irrigation and water management, and integrated pest management) against projected future change and locally prioritized needs (e.g. for achieving food security, providing livelihood opportunities, maintaining biodiversity, and fulfilling cultural, aesthetic, conservation and recreational needs).To critically reflect on the way that politics and social dynamic splay out within this process of knowledge generation and management