Abstract: Ecosystem engineering is a newly developed branch of system engineering. Its theory and methodology are mainly derived from system ecology and system engineering. Modern agroforestry could be defined as a sustainable land management system which is purposely designed to integrate agronomy, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and their intermediate processes into an optimized operational entirety for the maximum economic, ecological and social benefits, according to the principles, methods and techniques of ecosystem engineering and based on local socio-economic background, natural condition, technical level and characteristics of cultivated plants and bred animals.

Key words: karst rocky desertification, microhabitat, shrub, δ¹³C values