Vienna, and Kalkapen
In Austria we have identified three landscapes, two in Vienna with agricultural and urban land use and one in Zöbelboden region including agricultural and forest land use. We will develop a focus on cereal fields and also an multi-functional organic farm (“market gardening”) applying low-tillage methods and a diverse range of soil conservation practices. We will also address a forest with Norway spruce and Beech trees considering the ecosystem restoration and overall nature conservation as question topics.
Brno region
In Czech Republic we focus on Brno region with a landscape defined by the presence of an urban and forest land uses. The local case-study will address contamination and the value of ecosystem services for a range of urban typologies, including semi-natural city forests, artificial parks, and urban gardens.
Lahti-Asikkala, Ruuki and Jokioinen
In Finland, three landscapes were identified, including all the targeted land uses in the project. At local level, we have included an experimental peatland forest affected by clear and selected cuts, offering contrasting scenarios. In agricultural land use, we will focus on grazing on peat soils but also cereal production systems.
Paris and Nancy
In France we have identified two regional scenarios, Paris and Nancy cities and associated peri-urban areas. In Paris, the landscape scale offers urban and agricultural land use, and the case study will cover systems affected by a diverse range of carbon amendments with an urban origin, and cover different cropping approaches, focused on cereals and vegetables. In Nancy, the landscape covers the three land uses in BENCHMARKS and we found an ideal scenario for evaluating different typologies within the urban land use (Brownfields, Urban Forests, City Parks, Roadside, Gardens) and better understand the impact of artificialisation and pollution and its implications for urban planning.
Campania Region and Metroplitan City of Naples
In Italy we include two regions with one landscapes each, covering the three land uses. For the agricultural land use, we will develop a local focus on arable land and vegetable crops, through evaluation of ecosystem services on contrasting management practices (monoculture vs rotation; application of organic fertilisers) and impact on soil health. On the urban land use, the city of Naples offers a range of peri-urban agriculture contexts, green areas, and semi-natural parks, where soil degradation and evaluation of ecosystem services is essential.
Flevoland and Western peat meadow area
In Netherlands, we have included two regions, Flevoland and the Western peat meadow area (North-Holland, South Holland and Utrecht). At landscape scale, these regions offer opportunity to develop a focus on both agriculture and urban land uses. At local level, the case study will be focused on strip cropping and livestock farming addressing transition from intensive towards regenerative farming.
Oslo
Norway offers two landscapes in Oslo region, both including urban and forests land use. We will evaluate the transition between the land uses and impact of climate change. At local level we will develop a focus on forest management approaches, targeting systems affected by different fertilization, including the application of biochar.
Central Region
In the central region of Portugal, two landscapes offer a range of management practices for both forests and agriculture land uses. In Idanha-a-Nova, a mosaic including Olive and Almond orchards, and the multi-functional agroforestry ecosystem Montado will be included, with a local focus on different management practices and the impact of irrigation versus non-irrigated agriculture. In Lousa, pine and eucalyptus forests will be targeted, with a local focus on fire management and disturbance.
Alvelal territory
In Spain we have selected the Alvelal region, with two landscapes on agricultural and forest land use. Here we will address two local foci, one on agricultural land dealing with contrasting management systems in Almond orchards and another on a semi-natural open oak forest addressing geomorphology and soil quality.
Basel Region
In Switzerland we have selected two landscapes in Basel region, focusing on agricultural and forest land use. At local level, we will focus on experimental sites with different management from conventional to organic, including conservation soil practices like reduced tillage and application of organic fertilizers (e.g., digestates). At the local level, we will also focus on forests mainly composed of Beech, Oaks and Norway Spruce, addressing soil quality and tree health.
Berlin Region
In Germany, we will include a landscape with agricultural and urban land uses and we will focus on patch cropping and the application of high-end agronomical technology and impact on resource use efficiency, provision of ecosystem services and cropping system resilience.
Vienna, and Kalkapen
In Austria we have identified three landscapes, two in Vienna with agricultural and urban land use and one in Zöbelboden region including agricultural and forest land use. We will develop a focus on cereal fields and also an multi-functional organic farm (“market gardening”) applying low-tillage methods and a diverse range of soil conservation practices. We will also address a forest with Norway spruce and Beech trees considering the ecosystem restoration and overall nature conservation as question topics.
Brno region
In Czech Republic we focus on Brno region with a landscape defined by the presence of an urban and forest land uses. The local case-study will address contamination and the value of ecosystem services for a range of urban typologies, including semi-natural city forests, artificial parks, and urban gardens.
Lahti-Asikkala, Ruuki and Jokioinen
In Finland, three landscapes were identified, including all the targeted land uses in the project. At local level, we have included an experimental peatland forest affected by clear and selected cuts, offering contrasting scenarios. In agricultural land use, we will focus on grazing on peat soils but also cereal production systems.
Paris and Nancy
In France we have identified two regional scenarios, Paris and Nancy cities and associated peri-urban areas. In Paris, the landscape scale offers urban and agricultural land use, and the case study will cover systems affected by a diverse range of carbon amendments with an urban origin, and cover different cropping approaches, focused on cereals and vegetables. In Nancy, the landscape covers the three land uses in BENCHMARKS and we found an ideal scenario for evaluating different typologies within the urban land use (Brownfields, Urban Forests, City Parks, Roadside, Gardens) and better understand the impact of artificialisation and pollution and its implications for urban planning.
Campania Region and Metroplitan City of Naples
In Italy we include two regions with one landscapes each, covering the three land uses. For the agricultural land use, we will develop a local focus on arable land and vegetable crops, through evaluation of ecosystem services on contrasting management practices (monoculture vs rotation; application of organic fertilisers) and impact on soil health. On the urban land use, the city of Naples offers a range of peri-urban agriculture contexts, green areas, and semi-natural parks, where soil degradation and evaluation of ecosystem services is essential.
Flevoland and Western peat meadow area
In Netherlands, we have included two regions, Flevoland and the Western peat meadow area (North-Holland, South Holland and Utrecht). At landscape scale, these regions offer opportunity to develop a focus on both agriculture and urban land uses. At local level, the case study will be focused on strip cropping and livestock farming addressing transition from intensive towards regenerative farming.
Oslo
Norway offers two landscapes in Oslo region, both including urban and forests land use. We will evaluate the transition between the land uses and impact of climate change. At local level we will develop a focus on forest management approaches, targeting systems affected by different fertilization, including the application of biochar.
Central Region
In the central region of Portugal, two landscapes offer a range of management practices for both forests and agriculture land uses. In Idanha-a-Nova, a mosaic including Olive and Almond orchards, and the multi-functional agroforestry ecosystem Montado will be included, with a local focus on different management practices and the impact of irrigation versus non-irrigated agriculture. In Lousa, pine and eucalyptus forests will be targeted, with a local focus on fire management and disturbance.
Alvelal territory
In Spain we have selected the Alvelal region, with two landscapes on agricultural and forest land use. Here we will address two local foci, one on agricultural land dealing with contrasting management systems in Almond orchards and another on a semi-natural open oak forest addressing geomorphology and soil quality.
Basel Region
In Switzerland we have selected two landscapes in Basel region, focusing on agricultural and forest land use. At local level, we will focus on experimental sites with different management from conventional to organic, including conservation soil practices like reduced tillage and application of organic fertilizers (e.g., digestates). At the local level, we will also focus on forests mainly composed of Beech, Oaks and Norway Spruce, addressing soil quality and tree health.
Berlin Region
In Germany, we will include a landscape with agricultural and urban land uses and we will focus on patch cropping and the application of high-end agronomical technology and impact on resource use efficiency, provision of ecosystem services and cropping system resilience.
