high nature value farmland in europe, conference in vilm ... · high nature value farmland in...

Federal Departement of Economic Affairs DEAFederal Office for Agriculture FOAG

High Nature Value Farmland in Europe, Conference in Vilm, 14th – 18th June 2010

HNV farmland in Switzerland Agriculture and biodiversityCurrent situation & trends

Erika LoserSwiss Federal Office for Agriculture

2High nature value farmland in European countries: e.g.Switzerland

The Swiss political approach to ensure ecological compensation in agricultural landscape, Erika Loser, BLW, 17.06.2010

Swiss agriculture

Jura10%

Lowlands 30%

Mountains 60%



AreaFacts and figures

Non productive areas7,800 km2 19 %

Built-up areas2,500 km2 6 %

Agricultural land 10,300 km2 25 %

Lakes and Rivers2,900 km2,

7 %

Forest12,000 km2

29 %

Alpine pastures

5,800 km2

14 %



• 1.0 million ha agricultural land (about 75% grassland)

• 0.6 million ha alpine summer pastures

• 64 000 farms (60% full-time)

Facts and figures: current situation

Agricultural Production

Degree of self-sufficiency (joules)

• Vegetal products 41 %• Animal products 94 %• Total 59 %



Facts and figures: current situation

Swiss agriculture: Structure

Farm sizeCows per dairy farm

ha

Num

ber o

f cow

s



Habitat changes and trends

From 1997/2001 to 2002/2007: Mire area declined by 1%, plus decrease in mire quality

dryer, more nitrogen indicator plants

Mires

1800: 250‘000 ha1900: 190‘000 ha Today 30‘000 ha

Area declined by 85%

Quelle: Lachat et al. 2010



Habitat changes and trends

Quelle: Lachat et al. 2010, Photo: G. Volkart

Dry meadows and drypastures

1900: 760‘000 haArea declined by 25-30% between 1980 and 1995/2005 Today: 37‘000 ha(Since 1900 decline by 95%!)



Habitat trends: Traditional orchards

Quelle: BFS

2001 2.9 millions of trees;

today less than 2.3 millions

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7000

1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001JahrN

umbe

r of H

igh-

Ste

m F

ruit

Tree

s (x

100

0)

apple

pear

cherry

plums and prunes

apricot

peach

quince

nut



Habitat changes: landscape structures11 years of land amelioration: Evolution of semi-natural habitatsWintersingen 1983/1994Extensive meadows -71%Stone heaps -67%Cavities -67%Ditches -63%Stone walls -50%Fallow land -48%Moist patches -41%Dolines/sinkholes -40%Flowering meadows -35%Terraces -35%Shrubland -32%Structured forest edge -30%Little valleys -17%Hedgerows -13%Rivers -9%Tracks -7%Solitary trees -3%

Münstertal 1972 and 2002

Tafeljura BL 1971 and 1996

Quellen: Tanner et al., K. Ewald



Changes in species diversityVascular plants in meadows and pastures

- In the last 120 years, the number of species by square meter has decreased by 50%. The number of indicator species for ecological quality has dropped to one third.- Today we need a surface 120 times larger to find the same number of species as 120 years ago.

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5

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20

25

bis 800 m ü. M. 800 - 1800 m ü. M. über 1800 m ü. M. total

Anz

ahl A

rten

Höhenstufe

altneu

Elevation

Quelle: N. Richner, C. Rechsteiner



Index diversity of plant communities

Changes & trends in species diversityVascular plants in meadows and pastures- Nutrient indicator plants continue to increase. Swiss meadows and pastures are losing their diversity.

Source: Biodiversity Monitoring Switzerland

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

1 2

gest

.Nae

hrst

offz

ahl

Nut

rient

indi

cato

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< 19

00

2008

/9

Source: N. Richner

MAA1

Folie 11

MAA1 Nutrient indicator?Anita Maric Fasel; 02.06.2010



Changes and trends in species diversityRuderal plants / Segetal flora

Out of 743 ruderal plants, 42 % are endangered.

From 1991 to 2002, the threat increased for 30 % of them.

Cross compliance has led to lower degree of threats in 6% of species living in crop

Permanent soil cover in vineyards reduces erosion but affects floristic diversity

Sources: Moser et al., Landolt, Fotos: ART; Markus Jenny



Trends in groups of organismsBirds- Swiss Bird Index has been stable since 1900- Winners: Yellowhammer, rook - Losers: Tree pipit, skylark, whinchat- regional and local differences may be important

Source: Sierro et al.; Swiss Ornithological Institute

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10

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30

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60

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1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Anz

ahl R

evie

re

Red-backed Shrike r

Tree pipit

Fieldfare

Whinchat

Wryneck

The Red-backed Shrike profits of agro-environmental schemes, Klettgau

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5

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20

25

30

1999200020012002200320042005200620072008

Anza

hl R

evie

re

LangfeldPlombergWiden



Changes and trends in species diversityButterflies in the region of Basel

regional biodiversity is still decreasing

Source: Altermatt et al., Walter et al., picture: K.Schneider

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60

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120

1880

_188

9

1890

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1900

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1910

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1940

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_200

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Zeitabschnitt

Anz

ahl U

ZL-A

rten

Gesamte RegionBS (CH-Teil)

Tafeljura

Faltenjura



Varieties and breeds: positive trends

for livestock and most cropsLoss trend stopped / breed diversity is increasing


The Swiss political approach to ensure ecological compensation in agricultural landscape, Erika Loser, BLW, 17.06.2010 Source: Walter et al.

Biodiversity changes in Swiss agri-cultural areas: Changes and trends

1900-1990 1991-2010

ML Jura Alps ML Jura Alps

habitats

Arable land

Grassland

Dry meadows and pastures

Wet meadows and pastures

Vineyards

Traditional orchards (n° of trees)

Hedge ( length)

Groups of organisms

Birds

Butterflies

Grasshoppers

Segetal flora of ruderal places

Flora of dry meadows and pastures

Flora of wet meadows and pastures

Flora of productive meadows

Varieties and breeds

Varieties&cultivar

Livestock breeds



Quelle: Walter et al.

Biodiversity changes in Swiss agricultural areas : changes & trends

-1900-1990: Sharp decline of biodiversity on almost all levels and in all regions

starting from a very high level of biodiversity-1990-2010: slower decline on most levels

starting from a mostly low to medium level in the Jura Mountains and in the mountain areas-1990-2010: moderate positive development in the Central Plateau

from a very low to a low levelPositive development in the trends of

conservation of varieties and breeds



changes in Swiss agricultural landscape: diversity of species related to agriculture

areas of deficit: potential for promotion

Historical situation (19th-20th century) Largest species diversitynext to alpine meadows and pasturesin climatically mild valley systems

Current situation: (data from 1982)Biggest losses of species diversity observed in the Central Plateau and S-Tessin; urban agglomerations function as substitute habitats

Source: WWF&Birdlife CH 2009



The swiss agriculture regions with high nature value, NGO-study 2009

Base: Flora- and Fauna-data (from national databases)Selection of species related to agriculture (derived from data on ecological and habitat preferences, expert assessments) Groups of organisms: phanerophyta 1518, pulmonata 8, odonata 36, orthoptera 68, neuroptera 2, lepidoptera 186, hymenoptera 84, coleoptera 30, amphibia 11, reptilia 10, aves 45, mammalia 4 species analysedtotally 1‘100‘000 observations analysed Point data clustered in biogeographic sectors (Welten & Suter 1982)

sector value: weighted sum of species present in the sector (depending on link to agriculture and endangerment and international responsibility of Switzerland)Historical situation current situation=only recent data (>1982)



Biodiversity in Swiss agricultural landscape arable land: current situation restoration potential

areas of deficit: potential for restoration/promotion

Species connected to humid meadows and pastures



Outlook : Swiss HNVF data how to achieve compatibility with the EU?

Selection of relevant land cover classes (Corine) for CH (problems with arable land, all? vineyards, greenland*?)(Refinement of the drafts of land cover maps with expert rules)Addition of biodiversity data layers with European coverage

• Natura 2000 network• Important Bird areas IBAs• Prime Butterfly areas IPAs

Addition of national biodiversity data sets • Inventory of fens and of dry meadows/dry pastures• mire landscapes of national importance• Alluvial zones and others?

Up-scaling of the original data to a suitable level of detail polygons illustrated e.g. in 1 km2-grid (Czechoslovakia)



Policies and Instruments to preserve HNVF in Switzerland based on theFederal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage :Protection and maintenance of nature and lands-cape with central governmental financial contribution• Biotopes of national and regional importance

(dry grasslands 43%, fens 40%, amphibian sites 67% and alluvial zones 2% on agricultur. land; totally <10% of agricultural land)

• Protection of speciesNot restricted to agricultural surfacesImplementation only partly successful or satisfying



Policies and instruments to preserve HNVF in Switzerland based on agricultural law:

Bis 1992 • no explicit promotion of biodiversity or HNVF• no measures for conservation of genetic resources• land ameliorations: no specific measures

1993 Promotion of cross compliance ecological compensation areas (ECA)

1997 NAP-PGREL Conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture

1999 Measures for animal genetic resources1999 PEP: minimal 7% resp. 3.5% ECA per farm2001 Introduction of the Ordinance on Eco-Quality:

promotion of biological quality & interlinking2008 Environmental objectives for agriculture UZL2009 Concept development of direct payments WDZ2009 UZL-Operationalisation project starting



Type Ausgestaltung objectives

BFF-contribution (Quality and interlinking)BFF = Biodiversitätsförderfläche

Permanent payments for BFF-Types per ha agricultural land & alp. zone (incl. law of nature protection)

Conservation and promotion of biodiversity and habitats (including bio-topes of nat. importance)

Improvement measures

Single payments for specific measures

Achieve the necessary level of quality

Species promotion measures

Single and permanent payments for specific measures

Promotion of demanding target species

Functional biodiversity on production area

Permanent payments per ha, „hole farm approach“ (e.g. „Bio“)

Promotion of soil fertility and ecosystem services

Concept WDZ (development of direct payments)

Contributions/measures for biodiversity



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Art. 104 BVAliment.safety

Culturated landscapeDecentralized population of the countryMaintenance of natural ressources

Promotion of environment- and animal-friendly production types

Structural and social base criteria (Eintretens-/Begrenzungskrit.)

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Contributions for adaptationMaking the development socially reliable/supportable

Proof of ecological performance PEP

Foto: H. Schiess



Development of agriculture policyI II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV

WTO(falls Einigung 10)

Bot. Parl. Beratung Inkrafttreten

Inkrafttreten Referendum Inkrafttreten

Weiterentwickl. Direktzahlungen

Bericht erarbeiten WAK-S/N

Bericht Po Stadler

Bericht erarbeiten WAK-S/N

Zahlungsrahmen:ZR 2008-11 Inkrafttreten

ZR 2012-13 Aussprache Bot. Parl. Beratung Inkrafttreten

ZR 2014-17 VNL Parl. Beratung Inkrafttreten

Legende: Verhandlung Bundesratsbeschluss

Vorarbeiten Verwaltung Parlamentsbeschluss

Vernehmlassung Volksabstimmung

Botschaft Inkrafttreten

Parlament

Referendum und Volksabstimmung

Umsetzung

Begleitmass-nahmen

AG; Bericht zH. EVD

2014

Listen bereinigen

FHAL Verhandlungen Bot.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

2008 2009 2010 2011

Parl. Beratung

2012 2013 2014

Vertiefung Konsultationen

Botschaft

Aussprache Parl. BeratungRevision LwG (WDZ, SV, M S, ev. BGM ) Vernehmlassungsunterlage

VNL Botschaft Inkrafttreten



Trends in the agricultural sector

Quelle: BFS, F. Kohler, P. Murbach

Area used for agricultural purposes: 1901/1997: -32%2‘240‘000 ha / 1‘530‘000 ha

Number of employees in agriculture :1905/2007:-75%700‘000 / 173‘000Average farm size 1905/2007: +325%4 ha / 17 ha



Evolution of some key numbers in the agricultural sector

Quelle: BFS, F. Kohler, P. Murbach

Number of pigs 1901/2007: +190%550‘000 / 1‘600‘000

Dairy cows, milk production 1905/2007: -4% +115%740‘000 / 710‘000, 1.8 Mio. t / 3.9 Mio.

Number of goats 1905/2007: -77%350‘000 / 80‘000

Number of sheep 1905/2007: +100%220‘000 / 440‘000



Changes in groups of organismsMammalsThe numbers of ermines and weasels have greatly diminished.Hares have benefited from ECA in arable areas, but in food growing areas their numbers decline. The hare densities (3 individuals/100 ha) is still very low and below the density necessary for hunting practices, according to the estimations of biologists (15-19 individuals/ 100 ha).

Source: J. Fischer, Swiss Ornithological Institute, picture: M. Jenny

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91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

Acker bau / gr andes cul t ur es

Gr aswi r t schaf t / f our r ager

CH

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