scholarly journals Identifying High Nature Value farmlands on a national scale based on multivariate typology at municipality (LAU 2) level

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiesław Mądry ◽  
Marcin Olik ◽  
Barbara Roszkowska-Mądra ◽  
Marcin Studnicki ◽  
Dariusz Gozdowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Agricultural Census ◽  
High Nature Value Farmland ◽  
Administrative Units ◽  
River Valleys

SummaryHigh Nature Value farmlands in Europe are of greatest importance in the conservation of biodiversity. Their environmental importance has been recognized for some time, and has been studied mostly in Western Europe. This article describes the results of multivariate statistical analyses performed on data (13 variables) collected from the latest National Agricultural Census and the CORINE database to provide a typology of farmlands with respect to their nature value at municipality level (LAU 2, Local Administrative Units level 2) across Poland. All municipalities were grouped into eight categories (types). Some of the farmland categories were considered to be High Nature Value farmland (HNVf). The following interrelated variables mostly contributed to the identification of HNVf: share of protected areas and forest, grassland, arable land and fallow, farmland cover diversity, and rate of nitrogen fertilization. HNVf was identified in 958 out of 2173 municipalities, covering 44% of the territory of Poland. The identified HNVf also overlaps partially (61%) with LFAs (Less Favored Areas). Farmlands with the highest nature value are located mostly across mountain and hilly areas, close to forests, and protected areas on lowlands and river valleys. The identified HNV farmlands are characterized by low-input farming systems and a large share of semi-natural habitats with a high landscape mosaic.

DISTRIBUTION OF SOSNOVSKY HOGWEED (HERACLEUM SOSNOWSKYI) ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE SECONDARY RANGE IN THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 2-15
Author(s):  
L. A. Arepieva ◽  
E. I. Arepiev ◽  
S. G. Kazakov
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
European Part ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Heracleum Sosnowskyi ◽  
Secondary Range ◽  
European Part Of Russia ◽  
Southern Border ◽  
Kursk Region

The distribution of the Sosnovsky hogweed on the southern border of the secondary range in the European part of Russia on the example of the Kursk Region is investigated in the work. It is revealed that Sosnovsky hogweed grows mainly in the western part of the Region in the vicinity of places where it was cultivated in fields in the second half of the twentieth century. The analysis of invader occurrence in anthropogenic and natural ecosystems of the Region revealed patterns of distribution that are characteristic of invasive species at initial stages of their secondary range formation: most of the foci are present in anthropogenic and semi-natural habitats; medium-sized foci predominate (from 100 sq. m. to 1 ha); the greatest number of foci was found in the areas located along roads. The intensive distribution of hogweed in settlements of the Region, especially with pronounced depopulation processes, was revealed. Among natural and semi-natural habitats, most of the foci were found along the banks of reservoirs. In forests, hogweed is found mainly in small groups of vegetative rosettes on the outskirts, with the exception of areas with a strong anthropogenic impact, where multiple foci with generative shoots are formed. At present, hogweed is not found on arable land due to the intensive cultivation of agricultural land in the Region. Plant communities with Heracleum sosnowskyi in the Kursk Region are represented by 4 syntaxons: association Urtico dioicae-Heracleetum sosnowskyi , association Rudbeckio laciniatae - Solidaginetum canadensis variant Heracleum sosnowskyi , association Chelidonio-Aceretum negundi variant Heracleum sosnowskyi , derivative community Heracleum sosnowskyi [ Agropyretalia intermedio-repentis ].

scholarly journals Metodyka waloryzacji przyrodniczej. Część II: Zastosowania w praktyce ocen oddziaływania przedsięwzięć na środowisko

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 75-96
Author(s):  
Piotr Matyjasiak
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Proper Time ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Ecological Connectivity ◽  
Resource Service

The aim of this paper is (i) to review the method of valorization of natural resources as applied in the environmental impact assessment, and (ii) to develop recommendations on how valorization expertise should be prepared in order to be comprehensive and transparent. Valorization is the proper time to carry out identi>cation of the possible negative environmental impacts and damages of a planned project. It is recommended to perform valorization due to the state (numbers) and functions (quality) of natural resources. This approach is related to the concept of environmental damage, which is defined as a measurable adverse change in a natural resource or measurable impairment of a natural resource service (which means the functions performed by a natural resource for the benefit of another natural resource or the public). Valorization of natural resources should include an assessment of potential environmental damage, including an impact on the local biodiversity, the ecological connectivity, the N2000 network, and the legally protected areas. The valorization of natural resources should be performed at the following thematic levels focusing on the role of the area under consideration due to: (1) the implementation of the objectives of protection of Nature 2000 network and its overall coherence, (2) the implementation of the objectives of protection of legally protected areas other than N2000, (3) the maintenance of the ecological connectivity in a context other than the coherence of Nature 2000 network, (4) the maintenance of species and natural habitats with favorable conservation status, (5) the conservation of species and natural habitat types that are not legally protected.

scholarly journals Weed Species Diversity in the Czech Republic Under Different Farming and Site Conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 741-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Kolářová ◽  
Luděk Tyšer ◽  
Josef Soukup
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Chenopodium Album ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Standard Size ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Winter Cereals

The aim of this study was to explore the composition of weed vegetation on arable land in selected areas of the Czech Republic and to determine the level of γ-diversity. Our survey was conducted at 27 conventional and 35 organic farms from 2006–2008. In each sampled field, one phytocoenological relevé of a standard size of 100 m2 was recorded in the central part of the field. The species cover was estimated. The total γ-diversity was expressed as the total number of weed species recorded. γ-diversity of different farming systems, altitudes and crops was calculated. Subsequently, the species were divided on the basis of their perenniality. In total, 172 weed species were found – 123 and 162 in conventional and organic farming, respectively. The highest number of species was found in winter cereals and at medium altitudes. Chenopodium album was recorded as the species with the highest constancy in both types of farming. In total, 89 annuals, 17 biennials and 15 perennials were observed in conventional farming, and 109 annuals, 23 biennials, 28 perennials and 2 semiparasitic annuals were found in organic farming.

scholarly journals Finding of rare species of plats in the southern part of the Sinyukha river basin

2021 ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
K. V. Zhulenko
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Current Distribution ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Rare Plant ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Rare Plant Species ◽  
New Localities

Introduction. The Sinyukha river basin, in particular its southern part, is an area with a high level of anthropogenic pressure and a significant level of agricultural development (the proportion of agricultural land is more than 80%), with fragmented natural habitats. Detailed chorological study is needed to supplement the pattern of the distribution of rare plant species, to develop measures for their conservation, to optimize the existing network of protected areas in the region.Рurpose of the study isto analyze the current distribution and describe new finds of some rare plant species in the southern part of the Sinyukha river basin.Methods. The research was conducted in April-June 2021. We surveyed the area of the Sinyukha river valley from the village of Kalamazovo (Vilshansky district, Kirovohrad region) to its confluence with the Southern Bug River in Pervomaisk (Mykolayiv region), as well as – the valleys of its tributaries – Chorny Tashlyk, Malyi Tashlyk and Sukhyi Tashlyk. When locating a rare species, the plants were photographed and georeferenced at a point with GPS-navigator. Species cover is given according to the Broun-Blanquet scale. The distribution maps were performed by free QGIS software.Results.We revealed new and confirmed known localities of 20 rare species:Adonis vernalis, Asplenium septentrionale, Astragalus dasyanthus, A. odessanus, Bellevalia sarmatica, Clematis integrifolia, Crocus reticulatus, Dianthus hypanicus, Ephedra distachya, Hyacinthella leucophaea, Iris pontica, Iris pumila, Ornithogalum boucheanum, Pulsatilla pratensis, Primula veris, Sedum borissovae, Stipa capillata, S. lessingiana, S. pennata, Tulipa hypanica. Among the 20 identified rare species one has the category VU (Vulnerable) in the IUCN red list and belongs to the list of Resolution 6 of the Berne Convention; three species are narrowly local endemics of the Dnieper Upland; 11 are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (5 of them have the status vulnerable, 1 – rare, 5 – insufficiently known); 5 species are regionally rare in Kirovohrad and 8 – in Mykolayiv regions. Most of the revealed species have a cover less than 5%. Only 9 of the 20 registered rare species characterized by more than five localities within the studied area. Originality. New localities of 20 rare species of plants of different levels of protection have been revealed. Prospects for conservation valuableof their habitats are offered.Conclusion. We have identified a significant number of new localities of rare plant species that are not covered by proper protection. This indicates the need for more detailed chorological research to elucidate the current distribution of rare species and the creation of new protected areas. Key words:rare species; threat category; red lists; natural habitats; chorology.

scholarly journals The geography of high-value biodiversity areas for terrestrial vertebrates in Western Europe and their coverage by protected area networks

Web Ecology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. T. Assunção-Albuquerque ◽  
J. M. Rey Benayas ◽  
F. S. Albuquerque ◽  
M. Á. Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Vertebrate Species ◽  
Natura 2000 Network ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Major Taxon

Abstract. We identified high-value biodiversity areas (HVBAs) of terrestrial vertebrates according to a combined index of biodiversity (CBI) for each major taxon and a standardized biodiversity index (SBI) for all taxa in 2195 cells of 50 × 50 km in Western Europe to evaluate whether these areas are included in the current protected area networks. The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and NATURA 2000 protected area network were used to assess the protected area cover in HVBAs. WDPA and NATURA 2000 were geographically quite complementary as WDPA is more densely represented in Central and Northern Europe and NATURA 2000 in the Mediterranean basin. A total of 729 cells were identified as HVBAs. From the total of these HVBA areas, NATURA 2000 network was present in more cells (660) than the WDPA network (584 cells). The sum of protected land percentages across all the HVBA cells was 28.8%. The identified HVBA cells according to the SBI included 603 or 78.2% of all vertebrate species in the study region, whereas the identified HVBA cells according to the SBI for individual taxa included 47 (90.4%) species of amphibians, 79 (74.5%) of reptiles, 417 (88.5%) of birds, and 130 (91.5%) of mammals. However, neither network was present in 7 or 3% of the identified HVBA cells. Thus, we recommend expanding protected areas in Europe to fill this gap and improve coverage of vertebrate species to strengthen biodiversity conservation.

scholarly journals Assessment of Habitat Change Processes within the Oti-Keran-Mandouri Network of Protected Areas in Togo (West Africa) from 1987 to 2013 Using Decision Tree Analysis

Sci ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Aniko Polo-Akpisso ◽  
Kperkouma Wala ◽  
Ouattara Soulemane ◽  
Fousseni Folega ◽  
Koffi Akpagana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Decision Tree ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Habitat Change ◽  
Change Processes ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Land Cover Maps

Biodiversity conservation planning is highly important in the current context of global change. Biodiversity conservation can be achieved by understanding changes in land use at the landscape scale. Such understanding is needed to reverse the unprecedented pressure on natural resources that has been reported by many studies conducted on biodiversity conservation within the Oti-Keran-Mandouri protected areas. Land cover maps reflecting different dates (1987, 2000, and 2013) and depicting different management systems, with overall accuracy ranging from 73% to 79%, were analyzed to understand the processes that lead to habitat degradation within these protected areas. The nature of change, within a given land cover class, was determined by comparing land cover maps on different dates using a decision tree algorithm that compares the number of patches, their areas, and their perimeters at different time periods (T1 and T2). Specifically, two time-periods were considered for this analysis: 1987–2000 and 2000–2013. Croplands and settlements increased at an average of 108.13% and 5.45%, respectively, from 1987 to 2000. From 2000 to 2013, croplands gained from all other land categories and continued to increase at a rate of 11.77% per year, whereas forests and savannas decreased at an annual average rate by 5.79% and 2.32%, respectively. The dominant processes of habitat change from 1987 to 2000 were the creation of forests, dissection of savannas, attrition of wetlands, and creation of croplands. Meanwhile, from 2000 to 2013, there was attrition of forests, as well as attrition of savannas, dissection of wetlands, and aggregation of croplands. In general, from 1987 to 2013, natural habitats regressed and were replaced by croplands; forests, savannas, and wetlands decreased at an average annual percentage 5.74%, 3.94%, and 2.02%, respectively, whereas croplands increased at an average annual rate of 285.39% of their own area. Aggregation, attrition, dissection, and creation were the main habitat change processes identified for the overall period from 1987 to 2013. There was habitat loss in forests and savannas and habitat fragmentation in wetland due to attrition and dissection, respectively. Identifying and understanding habitat change processes would enable the taking of appropriate biodiversity conservation actions.

Protected lepidopteran species (Insecta: Lepidoptera) in North-East of Romania

2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-123
Author(s):  
Constantin Corduneanu
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Natural Protected Areas ◽  
North East ◽  
Lepidopteran Species ◽  
The Government ◽  
Eu Habitats Directive ◽  
The Eu

Protected lepidopteran species (Insecta: Lepidoptera) in North-East of Romania In the present paper references on the lepidopteran species in need of protection, specified in the EU Habitats Directive, as well as the species included in the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 57/2007 on the regime of the natural protected areas, the conservation of the natural habitats of flora and fauna have been made. Information is provided on the distribution and status of the protected population of Lepidoptera from Botoşani county (North-East of Romania).

scholarly journals Characterization agricultural vulnerability to drought in the Northeast of Brazil

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce K. N. Silva ◽  
Paulo S. Lucio ◽  
Cláudio M. S. Silva ◽  
Maria H. C. Spyrides ◽  
Madson T. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Moderate Degree ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Agricultural Vulnerability ◽  
Agricultural Census ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. The main objective was to create an indicator of agricultural vulnerability to drought in the Northeast of Brazil (NEB). The data used for precipitation belong to ANA (Agência Nacional das Águas) considering the climatological norm from 1979–2008. Data on agricultural productivity and demographic characteristics were obtained in the agricultural census of IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) in 2006 and, finally, data on natural disasters in the period 1991–2010 with CEPED (Centro de Estudose Pesquisasem Engenhariae Defesa Civil). The Multivariate Statistical Analysis Factorial technique allowed to reduce the number of variables and to estimate a model of the sensitivity component that reproduced 42 % of the original variance, besides the factors trying to represent the productive dynamics of the NEB. The results show that the Southern NEB presented the highest degree of agricultural vulnerability (17,81–121,44) in the 2000 census, when compared to the census of 2010. In the Southwest it is observed that a part of the semi-arid region presented a moderate degree (0,74–1,08) and much higher in extension when compared to the 2000 census, evidencing that exposure to drought does not directly influence the agricultural sensitivity in the most productive areas of the region. The adaptive capacity factor presented significant results for the composition of the indicator of agricultural vulnerability, mainly in the semi-arid region that varied from (0,71–5,42). In this way, it is concluded that, between the census, the southern and central part of the NEB reduced agricultural vulnerability, but the region should benefit from early warning systems as well as the development and adoption of natural resources and technology management, with the objective of ducating producers about the potential impacts of extreme events.

Contribution of livestock farming systems to the nitrogen cascade and consequences for farming regions

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (s1) ◽  
pp. 8-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Cellier ◽  
P. Rochette ◽  
P. Durand ◽  
P. Faverdin ◽  
P. J. Kuikman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems ◽  
Animal Density ◽  
Animal Excreta ◽  
Nitrogen Flows

This article describes the nitrogen flows in the environment and points to the specificities of the livestock production. Till the beginning of the 20th century, the symbiotic fixation and the recycling of animal excreta supplied the nitrogen necessary for the fertility of soil. In 1913, the Haber-Bosch process allowed the industrial synthesis of ammonia and made possible the fertilisation without association of crop production with the livestock farming. The efficiency of the nitrogen in livestock farming is low with nearly half or more of the inputs losses to the environment. These losses have diverse impacts that intervene at various spatial scales owing to the nitrogen cascade. Quantitative assessment of nitrogen flows at the scale of regions started in the early 1980s in Western Europe and North America. These studies provided estimates of the spatial variability of nitrogen discharge within a region. They confirmed the differences between areas with a high animal density such as Brittany (western region, France) and other regions. It was also found that the same nitrogenous losses could lead to different levels of environmental impacts according to the sensibility of a given environment and its capacity to cope with nitrogen excess. Climate, soils characteristics, animal density, and proportions of agricultural land under annual and perennial crops are drivers of this sensibility.

scholarly journals Correlates of long-term land-cover change and protected area performance at priority conservation sites in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALISON E. BERESFORD ◽  
GRAEME M. BUCHANAN ◽  
BEN PHALAN ◽  
GEORGE W. ESHIAMWATA ◽  
ANDREW BALMFORD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Land Cover Change ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Natural Land

SUMMARYThe loss of natural habitats is a major threat to biodiversity, and protected area designation is one of the standard responses to this threat. However, greater understanding of the drivers of habitat loss and of the circumstances under which protected areas succeed or fail is still needed. We use visual assessment of satellite images to quantify land-cover change over periods of up to 30 years in and around a matched sample of protected and unprotected Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Africa. We modelled the annual survival of forests and other natural land covers as a function of a range of environmental and anthropic predictors of plausible drivers. The best-supported model indicated that survival rates of natural land cover were highest in steeper areas, at higher altitudes, in areas with lower human population densities and in areas where the cover of natural habitats was already higher at the start of the period. Survival rates of natural land cover in protected areas were, on average, around twice those in unprotected areas, but the differences between them varied along different environmental gradients. The overall survival rates of both protected and unprotected forests were significantly lower than those of other natural land-cover types, but the net benefit of protection, in terms of the absolute difference in rates of loss between protected and unprotected sites, was higher in forests. Interaction terms indicated that as slope and altitude increased, the natural protection offered by topography increasingly nullified the additional benefits of legislative protection. Furthermore, protected area designation offered reduced additional benefits to the survival of natural land cover in areas where rates of conversion were higher at the start of the observation period. Variation in the impacts of protected area status along different environmental gradients indicates that targets to improve the world's protected area network, such as Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, need to look beyond simple area-based metrics. Our methods and results contribute to the development of a protocol for prioritizing places where protection is likely to have the greatest effect.

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