Agroforestry systems and geographical indications as hints for a better administration of natural and cultural capital

Often political decisions involve trade-offs, as it may be the case concerning natural and cultural capital. Though, especially after the Charter of Rome on Natural and Cultural Capital was enacted in 2014, it has become clear that both types of capitals are important to achieve tangible and intangible outcomes or benefits. Natural capital management is one way of human-environment interaction. If this is true, then policy making is enhanced by combining Ecology (the branch of biology studying the environment) and Social Sciences (which study humans and their activities). Starting from basic ecology and crossing the areas of Agricultural Economy and Human Geography, this work aims to supply a multidisciplinary approach for more comprehensive decision making processes. To this end, section 2 focuses on the levels of hierarchical arrangement of the natural capital as recognized by ecologists. By means of the example of swidden agriculture and the emergence approach, it shows how better decisions are taken when previewing their multiple effects across the different levels of organization of environment and society. By means of resource theories, section 3 and 4 - focusing on geographical indications (Gis) and tourist routes - reaffirm the necessity of unifying both natural and cultural assets to achieve more beneficial outcomes for human beings. Examples of good practices for policy makers are provided throughout the text.