Using CAP to enhance farm biodiversity

Transcription

1 @LynnDicks Using CAP to enhance farm biodiversity Dr Lynn Dicks University of East Anglia Workshop 'Best practices addressing environmental and climate needs' 23 March 2017

2 What does biodiversity mean to you? Icons Valued, but not functional biodiversity Heroes Functional biodiversity Pests Dysfunctional biodiversity Photo credits: CLM/Linda Peall/José Roberto Peruca 2

3 Outline Methods of synthesizing evidence What do we know about agri-environment schemes? What do we know about the greening measures? Understanding the evidence on individual practices: field margins as Ecological Focus Areas

4 Methods of synthesizing evidence How do agri-environment schemes and greening measures affect farmland biodiversity? Topic search Web of Science: (agriculture OR "greening measure*" OR "agri-environment schemes" OR "agrienvironment schemes) AND biodiversity Number of studies per year (WoS) papers/year = one 50% FTE Complex evidence Simple answer Systematic search Standardised synopsis Expert panel assessment FIND OUT MORE Dicks et al. (2017) Knowledge synthesis for environmental decisions: an evaluation of existing methods, and guidance for their selection, use and development a report from the EKLIPSE project. Eklipse D3.1. Dicks et al. (2016) Biodiversity and Conservation 25: Dicks, L.V., Walsh, J., Sutherland, W.J. (2014) Organising evidence for environmental management decisions: a 4S hierarchy. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 29: Systematic map Systematic review Meta-analysis 4

5 What do we know about agri-environment schemes? 24 3 billion spent so far, but in most studies, research designs inadequate to assess effectiveness. Nest box provision in Hungary, costing 45 per box 5

6 What do we know about agri-environment schemes? Batary, Dicks, Kleijn and Sutherland (2015) Conservation Biology, 29, Effects of agri-environment schemes on species richness Systematic search Meta-analysis Usually increase farmland biodiversity Have not improved over time Out of production options are more effective Few Before After Control Impact (BACI) studies Expensive ( 375 million/year in England from 2007 to 2013) 6 CLM

7 What do we know about greening measures? Ecological Focus Areas on 5% of land Permanent grassland protection Crop diversification Large proportion of farmland excluded No additionality Not the most effective options Pe'er et al. (2014) Science 344, % grassland loss permitted by 2020, compared to 6.4%,

8 What do we know about greening measures? Systematic search Standardised synopsis Expert panel assessment Practices included in greening Other practices known to work (categorised beneficial by Conservation Evidence) Increase crop diversity Provide buffer strips on water courses Increase semi-natural habitat in landscape Manage hedges to benefit wildlife Grass buffer strips Provide or retain fallow land (set-aside) Create uncultivated margins Create skylark plots Restore species-rich grassland Mowing techniques to reduce bird mortality Reduce agri-chemical inputs generally Plant nectar flower mix/wildflower strips Use organic rather than mineral fertilizers Plant wild bird seed cover/mix Leave cultivated areas uncropped Sources: Dicks et al. (2014) Conservation Letters 7, Dicks et al (2014) Farmland Conservation: evidence for the effects of interventions. Pelagic Pulbishing Beneficial Likely to be beneficial Unknown effectiveness Likely to be ineffective or harmful 8

9 What do we know about greening measures? Systematic search Standardised synopsis Expert panel assessment Practices included in greening Other practices known to work (categorised beneficial by Conservation Evidence) Increase crop diversity Provide buffer strips on water courses Increase semi-natural habitat in landscape Manage hedges to benefit wildlife Grass buffer strips Provide or retain fallow land (set-aside) Create uncultivated margins Create skylark plots Restore species-rich grassland Mowing techniques to reduce bird mortality Reduce agri-chemical inputs generally Plant nectar flower mix/wildflower strips Use organic rather than mineral fertilizers Plant wild bird seed cover/mix Leave cultivated areas uncropped Sources: Dicks et al. (2014) Conservation Letters 7, Dicks et al (2014) Farmland Conservation: evidence for the effects of interventions. Pelagic Pulbishing Beneficial Likely to be beneficial Unknown effectiveness Likely to be ineffective or harmful 9

10 What practices are most likely to be beneficial? Farmers may need compensation for lost income or lower yields. Farmers benefit from higher or more stable yields. 10

11 What practices are most likely to be beneficial? For biodiversity heroes (greening) Planted or well-managed field margins Fallow land For biodiversity icons (agri-environment schemes) Protected or restored species-rich grassland 11

12 Planted field margins Northern temperate Europe; assessments completed Biodiversity Birds Flowers Grass Natural vegetation Along water courses (buffer strips) Hedgerows Invertebrate 1 (heroes) Feasibility 2 High High High High Medium Cost 2 Medium Low Low Low Medium 1 Dicks et al. (in prep) A biodiversity metric for the Cool Farm Tool 2 Santangeli et al. (2016) Biological Conservation 197, Beneficial Likely to be beneficial Unknown effectiveness Likely to be ineffective or harmful 12

13 Planted field margins Southern (Mediterranean) Europe: preliminary assessments, work in progress Tom Bayer Biodiversity (icons) Pollination Pest regulation Crop production Soil fertility Climate change mitigation Water conservation Flowers Along water courses (buffer strips) Hedgerows Beneficial Likely to be beneficial Unknown effectiveness Likely to be ineffective or harmful Trade-offs between benefits and harms 13

14 Key A large, complex evidence base can inform management for biodiversity and ecosystem services This can be summarised into simple messages Ecological Focus Areas can support functional biodiversity, if well managed Iconic biodiversity may require different policy structures and actions Evidence much less comprehensive for southern Europe