Assessment of Ecological and Economic Efficiency of Agroforestry Systems in Arid Conditions of the Lower Volga

Abstract

The aim of this study was to research the cost effectiveness of creating forest reclamation complexes on slopes, as well as to determine the patterns of their orographic dynamics, taking into account environmental aspects in arid conditions. With the help of modeling agroforestry landscapes, we established forest plantations created from Lanceolate ash (Fraxinus lanceolata) in arid climatic conditions on sloping lands, the cost of planting of which is EUR 1202–EUR 1453 per ha of forest. The specific capital intensity of the arrangement of land use by forest stands is EUR 24–EUR 63 per hectare of afforested plot, while 5–11% accounts for the cost of logging of forest care and 2–30% for the inclusion of a hydraulic element in forest reclamation systems. The monetary equivalent of the return on these investments in the form of prevented damage from soil erosion and air pollution is EUR 333–EUR 940 per hectare of afforested plot per year. This economic effect increases with the growth of the protective forest cover of the plot (by reducing the interband space) by almost 3 times. The benefit–cost ratio for all forest reclamation strategies on slopes is greater than 1, which confirms the high efficiency and expediency of capital investments in forest reclamation activities on slope lands to preserve the land resources of various regions.