Fuzzy cognitive maps as a tool to assess ecosystem services considering farmers’ knowledge

Resumen

Farming systems can be understood as complex social-ecological systems, capable of providing
a wide array of ecosystem services. Understanding the mechanisms and functioning
behind the provision of multiple Ecosystem services is an important step for the (re-)design of
more sustainable and efficient farming systems. Farmers play an important role, as they are
responsible for managing multiple ecosystem services, and are direct beneficiaries. Therefore,
in a research committed with the development of agroecological farming systems it is crucial
to involve farmers as co-creators, considering their knowledge and needs. For that, it is necessary
to use methods that make explicit farmers perceptions on multiple Ecosystem Services.
The objective was to analyse if Fuzzy Cognitive Maps can be useful in involving farmers
and explaining their perception. The maps were constructed with agroecological farmers in
the region of Zona da Mata, and the results suggest that farmers have multiple and complex
perceptions on agroecosystems and their services, and the maps were efficient in analyzing
such complexity it is a and to reflect on how possible changes in the ecosystem can affect the
provision of different benefits provided by nature.