informing the development of farmland biodiversity prescriptions and policies

Informing the development of farmland biodiversity prescriptions and policies

Davy McCracken Land Economy & Environment Research Group

Presentation to staff and students

SRUC Edinburgh, 30 October 2012

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From Norris et al. 2011 Biodiversity. UK National Ecosystem Assessment

Biodiversity essential in underpinning the final

ecosystem services associated with our agricultural

ecosystems

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• Over 45% (173 million ha) of EU27

• Recognised that habitats and

landscapes of nature conservation

value are intimately associated with

farming practices

• Taking land out of agricultural

production is not the answer for

farmland biodiversity

• Rather, it is essential to ensure type

and intensity of farm management is

appropriate

Importance of farmland for biodiversity

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UK Wild bird population index: 1970-2009

Scotland: 1995-2009 (BTO)

Stable (but at low levels):

• Linnet

• Skylark

• Yellowhammer

Declined:

• Curlew (-53%)

• Kestrel (-58%)

• Lapwing (-37%)

• Meadow Pipit (-31%)

• Rook (-25%)

The farmland biodiversity challenge

Action needed in protected areas and wider countryside

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From: Hart, K., Baldock, D., Tucker, G., Allen, B., Calatrava, J., Black, H., Newman, S., Baulcomb, C., McCracken, D. & Gantioler, S. 2011 Costing the

environmental needs related to rural land management. Report Prepared for DG Environment, Contract No ENV.F.1/ETU/2010/0019r. Institute for

European Environmental Policy, London

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The impact of farming

practices on farmland

biodiversity




20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Nu

mb

er

of

bre

ed

ing

pair

s

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Pressures on farmland biodiversity

Intensity of agriculture

• Abandonment of

management practices

• Intensification of

management practices

• Simplification of

agricultural landscapes

Graph from presentation by: Hoogeveen Y.R., Petersen J.E. & Gabrielsen P. (2001). Agriculture and biodiversity in Europe. Background report to the High-Level

European Conference on Agriculture and Biodiversity, 5–7 June, Paris. STRA-CO/AGRI (2001) 17. Council of Europe/UNEP.





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• Recognising what the issues are

• Understanding the processes involved

• Raising awareness of the concern and the issues

• Ensuring they are a policy priority

• Identifying: how much, where and in what

condition

• Developing and delivering appropriate funding

mechanisms at relevant scale

• Monitoring outcomes and adapting the

approach where necessary

High Nature Value farming systems:




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condition





High Nature Value farming systems:




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High Nature Value farming system characteristics




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Surrogate: Proportion of Utilisable Agricultural Area consisting of rough grazing. Potentially HNV when rough grazing is > 70% UAA

Surrogate: Livestock Units per available forage ha. Potentially HNV when < 0.2 LU/ha on rough grazing and < 1.0 LU/ha on in-bye ground, i.e. < 0.44 LU/ha at ‘whole farm’ level where rough grazing is > 70% UAA




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2010: 2.2 million ha (40%) of UAA

in Scotland estimated to be under

HNV farming systems

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condition





Addressing farmland biodiversity concerns in

the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP):




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condition










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• Highlighted major agricultural biodiversity concerns in EU25

• Considered measures taken across EU to address these concerns (largely EU15)

• Case study approach for EU10 issues (large-scale farming; small-scale farms; abandonment)

• Selection of a number of measures that were considered to have potential for high impact at EU level






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Tier I: Improving the biodiversity value

and potential of agricultural

landscapes

Tier II: Providing support for particular

farming systems

Tier III: Providing support for regional-

specific measures targeted at

addressing landscape

simplification, farmland birds and

semi-natural vegetation

Three Tier Approach:




Uptake? • Aspects of these included in current CAP reform proposals • BUT issues with interpretation and proposed implementation by DG Agriculture

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landscapes


farming systems










• Increase Cross Compliance • At least 5% of Utilised Agricultural Area on each farm to designated as Ecological Priority Area

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landscapes


farming systems










• High Nature Value farming systems • Organic farming systems (though with management intensity restrictions)

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landscapes


farming systems










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Challenges:

• Appropriate Common Agricultural Policy reform will be

key to ensuring an appropriate policy framework for

farmland biodiversity in 2014-2020

• Aspects of the MEACAP findings currently under

consideration but issues with interpretation and

proposed implementation

• Political will and pressure will be the major driver in

shaping the reformed CAP

• Achieving an appropriate balance will require scientific

understanding and re-packaging of logical arguments




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Further information

• McCracken, D.I. 2011 Policy Briefing: CAP reform

post-2013 - an opportunity to support High Nature

Value farming systems in Scotland? SRUC Rural

Policy Centre Online (RPC PB 2011/09)

• McCracken, D.I. 2011 Policy Briefing: Farmland

biodiversity and the Common Agricultural Policy

(CAP). SRUC Rural Policy Centre Online (RPC PB

2011/04)




informing the development of farmland biodiversity prescriptions and policies

Documents

policies presentation

students sruc edinburgh

rural land management

intensity of farm management

impact of farming practices

agricultural production

agricultural ecosystems

european environmental