Aesthetic evaluation of agroforestry and agricultural systems

Silvoarable systems are one of the three types of agroforestry. They are multipurpose systems that combine trees and crops on the same surface. They are a form of multiculture which imitates natural ecosystems. These systems make full use of available natural resources and provide a variety of products and services. However the focus has always been on these characteristics while the particular aesthetic value of the landscapes that are created is neglected or ignored. These landscapes occur as the result of a synthetic agricultural and ecological history and constitute elements of cultural heritage. The purpose of the study was to evaluate silvoarable and agricultural systems and enhance the aesthetic value of the trees in the fields. The study was conducted in lakes Vegoritida and Petron in Florina Prefecture. Two silvoarable and two agricultural systems were selected and their landscape features were evaluated based on physical, psychological and aesthetic criteria. In addition their vulnerability and degradation risks were studied. From the comparison between the four systems it was concluded that the functional silvoarable outweigh aesthetically the agricultural ones. The presence of trees contributes to the harmony of the landscape, its importance and the variety of its parts.