Assessing the dynamics of High Nature Value farmlands in space and time

Abstract

Despite agriculture being a dominant form of land management and a major driver of global change, the pivotal role of low-intensity farming systems for the conservation of agrobiodiversity and the wider provision of ecosystem services has been highlighted (1).

High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf) are social-ecological systems in which the maintenance of traditional, low-intensity farming systems support the occurrence of species and habitats, often with high conservation value. HNVf are especially vulnerable to socioeconomic changes, due to rural depopulation and lack of economic viability, resulting in the cessation of traditional farming practices in favour of land abandonment or intensification (1). Maintaining HNVf systems has been identified within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Environmental policies as crucial for environmental sustainability and conservation of agrobiodiversity in the EU countryside. A significant proportion of the areas protected as Natura 2000 sites are farmlands, thus maintaining HNVf and farming systems are important to assure the long-term success of the Natura 2000 network (2). Thus, understanding changes in the extent and location of HNVf before and after policy changes is essential to assess their impacts on the nature value of farmlands, particularly the ones included in Natura 2000 areas (2).

Here, using a spatially-explicit approach build on indicators expressing the intensity of farming practices, crop diversity and landscape patterns, HNVf were mapped in the agrarian region of Entre-Douro-e-Minho (Northwestern Portugal) for two-time periods - 1990 and 2010. Results were compared and analysed for changes between the two years, inside and outside Natura 2000 sites to achieve deeper insights on how the 2003 CAP reform may have impacted land use and ultimately the nature value of farmlands. Preliminary results show a general decrease in potential HNVf areas from 1990 to 2010, both inside and outside Natura 2000 sites. Further analysis are expected to highlight the impacts of recent policy changes (e.g CAP reform 2003) in land use, ultimately impacting the nature value of farmlands. Results will then be discussed in the context of HNVf conservation and monitoring.

(1) Plieninger, T. and C. Bieling (2013). "Resilience-Based Perspectives to Guiding High-Nature-Value Farmland through Socioeconomic Change." Ecology and Society 18(4).

(2) Lomba, A., et al. (2015). "Reconciling nature conservation and traditional farming practices: a spatially explicit framework to assess the extent of High Nature Value farmlands in the European countryside." Ecol Evol 5(5): 1031-1044.

This research is being developed within the FARSYD project - 'FARming SYstems as tool to support policies for effective conservation and management of high nature value farmlanDs' (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016664- PTDC/AAG-EC/5007/2014).