scholarly journals Farmland bird communities in the Baltic region: impact of agricultural intensification and farmers’ attitudes

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Herzon
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Farmland Bird ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
The Eu

Intensification of agricultural land-use was shown to be the key reason behind declines in wildlifespecies associated with farmland. I looked at scenarios of agricultural development across the Baltic states ofEstonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and the ways they are seen to affect farmed environments as a habitat offarmland bird species. Community richness and abundance of many farmland bird species were positivelyrelated to the number of non-cropped elements within farmland, the local mixture of annual crop and grassfields, and the variety of field types. The above positive associations were strongest in open landscapes.There was a clear indication that the more intensively farmed areas across the region provided habitat forfewer bird species and individuals. The difference could partly be explained by the more heterogeneouslandscape and field areas in the latter. Within homogenous arable fields intensification of field managementwas reflected in a tangible decrease in farmland bird abundance, especially in species in need of edgestructures.Based on the interviews in Estonia and Finland I explored farmers’ interest in and knowledge offarmland wildlife, their understanding of the concept of biodiversity, and awareness of the potential causesbehind declines of farmland birds. Many farmers viewed biodiversity from a narrow perspective oftenexcluding species directly related to farming. In Finland farmers expressed concern about the decline incommon farmland species, but Estonian farmers did not, which might be related to the fact that these speciesare still very common. In both countries farmers rated intensification of agriculture as the major drivingforce behind farmland bird declines. The expressed interest in wildlife positively correlated with willingnessto undertake wildlife-friendly measures. Only farmers with agri-environment contracts targeted specificallyat biodiversity enhancement were more knowledgeable about practical on-farm activities favouring wildlife,and were more willing to employ them that the rest.The results suggest that, by contributing to simplification of the farmland structure, homogenisationof crops, and increase in intensity of field use EU agricultural policies will have a detrimental effect onfarmland bird populations in Eastern Europe. Farmers are on the whole positive to the idea of supportingwildlife in the fields, and are concerned about its decline, but they require payments to offset their incomeloss and extra work. Biodiversity conservation should be better integrated into the agri-environmentprogrammes if it to serve as awareness tool for farmers. I argue that with a foreseen tripling of cereal yieldsacross the region, the EU Council’s Göteborg target of slowing biodiversity decline by 2010 may not berealistic unless considerable improvements are made into the EU agricultural policy for the region.

scholarly journals Losses and gains of fallows drive farmland bird populations over three funding periods of the EU Common Agricultural Policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel Hertzog ◽  
Norbert Roeder ◽  
Claudia Frank ◽  
Hannah Boehner ◽  
Johannes Kamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Fallow Land ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Landscape Complexity ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Bird Richness ◽  
Farmland Bird

Fallow land provides habitat for threatened and declining farmland biodiversity. Policy change under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been driving the area of fallows over the past decades and influenced trends in farmland biodiversity. We analyzed the impact of changes in fallow area across Germany on species richness and abundance of farmland birds over three CAP funding periods. We examined whether responses to fallow land area were modulated by species habitat preferences and landscape complexity. We combined spatial data on fallow land area from three agricultural censuses in Germany (2007, 2010 and 2016) with country-wide, annual monitoring data on farmland birds. Farmland bird species richness and the abundance of edge- and field-breeders responded positively to increases in fallows. The effect of fallows on bird richness was strongest at intermediate levels of landscape complexity. There was support for an increasing effect strength of fallow land area on field-breeders' abundance with increasing landscape complexity. We conclude that the loss of fallows in the period 2007 to 2016 resulted in strong declines of farmland birds. We predict that a future increase of the proportion of fallow land to 4%, as envisaged in the post-2020 CAP for Germany, will result in an average increase of 7% in farmland bird species richness and of 11% in average farmland bird abundance compared to 2016, but will depend on species-specific habitat preferences. Increasing the proportion of fallow land will be a key lever to stabilize and revert negative farmland bird population trends. An increase of fallow area in all but the least complex landscapes will boost farmland bird richness and abundance of field breeders. Increasing the proportion of fallow land to 4% is projected to, on average, bring farmland bird richness and abundance back to the levels observed in 2007 acknowledging that farmland bird populations were already severely depleted in 2007. A more ambitious expansion of fallow land towards 10%, such as in the context of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, should be targeted towards areas that experienced the strongest loss of fallows and towards landscapes with intermediate structural complexity.

scholarly journals Developing indicators for European birds

2005 ◽  
Vol 360 (1454) ◽  
pp. 269-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard D Gregory ◽  
Arco van Strien ◽  
Petr Vorisek ◽  
Adriaan W Gmelig Meyling ◽  
David G Noble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Field Methods ◽  
Biodiversity Indicators ◽  
Farmland Bird

The global pledge to deliver ‘a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010’ is echoed in a number of regional and national level targets. There is broad consensus, however, that in the absence of conservation action, biodiversity will continue to be lost at a rate unprecedented in the recent era. Remarkably, we lack a basic system to measure progress towards these targets and, in particular, we lack standard measures of biodiversity and procedures to construct and assess summary statistics. Here, we develop a simple classification of biodiversity indicators to assist their development and clarify purpose. We use European birds, as example taxa, to show how robust indicators can be constructed and how they can be interpreted. We have developed statistical methods to calculate supranational, multi-species indices using population data from national annual breeding bird surveys in Europe. Skilled volunteers using standardized field methods undertake data collection where methods and survey designs differ slightly across countries. Survey plots tend to be widely distributed at a national level, covering many bird species and habitats with reasonable representation. National species' indices are calculated using log-linear regression, which allows for plot turnover. Supranational species' indices are constructed by combining the national species' indices weighted by national population sizes of each species. Supranational, multi-species indicators are calculated by averaging the resulting indices. We show that common farmland birds in Europe have declined steeply over the last two decades, whereas woodland birds have not. Evidence elsewhere shows that the main driver of farmland bird declines is increased agricultural intensification. We argue that the farmland bird indicator is a useful surrogate for trends in other elements of biodiversity in this habitat.

scholarly journals Towards a common agricultural policy in Africa?

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 301-315
Author(s):  
Blizkovsky Petr ◽  
Grega Libor ◽  
Verter Nahanga
Keyword(s):  
International Cooperation ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Common Agricultural Policy ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Sixties ◽  
African Context ◽  
The Eu

The paper analyses the structure and level of international cooperation among African states in the area of agriculture and rural development. It focuses on the AU and its eight Regional Economic Communities. The international cooperation schemes between the World Bank, EU, FAO and African countries in agricultural policy are reviewed. The paper concludes that, despite numerous cross-border initiatives, governance of agricultural policies in the pan-African context remains fragmented. Policy-making and cooperation schemes need to be stepped up to address continent-wide challenges in the sector. There is an urgent need for the AU and the EU to intensify their cooperation in agricultural policies and development. The AU in collaboration with its regional bodies should establish a common agricultural policy for the continent. Such initiatives need to be Africa-driven and adapted to African needs. The EU should only provide technical know-how and institutional support if welcomed by African partners. Collective action towards rural areas via greater coordination of African agricultural policies and actions would help to develop the missing institutional framework needed for agricultural development in the continent. Fostering economic growth through agricultural development and reforms may also lead to a reduction of migration as witnessed by the EU in the sixties.  

scholarly journals Why a landscape view is important: nearby urban and agricultural land affects bird abundances in protected areas

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10719
Author(s):  
Gregory Duncan Duckworth ◽  
Res Altwegg
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Grid Cell ◽  
Land Use Type ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Land Use Types

Protected areas are one of the primary conservation tools used worldwide. However, they are often embedded in a landscape that is intensely used by people, such as for agriculture or urban development. The proximity of these land-use types to protected areas can potentially affect the ecological effectiveness (or conservation effectiveness) of protected areas. In this article, we examine to what degree adjacent agricultural and urban land uses affect the ecological effectiveness of protected areas over the greater Gauteng region of South Africa. We selected 198 common, resident bird species, and analysed detection/non-detection data for these species collected over regular grid cells (approximately 61 km2 in area). For each species, we estimated abundance per grid cell with the Royle-Nichols model in relation to the proportion of protected area as a covariate. Our study focused on how this relationship between proportion of protected area and abundance (which we term the ‘protection–abundance relationship’) changed as a function of other land-use types in the grid cell. Specifically, we examined the interaction effects between protected area and both urban and agricultural land-use type per grid cell on bird abundance. We assigned each species to one of seven guilds, namely: frugivores, gleaners, granivores, ground-feeders, hawkers, predators and vegivores, and examined how the protection–abundance relationship varied across guilds in relation to agriculture and urban area. As urban area within a grid cell increased, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for 58% of all species. At the level of guilds, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for two guilds (granivores and ground-feeders), more negative for frugivores, and remained unchanged for the other four guilds (gleaners, hawkers, predators and vegivores). As agricultural area within a grid cell increased, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for 49% of all species. At the guild level, the protection–abundance relationship became more positive for six guilds (frugivores, gleaners, ground-feeders, hawkers, predators and vegivores) and remained unchanged for the granivores. Our results show land-use type near protected areas modified the effect protected areas had on bird abundances, and hence the ecological effectiveness of protected areas. Our results suggest that protected areas should be viewed as constituents within the landscape, rather than islands of protection.

Intensity of agricultural land-use and farmland birds in the Baltic States

2008 ◽  
Vol 125 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Herzon ◽  
Ainārs Auninš ◽  
Jaanus Elts ◽  
Zydrunas Preikša
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Agricultural Land Use ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Baltic States ◽  
The Baltic

scholarly journals Arah Kebijakan Sektor Pertanian di Indonesia untuk Menghadapi Era Revolusi Industri 4.0

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-154
Author(s):  
Ismi Imania Imania Ikhsani ◽  
Feninda Eka Tasya ◽  
Iradhad Taqwa Sihidi ◽  
Ali Roziqin ◽  
Ach Apriyanto Romadhan
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Agricultural Technology ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Spatial Production ◽  
Utilization Of Technology ◽  
Production Practices

Agricultural policy is a government effort in regulating, controlling aspects of development in the agricultural sector with the aim of maintaining and increasing food yields. The great results of the objectives of agricultural policies will be able to be realized if they can be translated into concrete steps and can be implemented consistently in the field. Agricultural policy directions try to see the concept of policies developed and practices to realize the goals of agricultural policies in Indonesia. This study focuses on institutions, regulations and issues of inadequate budget allocation, human resources that are less qualified in the management of land and agricultural products. The purpose of this study is to describe the direction of Indonesian agricultural policy in facing the Industrial Revolution Era 4.0. This research uses qualitative research with a literature review approach. The results showed that there was no synchronization of agricultural policies at various levels of government, low budgets for agricultural development, spatial production practices at the expense of agricultural land in boosting regional income and the low utilization of technology and diversification in the use of agricultural technology showed that agricultural conditions in Indonesia were at an alarming level. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately synchronize agricultural policies at various levels of government and the allocation policies for agricultural development funds.

Changes in bird abundance following Common Myna control on aNew Zealand island

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. David Tindall ◽  
C. John Ralph ◽  
M. N. Clout
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Relative Role ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
The North ◽  
Common Myna ◽  
Acridotheres Tristis ◽  
Land Bird ◽  
And Control

We censused land bird populations on a small island during a year of intense trapping of the Common Myna Acridotheres tristis. We successfully removed mynas on Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands, with populations on the island decreasing In most areas, while holding steady on other, nearby islands where no trapping was conducted. The populations of many other bird species increased coincidently with the removal of mynas. This was most notable in the Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, Grey Warbler Gerygone igata, and Blackbird Turdus merula. Of 60 species-route comparisons, we found that 23 (38%) increased, 33 (55%) had no change, and only four (7%) decreased. The relative role of rats Rattus spp. and succession is also discussed. Tile historical decline of many species in the North Island of New Zealand may have been related to the concomitant increase of tile myna, and control of this species may be warranted in some cases, especially where restoration of the native fauna is the objective.

scholarly journals Ornithologycal impotrance of Gruza accumulation

2004 ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daliborka Barjaktarov
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
The State ◽  
Migration Route ◽  
Anthropogenic Influence ◽  
Artificial Lake ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Wintering Area

Damming the middle part of Gruza River, in order to supply drinking and technical water for Kragujevac District caused appearance of Gruzanska accumulation. This lake fills the depression of Knicko Polje between the Gledicke Mts and Kotlenik. As the ornithofauna of accumulation lakes, both in this country and abroad, is poorly studied, this paper presents the data on the state of ornithofauna of Gruzansko Lake. The lake has an important role in migration of both native and foreign bird populations, but also as a wintering area for certain species of ducks and geese, as it is situated on the assumed Morava -Vardar migration route. During the research, 78 bird species were recorded and for 25 species it was proven that they breed in the area. Most species were recorded in the zone of strong anthropogenic influence, which is understandable as before the building of the dam and the artificial lake the Knicko Polje was dominated by agricultural land, mowed meadows and orchards.

scholarly journals Do Feeder Counts Reliably Indicate Bird Population Changes? 21 Years of Winter Bird Counts in Ontario, Canada

The Condor ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Lepage ◽  
Charles M. Francis
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Sampling Error ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Population Changes ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Population Indices ◽  
High Consistency

Abstract Few monitoring programs in North America track bird populations at a continental scale during the winter, a critical stage of the life cycle for many species. To date, only Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) have been used to index bird abundance in winter across North America. We evaluated another continentwide program, Project FeederWatch (PFW), which monitors many bird species more intensively than CBC. PFW is a survey in which volunteers use standardized methods to count birds visiting feeders every two weeks from November through April. We compared population indices and trends from PFW and CBC data for 43 species in 3 regions of Ontario, Canada, over a 21-year period from 1976–1997. Annual population indices from PFW were significantly positively correlated with similar indices from CBC for about 80% of species for which annual variation in counts was substantially greater than sampling error. Log-linear population trends from both surveys were also well correlated, though the absolute value of the trend estimates tended to be higher for PFW. The high consistency between surveys suggests that both may be suitable for detecting population changes for many bird species in winter, especially irruptive species that show large annual fluctuations, and species with marked population trends. However, some species did not correspond between surveys, despite being measured fairly precisely, highlighting the value of having two independent surveys to corroborate patterns. Christmas Bird Counts have the advantage that they sample more species, but Project FeederWatch has a more consistent protocol and continues through the winter, allowing analysis of changes in populations through the winter. ¿Proveen los Conteos en Comederos Información Fidedigna sobre Cambios en las Poblaciones de Aves? 21 Años de Conteos Invernales de Aves en Ontario, Canadá Resumen. Pocos programas de monitoreo en América del Norte siguen a las poblaciones de aves a escala continental durante el invierno, cuando muchas especies pasan por una etapa crítica en su ciclo de vida. Hasta el presente, sólo los Conteos de Aves de Navidad (CAN) han sido usados para cuantificar la abundancia de aves en el invierno a lo largo de América del Norte. Nosotros evaluamos otro programa a nivel continental, el Proyecto de Observación de Comederos (POC), el cual sigue muchas especies de aves de modo más intenso que los CAN. El POC es un programa de muestreo en el cual voluntarios usan métodos estandarizados para contar las aves que visitan comederos, censándolas cada dos semanas entre noviembre y abril. Comparamos índices y tendencias poblacionales de los datos del POC y de los CAN para 43 especies en 3 regiones de Ontario, Canadá, a lo largo de un período de 21 años entre 1976 y 1997. Los índices poblacionales anuales del POC estuvieron positiva y significativamente correlacionados con índices similares de los CAN para alrededor del 80% de las especies, considerando aquellas para las que la variación anual en los conteos fue sustancialmente mayor que el error de muestreo. Las tendencias poblacionales de ambos muestreos, representadas de modo log-lineal, también estuvieron bien correlacionadas, aunque el valor absoluto de la tendencia estimada tendió a ser mayor para el POC. La alta consistencia entre los programas de muestreo sugiere que ambos pueden ser adecuados para detectar los cambios poblacionales de muchas especies de aves durante el invierno, especialmente para especies eruptivas que muestran grandes fluctuaciones anuales, y para aquellas con tendencias poblacionales marcadas. Sin embargo, algunas especies mostraron diferencias entre los programas de muestreo a pesar de haber sido medidas de modo bastante preciso, destacando el valor de tener dos métodos de muestreo independientes para corroborar los patrones. Los Conteos de Aves de Navidad tienen la ventaja de que muestrean más especies, pero el Proyecto de Observación de Comederos posee un protocolo más consistente y se prolonga a través del invierno, permitiendo analizar los cambios de las poblaciones a través de este período.

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