1. Harnessing the biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland
- Author
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Simona Maccherini, Teja Tscharntke, Regina Lindborg, Chris van Swaay, Raphaël Arlettaz, Peter Toeroek, Stéphanie Aviron, Iordan Hristov, Tobias Kuemmerle, Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki, András Báldi, F. Xavier Sans, Lubos Halada, Irina Herzon, Orsolya Mathe, Lynn V. Dicks, Johannes Kamp, Mitja Kaligarič, José María Rey-Benayas, Vania Proenca, Eneli Viik, Piotr Tryjanowski, Jaroslaw Stalenga, Charlotte Seifert, David Kleijn, Pille Koorberg, Christoph Leuschner, L. Balezentiene, Jacqueline Loos, Johannes Timaeus, Urs G. Kormann, Riho Marja, Jarmila Kostiukova, Laura M. E. Sutcliffe, Sebastian Klimek, Tibor Hartel, Ainars Aunins, Inge Paulini, Aveliina Helm, Sven D. Jelaska, Péter Batáry, Iva Apostolova, Christina Fischer, Georg-August-University [Göttingen], Agroecology, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge [UK] (CAM), Department of Agricultural Sciences, The Royal Veterinary ans Agricultural University, Centre for Ecosystem Studies, ALTERRA, Institute of Zoology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Universität Bern- University of Bern [Bern], Partenaires INRAE, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia (LU), SAD Paysage (SAD Paysage), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Technische Universität Munchen - Université Technique de Munich [Munich, Allemagne] (TUM), Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences [Tartu], University of Tartu, Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, Faculty of Science [Zagreb], University of Zagreb, University of Maribor, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU), Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institut, Agricultural Research Centre (ARC), Nature Conservation, Humboldt University of Berlin, Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Università degli Studi di Siena = University of Siena (UNISI), Babes-Bolyai University [Cluj-Napoca] (UBB), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Universidad de Alcalá - University of Alcalá (UAH), University of Barcelona, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG), Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung = Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), University of Debrecen, Butterfly Conservation, Volkswagen Foundation, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster = University of Münster (WWU), Universidad de Alcalá. Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Plant Production Sciences, and Kühn, Ingolf
- Subjects
[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Biodiversity ,European union ,Accession ,[SHS]Humanities and Social Sciences ,Agricultural land ,Agricultural intensification ,agri-environment schemes ,common agricultural policy ,European Union ,high nature value farmland ,species richness ,intensification ,media_common ,2. Zero hunger ,Ecology ,conservation ,Common agricultural policy ,PE&RC ,Eastern european ,Ecosystems Research ,Agri-environment schemes ,buntings miliaria-calandra ,1181 Ecology, evolutionary biology ,eu accession ,Dierecologie ,Animal Ecology ,Common Agricultural Policy ,High nature value farmland ,Resource (biology) ,agri environment schemes ,Environmental science ,4111 Agronomy ,Agricultural intensification, agri-environment schemes, common agricultural policy, European Union, high nature value farmland ,media_common.cataloged_instance ,land-use intensity ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,1172 Environmental sciences ,european union ,business.industry ,bird populations ,agri-environmental measures ,member states ,15. Life on land ,Medio Ambiente ,Agriculture ,Wildlife Ecology and Conservation ,570 Life sciences ,biology ,agricultural intensification ,business - Abstract
A large proportion of European biodiversity today depends on habitat provided by low‐intensity farming practices, yet this resource is declining as European agriculture intensifies. Within the European Union, particularly the central and eastern new member states have retained relatively large areas of species‐rich farmland, but despite increased investment in nature conservation here in recent years, farmland biodiversity trends appear to be worsening. Although the high biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland has long been reported, the amount of research in the international literature focused on farmland biodiversity in this region remains comparatively tiny, and measures within the EU Common Agricultural Policy are relatively poorly adapted to support it. In this opinion study, we argue that, 10 years after the accession of the first eastern EU new member states, the continued under‐representation of the low‐intensity farmland in Central and Eastern Europe in the international literature and EU policy is impeding the development of sound, evidence‐based conservation interventions. The biodiversity benefits for Europe of existing low‐intensity farmland, particularly in the central and eastern states, should be harnessed before they are lost. Instead of waiting for species‐rich farmland to further decline, targeted research and monitoring to create locally appropriate conservation strategies for these habitats is needed now., Volkswagen Foundation
- Published
- 2015
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