Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of semi-natural habitats and landscape features on Irish farmland: New insights to inform EU Common Agricultural Policy implementation

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Ambio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Concerns over the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in farmland have prompted the development of agri-environment policy measures aimed at reducing farming pressure and maintaining semi-natural habitats in farmed landscapes. However, further knowledge is needed to guarantee successful agri-environment measures implementation. The current study assessed the quantity and the quality of semi-natural habitats in farms across a gradient of farming intensities in two contrasting regions in Ireland. Policy protection seemed fundamental for semi-natural habitats preservation. Habitats not protected by agricultural policy relied on extensive farming and are in danger of disappearing if they are intensified or abandoned. Due to the lack of policy incentives for habitat quality, no correlations were found between farming intensity and share of semi-natural habitats with habitat quality. Therefore, extensive farming and retention of habitats alone may not reverse the decline of farmland quality and biodiverisity and, thus, measures incentivising the environmental quality may be more successful.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Batáry, P., A. Báldi, D. Kleijn, and T. Tscharntke. 2011. Landscape-moderated biodiversity effects of agri-environmental management: A meta-analysis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 278: 1894–1902. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.1923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batáry, P., L.V. Dicks, D. Kleijn, and W.J. Sutherland. 2015. The role of agri-environment schemes in conservation and environmental management. Conservation Biology 29: 1006–1016. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, T.G., J.A. Vickery, and J.D. Wilson. 2003. Farmland biodiversity: Is habitat heterogeneity the key? Trends in Ecology & Evolution 18: 182–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(03)00011-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, P., M. Hayes, M. Gormally, C. Sullivan, and J. Moran. 2015. Development of a nature value index for pastoral farmland: A rapid farm-level assessment. Ecological Indicators 56: 31–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.03.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CBD, UNEP, and United Nations. 2011. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the Aichi Targets. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

  • Cole, L.J., D. Kleijn, L.V. Dicks, J.C. Stout, S.G. Potts, M. Albrecht, M.V. Balzan, I. Bartomeus, et al. 2020. A critical analysis of the potential for EU Common Agricultural Policy measures to support wild pollinators on farmland. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collier, M., and J. Feehan. 2009. Developing a field boundary evaluation and grading system in Ireland. Tearmann - the Irish Journal of Agri-Environmental Research 3: 27–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • DAFM. 2016. Terms and Conditions for Tranche 3 of GLAS (Green, Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme).

  • DAFM. 2018a. 2018 EU Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)/Greening Payment - Terms & Conditions.

  • DAFM. 2018b. Fact Sheet on Irish Agriculture - January 2018.

  • Dainese, M., D.I. Luna, T. Sitzia, and L. Marini. 2015. Testing scale-dependent effects of seminatural habitats on farmland biodiversity. Ecological Applications 25: 1681–1690. https://doi.org/10.1890/14-1321.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 2019. Ireland’s 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

  • Diaz, A., S.A. Keith, J.M. Bullock, D.A.P. Hooftman, and A.C. Newton. 2013. Conservation implications of long-term changes detected in a lowland heath plant metacommunity. Biological Conservation 167: 325–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2013.08.018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donald, P.F., and A.D. Evans. 2006. Habitat connectivity and matrix restoration: The wider implications of agri-environment schemes. Journal of Applied Ecology 43: 209–218. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01146.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dupraz, P., and H. Guyomard. 2019. Environment and climate in the common agricultural policy. EuroChoices 18: 18–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/1746-692X.12219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. 2011. Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020. European Commission.

  • Commission, European. 2013. Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 december 2013. Official Journal of the European Union 2008: 608–670. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. 2016. CAP in your country: Ireland. Brussels.

  • European Commission. 2018. Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common Agricultural Policy. Vol. 2018/0216. Brussels.

  • European Court of Auditors. 2017. Greening: a more complex income support scheme, not yet environmentally effective 287: 1977–2017.

  • European Environment Agency. 2015. State of nature in the EU. Results from reporting under the nature directives 2007–2012.

  • Firbank, L.G., S. Petit, S.M. Smart, A. Blain, and R.J. Fuller. 2008. Assessing the impacts of agricultural intensification on biodiversity: A British perspective. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 363: 777–787. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2183ER.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forest Service, D. 2018. Ireland’s National Forest Inventory 2017-Results.

  • Fossitt, J. A. 2000. A guide to habitats in Ireland. The Heritage Council.

  • Foulkes, N., J. Fuller, D. Little, S. McCourt, and P. Murphy. 2013. Hedgerow Appraisal System-Best Practice Guidance on Hedgerow Survey, Dara Collation and Appraisal. Edited by Woodlands of Ireland. Dublin.

  • García-Feced, C., C.J. Weissteiner, A. Baraldi, M.L. Paracchini, J. Maes, G. Zulian, M. Kempen, B. Elbersen, et al. 2014. Semi-natural vegetation in agricultural land: European map and links to ecosystem service supply. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 35: 273–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-014-0238-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herzog, F., G. Lüscher, M. Arndorfer, M. Bogers, K. Balázs, R.G.H. Bunce, P. Dennis, E. Falusi, et al. 2017. European farm scale habitat descriptors for the evaluation of biodiversity. Ecological Indicators 77: 205–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.01.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herzon, I., T. Birge, B. Allen, A. Povellato, F. Vanni, K. Hart, G. Radley, G. Tucker, et al. 2018. Time to look for evidence: Results-based approach to biodiversity conservation on farmland in Europe. Land Use Policy 71: 347–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.12.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson, J.A., A. Moilanen, B.A. Wintle, and C.D. Thomas. 2011. Habitat area, quality and connectivity: Striking the balance for efficient conservation. Journal of Applied Ecology 48: 148–152. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01919.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IEEP. 2008. Funding for Farmland Biodiversity in the EU: Gaining Evidence for the EU Budget Review. Case Study Reports. A report for the RSPB.

  • Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 2005. Common Standards Monitoring Guidance for Ditches: Version March 2005. Vol. 8160.

  • Keenleyside, C., G. Radley, G. Tucker, E. Underwood, K. Hart, B. Allen, and H. Menadue. 2014. Results-based Payments for Biodiversity Guidance Handbook: Designing and implementing results-based agri-environment schemes 2014–2020: 44.

  • Kleijn, D., F. Berendse, R. Smit, N. Gilissen, J. Smit, B. Brak, and R. Groeneveld. 2004. Ecological effectiveness of agri-environment schemes in different agricultural landscapes in the Netherlands. Conservation Biology 18: 775–786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klimek, S., A. Richtergen, H.H. Steinmann, J. Freese, and J. Isselstein. 2008. Rewarding farmers for delivering vascular plant diversity in managed grasslands: A transdisciplinary case-study approach. Biological Conservation 141: 2888–2897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.08.025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maher, C., J. Moran, G. Beaufoy, A. Berastegi Garciandia, A. Bleasdale, D. Byrne, A. Copland, B. Dunford, et al. 2018. Results-based Agri- environmental Payments General Guidance Handbook.

  • Mauchline, A.L., S.R. Mortimer, J.R. Park, J.A. Finn, K. Haysom, D.B. Westbury, G. Purvis, G. Louwagie, et al. 2012. Environmental evaluation of agri-environment schemes using participatory approaches: Experiences of testing the Agri-Environmental Footprint Index. Land Use Policy 29: 317–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.07.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montoya, D., B. Haegeman, S. Gaba, C. de Mazancourt, V. Bretagnolle, and M. Loreau. 2019. Trade-offs in the provisioning and stability of ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Ecological Applications 29: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland. 2018. Designated sites boundary data in Ireland.

  • Palmer, M., M. Drake, and N. F. Stewart. 2013. A Manual for the survey and evaluation of aquatic plant and invertebrate assemblages of grazing marsh ditch systems (Version 6).

  • R Core Team. 2016. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, M.S., A. Moxey, K. Prager, N. Hanley, J. Skates, A. Bonn, C.D. Evans, K. Glenk, et al. 2014. Improving the link between payments and the provision of ecosystem services in agri-environment schemes. Ecosystem Services 9: 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.06.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheper, J., A. Holzschuh, M. Kuussaari, S.G. Potts, M. Rundlöf, H.G. Smith, and D. Kleijn. 2013. Environmental factors driving the effectiveness of European agri-environmental measures in mitigating pollinator loss: A meta-analysis. Ecology Letters 16: 912–920. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, H., B. Keogh, A. Anderson, T. Carnus, B.J. Mcmahon, S. Green, and G. Purvis. 2017. Farmland habitat diversity in Ireland. Land Use Policy 63: 206–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.01.031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B.G.F., P.O. Donoghue, K.O. Hora, and E. Delaney. 2011. Best practice guidance for habitat survey and mapping, vol. 353. Kilkenny: The Heritage Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoate, C., A. Báldi, P. Beja, N.D. Boatman, I. Herzon, A. van Doorn, G.R. de Snoo, L. Rakosy, et al. 2009. Ecological impacts of early 21st century agricultural change in Europe: A review. Journal of Environmental Management 91: 22–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.07.005.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, C.A., J.A. Finn, D.Ó. hÚallacháin, S. Green, S. Matin, D. Meredith, B. Clifford, and J. Moran. 2017. The development of a national typology for High Nature Value farmland in Ireland based on farm-scale characteristics. Land Use Policy 67: 401–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.04.031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tscharntke, T., A.M. Klein, A. Kruess, I. Steffan-Dewenter, and C. Thies. 2005. Landscape perspectives on agricultural intensification and biodiversity: Ecosystem service management. Ecology Letters 8: 857–874. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00782.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, E. 2014. Result indicators used in Europe: Results-based Payments for Biodiversity-Supplement to Guidance Handbook. Prepared for the European Commission, DG Environment, Contract No ENV.B.2/ETU/2013/0046.

  • Wezel, A., M. Casagrande, F. Celette, J.F. Vian, A. Ferrer, and J. Peigné. 2014. Agroecological practices for sustainable agriculture. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34: 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-013-0180-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, P.J.C., M.A. Lee, D.J. Roberts, and L.J. Cole. 2019. Routes to achieving sustainable intensification in simulated dairy farms: The importance of production efficiency and complimentary land uses. Journal of Applied Ecology 56: 1128–1139. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all farmers and advisors for their collaboration with the project. This work was supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) (RSF15_S_619).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Roser Rotchés-Ribalta

    Present address: CREAF, 08193, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teagasc, Department of Soils, Environment and Land Use, Johnstown Castle Research Centre, Wexford, Ireland

    Roser Rotchés-Ribalta & Daire Ó hUallacháin

  2. Department of Natural Sciences, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway Campus, Galway, Ireland

    Sara Ruas & James Moran

  3. Applied Ecology Unit, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Karzan D. Ahmed & Michael Gormally

  4. Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Jane Stout

  5. School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Blánaid White

Authors
  1. Roser Rotchés-Ribalta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sara Ruas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karzan D. Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Gormally
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. James Moran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jane Stout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Blánaid White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Daire Ó hUallacháin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roser Rotchés-Ribalta.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 578 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rotchés-Ribalta, R., Ruas, S., Ahmed, K.D. et al. Assessment of semi-natural habitats and landscape features on Irish farmland: New insights to inform EU Common Agricultural Policy implementation. Ambio 50, 346–359 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01344-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01344-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation