Establishment of an impact assessment procedure as a tool for sustainability of agro-ecosystem: The case of Mediterranean olives LIFE SAGE10

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1 Establishment of an impact assessment procedure as a tool for sustainability of agro-ecosystem: The case of Mediterranean olives LIFE SAGE10 Vasiliki Tsiaoussi

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3 LIFE SAGE10 partnership Benaki Phytopathological Institute Coordinator Crop Protection & Safety DEMETER Directorate of Research Land Reclamation Institute Soil and Water Management, Fertilisation The Goulandris Natural History Museum Greek Biotope-Wetland Centre Biodiversity Rodax Ltd Quality Systems Crop Management Consultancy

4 Aim of the project To improve practices applied in olive groves taking into account environmental impacts and production capacity Aim of this presentation Present the method developed and applied by the project Focus on biodiversity

5 Aim To improve practices applied in olive groves taking into account environmental impacts and production capacity Strategy Development of an Impact Assessment Procedure (IAP) for justified and objective evaluation of potential impacts of agricultural practices on environment, as a tool for ISO 14001/ EMAS planning in primary agriculture Incorporation of IAP as the core process of an advisory system aiming to propose to farmers the most efficient use of their resources, with the objective to achieve long term sustainability of the agro-ecosystem

6 80 farmers, 600 olive groves, ha

7 IAP - Impact Assessment Procedure - a structured method to assess and prioritize impacts in the environment (including humans) ASPECT Agricultural activities (e.g. crop protection, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, soil management, harvesting, establishment of a new grove, storing of ppp s) with an impact IMPACT Impacts of aspects on different environmental compartments: e.g. surface water pollution, changes in biodiversity, soil acidity, health risks for workers in groves COMPARTMENT Biotic and abiotic environment (water bodies, soil, biodiversity ), Humans (operator, worker)

8 IAP - Impact Assessment Procedure - a structured method to assess and prioritize impacts in the environment (including humans) ASPECT IMPACT Agricultural activities (e.g. crop protection, pruning, soil management, harvesting) with an impact Any measurable quantitative or qualitative change in plants and animals that are found in olive groves or use it in some stage of their life cycle, or in water courses within 1 km. COMPARTMENT Biodiversity (soil biodiversity, aquatic species, birds, reptiles)

9 IAP: TRIPLETS & PARAMETERS ASPECT Pesticides P Parameters* Application of Chemicals Number of applications Dose of application Pattern of application weight Ranking IMPACT Change *The factors,which influence the significance of the impact COMPARTMENT Flora

10 IAP: TRIPLETS & PARAMETERS ASPECT IMPACT Soil management Change E Parameters Hedgerow (length/area) Stonewalls (length/area) Other tree species (no/area) Closeness to natural or semi-natural areas COMPARTMENT Animal diversity

11 B I O D I V E R S I T Y IAP: Environmental Performance Indicators Indicators Description Frequency of counting Age of the olive grove Orchids Snails Number of bird nests on olives Number of bird nests on the ground Presence (1)/absence (0) of trees of different age classes Presence/absenc (1/0) of genus Ophrys and Orchis.Once a year, March-May before weed cutting. Recording of number of snails on the base, and on the trunks of 3 olive trees, along a 100 m transect. Frequency: Once during Oct-Nov, and once during March-April. Recording of nests on trees along a transect of 100 m, during the last cultivation period (no of nests/no of trees, or no of nests/area). Once every May. Recording of nests on trees along a transect of 100 m, during the last cultivation period (no of nests/area). Once every May. Value Ranges 1 <19 yr >20 yr >100 yr 1/yr 0 1 form 2 forms 2/yr /yr /yr

12 Malpolon monspessulan us Εobania veremiculata

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14 Software SAGEProject & IAP TOOLBOX Pilot testing in the project olive groves Plot environmental profiles (indicators for ) Values re-assigned, IAP method validated 43 Triplets finally included 68 Indicators of Environmental Performance The IAP method was standardized as an EMAS recommendation at field level and submitted to National EMAS Committee

15 Key indicator of success Application by the farmer LIFE SAGE 10 Project method & outputs Collaboration with unions of farmers Agronomists The farmers themselves Farmers

16 Overall aim with regard to biodiversity To reduce impacts by agricultural practices To conserve biodiversity

17 On the field training on identification and measurements of parameters related to biodiversity Guidelines to identify and measure parameters related to biodiversity Instructions on good agricultural practices in Mediterranean olive groves with regard to biodiversity Biodiversity recordings were carried out to determine the contribution of IAP method to environmental improvement.

18 On the field training on identification and measurements of parameters related to biodiversity

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21 Badger's nest (Meles meles) in olive grove at Mirambello, Crete.

22 Instructions on good agricultural practices in Mediterranean olive groves with regard to biodiversity What farmers can do during soil management during pest management during fertilization during pruning during irrigation during harvesting What farmers can do for agricultural landscape for hedgerows for stonewalls for terraces for old trees for wetlands

23 Communicating good practice for biodiversity to olive growers and agronomists in the area of Peza Crete.

24 Cutting residues crushed in an olive grove provide habitat to a great variety of animals

25 Rubbish threatens wildlife (Chalcides ocellatus in an olive grove in Peza Crete).

26 Instructions on good agricultural practices in Mediterranean olive groves with regard to biodiversity The objectives of the guidelines are that olive grove farmers and their advisor agronomists: Understand the significance of biodiversity to maintain the services of agro-ecosystems; Adopt good practices in order to conserve or improve olive grove biodiversity; Make biodiversity an ally in their effort to produce both high quality products and with environmental friendly practices.

27 Biodiversity recordings were carried out in a sample of 5% of olive groves and twice during the project execution period; once before and once after the implementation of the IAP method. For some animal groups, such as invertebrates and birds, an improvement of diversity indices was observed in all project sites. Changes were not statistically significant; it is unclear whether they can be attributed to improved environment conditions due to the IAP method or to variability of measurements

28 Some findings The IAP method links problems to their causes and reflects, in a systematic way, the effects on biodiversity in an olive grove. Agronomists and producers learn how to focus on biodiversity. Extensive training, together with guidelines produced, enable them to identify and record biodiversity in their plots. As a result, problems can be addressed and better farming practices can be applied for the benefit of both the producer and biodiversity. First results show positive effects in biodiversity from IAP application. Longer periods needed to make safe conclusions.

29 A pollinator on a Capparis spinosa flower in an olive grove of Peza, Crete.

30 Rich biodiversity is evidence of a living olive grove! Thank you!