Abstract
Short-term cash crop plantations on slope lands and ignoring high soil erodibility have re¬sulted in a number of problems with the management of watersheds in Taiwan. The objective of this study was to devise a simulation model for optimally allocating slope-land uses in the Shui-Li Creek watershed, a total area of 60.5 km2 in central Taiwan. The human ecosystem model (HEM) was intended to provide a conceptual model for integrating slope-land human activities and natural resource utilization. A mathematical sub-model of the objective function attempts to maximize the net agricultural returns produced in areas with slope inclinations of < 45%. Linear constraints con¬sist of the soil-loss tolerance in each AGNPS cell. This model assesses 2 yr (1994~1995) of maxi¬
mization of net benefits and optimal allocation of slope-land plantations. Furthermore, the results
also indicate an ongoing misallocation in the Shui-Li Creek watershed, by comparing the optimal
allocation and need to mitigate soil erosion while allowing efficient land use in this watershed.