THE INTEGRATED TRANSECT METHOD AS A TOOL FOR LAND-USE CHARACTERIZATION, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO INLAND VALLEY AGROECOSYSTEMS IN WEST-AFRICA

This article contributes to the development of a general applicable me thod to characterise landscapes by presenting a technique to obtain da ta on actual land use by means of transect surveys and farmer intervie ws. This technique is developed as an alternative to existing ones whi ch generate data on land use mainly as a by-product. As part of a mult iscale agro-ecological characterisation methodology, the Integrated Tr ansect Method (ITM) generates data at the semi-detailed level, and bri dges gaps between disciplines, scales, and agro-ecological zones. The method is illustrated using bio-physical results from inland valley ag ro-ecosystems in two agro-ecological zones in Cote d'Ivoire, West Afri ca. So-called 'agro-ecosystem diagrams' offered scope for easy present ation of collected information. Additionally, various quantified land and land use characteristics were used to scale up data from the level of the transect, via inland valleys and valley systems to the level o f the agro-ecological subunit, Application of ITM showed that this tec hnique can be used effectively as a tool to analyse bio-physical diffe rences in land use within landscapes and compare differences between t hem under different agro-ecological conditions. The required integrati on of bio-physical and socio-economic parameters however, is the subje ct of further study.