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What is AEZ
The main system for land resource assessment is FAO’s agro-ecological zoning (AEZ) methodology and supporting software packages for application at global, regional, national and sub-national levels.
AEZ uses various databases, models and decision support tools which are described below.
When to use AEZ
Useful as a tool of assessment of land resources for better planning and management and monitoring of these resources. AEZ can be used in various assessment applications, including:
- land resource inventory;
- inventory of land utilization types and production systems, including indigenous systems, and their requirements;
- potential yield calculation;
- land suitability and land productivity evaluation , including forestry and livestock productivity;
- estimation of arable areas
- mapping agro-climatic zones, problem soil areas, agro-ecological zones, land suitability, quantitative estimates on potential crop areas, yields and production;
- land degradation assessment, population supporting capacity assessment and land use optimization modelling;
- assessing and mapping flood and drought damages to crops;
- assessment of impact of climate change;
- monitoring land resources development
AEZ Database
The AEZ concept involves the representation of land in layers of spatial information and combination of the layers of spatial information using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The combination/overlay
of layers produces agro-ecological cells. In this way a land resources database is created which contains information on the AEZ cells. AEZ integrates in the database various kinds of geo-referenced
data sets , which can include the following:
- topography;
- administrative boundaries;
- road/communications;
- towns and settlements;
- rivers/water bodies;
- geology;
- soil;
- physiography;
- landform;
- erosion;
- rainfall;
- temperature;
- moisture regime;
- watersheds;
- irrigable areas;
- land use/land cover and forest reserves;
- population.
AEZ Models
AEZ models are applied on the database to analyse potentials of land for various kinds of use. The AEZ models include models for the calculation of length of growing period, irrigation requirements,
crop biomass, land suitability, land productivity.
The FAO AEZ system as used in a recent Kenya study comprises four groups of compound activities as follows:
- formulation of LUTs and their ecological requirements;
- compilation of land resource database;
- assessment of land productivity, including cropping patterns, linkage to livestock and forestry production systems and soil conservation;
- analysing optimal land use scenarios.
The land suitability and land productivity results are recorded for each AEZ cell or record in the database and constitute an entry point for land use analysis, using decision support
tools such as multi-criteria analysis and simulation.
AEZ Software Tools
Two PC software packages have been prepared in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA).to implement AEZ models: one software package for global and regional
application; and another package for more detailed application at country level. The second package is called AEZWIN and runs on WINDOWS 95 and WINDOWS NT.
Local adaptation of AEZWIN has resulted in various versions of the software for use in specific conditions.
Land Resources Information System
The AEZ databases, models and software packages are usually imbedded in a GIS-based Land Resources Information System
AEZ Applications
Global and regional
The AEZ methodology and models have been applied in developing a global digital AEZ land resources database based on the digitized soil map of the world (DSMW). The database contains information
on soil and landform, temperature regime and length of growing period, agro-ecological zones, forest and protected areas, land suitability for about 30 main crops.
The database has been used in global land productivity potential studies within the framework of FAO AT2010 study, including estimation of arable land potentials for agricultural
expansion by country. It has been used in regional and country studies on land use change, population supporting capacity and land suitability for aquaculture. It has also been used in applications
involving integration of bio-physical and socio-economic data such as studies on land carrying capacity and the effects of climate change on agricultural productivity potentials. The database will
be used in regional food insecurity and vulnerability mapping (FIVIMS) programme of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
National
The AEZ methodology and software packages have been used in studies which address a wide range of land management issues: improved land use planning (China, Kenya, Mozambique, Grenada, Tanzania),
formulation of population policies (Malaysia, Philippines, China), national agricultural development (Kenya, Bangladesh), agricultural research planning and management (Bangladesh and Indonesia),
natural resources management (Brazil), technology targeting (Bangladesh) and disaster preparedness (Bangladesh)
Maps of Bangladesh:
Subnational/local
More recently, the AEZ methodology and software packages have also been used in land evaluation studies for local area land use planning: designing an information system for irrigation planning
(Argentina), participatory municipal land use planning (Chile, Bolivia), sustainable watershed development (Brazil) and land evaluation for irrigation (Uruguay)
Availability
AEZ is available as FAO Publications in the form of reports in English, French or Spanish and can be purchased locally through the authorized FAO Sales Agents or directly from
Sales and Marketing Group
FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome (Italy)
E-mail: Publications-sales@fao.org
An AEZ software package called AEZWIN can be downloaded from FAO's FTP server at the following address: ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/agll/misc/aezwin.exe (11.1
MB !) or a CD-ROM can be requested by writing to the contact persons below.
Contact for technical queries
Jacques.Antoine@FAO.ORG
Freddy.Nachtergaele@fao.org
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