Trees on farms: Investigating and mapping woody re-vegetation potential in an intensely-farmed agricultural landscape

• We investigated the potential for future woody restoration on farms.
• The potential for re-vegetation was related to socio-economics and perceptions.
• GIS analyses showed an average woody vegetation density of less than 5% currently.
• However, there is potential for increasing woody vegetation cover by 5.5%.
• GIS-based scenarios can guide discussions of multifunctional landuse on farms.

Deforestation, to meet agricultural demands, has driven woody vegetation cover change across many landscapes globally. The further intensification of farming has created greater pressures on ecosystems and increased the need for re-establishing woody vegetation on farms to restore or enhance ecological processes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of landowner and property-related characteristics, as well as landowner perceptions and attitudes, on the potential for woody vegetation change across an intensively-farmed agricultural landscape in Canterbury, New Zealand. A survey was carried out to collect relevant socio-economic data, data regarding landowner perceptions of woody vegetation, as well as spatial information regarding current and possible future woody vegetation quantities. Statistical models were used to assess the factors that were most associated with woody vegetation intentions. Survey data were also used to map the distribution of current woody vegetation at the landscape scale, as well as the potential future woody distribution given stated landowner intentions. Survey results showed linear shade and shelterbelts, riparian strips, and small native remnants communities to be the three typical woody vegetation features. The majority of surveyed properties had less than 20 per cent woody vegetation cover. These current woody vegetation patterns were best described by the combination of property characteristics, landowner factors and landowner's perception and attitude (full model). A GIS spatial analysis, incorporating results from the survey, indicated that a potential increase in woody vegetation of over a five per cent was achievable if landowners’ intentions towards woody re-vegetation became realised. We conclude that a better understanding of socio-economic factors, landowner perceptions, and the spatial distribution of potential sites for re-vegetation are all required to facilitate the development of multifunctional agricultural landscapes.