Bridging the gaps between agricultural policy, land-use and biodiversity

Mattison, Elizabeth H. A.; Norris, Ken

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2005.08.011

Cited by 198 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…For each of these strategies to be effective, there is need to consider both social and biophysical factors within a particular area. There has been increasing advocacy for agricultural intensification as the most viable strategy for sparing land for nature Green et al 2005;Mattison and Norris 2005;Matson and Vitousek 2006;Ewers et al 2009;Rudel 2009). In reality, however, agricultural intensification requires costly inputs of fertilizers, high yielding crop varieties, water, energy and pesticides, thus consequently has a negative impact on "spared" land.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe

et al. 2012

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We tested whether cultivation and fallowing have any significant effect on tree species diversity and dominance in semi-arid Zimbabwe. To this end, we quantified tree species diversity and physiognomy on two soil types (mutapo and bandati) stratified into three land-use categories, i.e., cultivated land, fallow land and woodland. Results showed that tree species diversity was significantly different on the two soil types. Tree species diversity was high on bandati soil and 2 low on mutapo soil. Results also showed that there was significant difference in tree species diversity among the three land-use categories on mutapo soil but no differences on bandati soil.Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in species diversity between paired categories on mutapo soil but no significant differences on bandati soil. Tree physiognomy was significantly different among all three land use categories. Colophospermum mopane and Diospyros kirkii were the dominant species within woodlands, while Acacia tortilis subsp.spirocarpa replaced them as the dominant species within the fallow land category. These results indicate that woodland conversion for cultivation purposes has no immediate significant effect on tree species diversity on bandati soil, while it has a pronounced effect on mutapo soil, at least in the short term.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe

et al. 2012

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“…This approach has the advantage that assumptions concerning ecological mechanisms are amenable to evaluation, and it identifies the most appropriate land-management strategy for biodiversity conservation (Mattison and Norris, 2005). Here, long-term colony monitoring and Table 1 Capture-recapture models estimating survival and recapture probabilities of juveniles (ϕ J and p J , respectively) and adults (ϕ A and p A , respectively) lesser kestrels in different colony habitats of the Gela Plain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat- and density-dependent demography of a colonial raptor in Mediterranean agro-ecosystems

Maggio

Campobello

Tavecchia

et al. 2016

Biological Conservation

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“…In the Prealps, at medium to high altitudes, grazing should be preferred over mowing for maintaining open grasslands and for increasing the diversity of grassland bird communities. In order to improve grassland biodiversity, conservation measures that take into account both the ecology and the social and economic background are necessary (Mattison & Norris 2005). In the last few decades, the EU Common Agricultural Policy has introduced actions aimed at favouring biodiversity and habitat conservation, including Agri-Environmental Schemes and direct payments to support low-intensity farming in marginal areas (Aviron et al 2009;Stoate et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat management effects on Prealpine grassland bird communities

Bazzi

Foglini

Brambilla

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Currently, land abandonment constitutes a serious threat for many species tied to semi-natural grasslands. In southern Europe, the conservation of many grassland bird communities largely depends on low-intensity mountain farming. In this study, we analysed the effects of the main farming practices promoting grassland maintenance, i.e. grazing and mowing, on species richness of a Prealpine grassland bird community and on the breeding densities of the two commonest grassland species, the skylark (Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758) and the tree pipit (Anthus trivialis Linnaeus, 1758). The two study sites were located between 1100 and 2000 m above sea level in the Italian central Prealps. Grassland species richness was positively affected by grazing, and increased with increasing distance from the nearest woodland. Skylark density was positively influenced by mowing, grassland cover extent and distance from woodland, with the latter effect occurring only at a single study site. Finally, tree pipit density was positively affected by grazing. Our findings suggest that, in order to maintain open grasslands below the natural treeline and enhance the biodiversity of grassland bird communities, grazing should be preferred over mowing. Moreover, woodland edge effects may have a negative impact on mountain grassland bird communities. Advancing woodlands and abandonment of low-intensity farming and grazing practices may therefore constitute a serious threat for open-habitat specialist bird species of the Alpine region.

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Bridging the gaps between agricultural policy, land-use and biodiversity

Cited by 198 publications

References 64 publications

Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe

Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe

Habitat- and density-dependent demography of a colonial raptor in Mediterranean agro-ecosystems

Habitat management effects on Prealpine grassland bird communities

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