Providing a conceptual framework for a national monitoring of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes

Background and Objective

Due to the lack of appropriate data, a robust and scientifically sound assessment of the status, trends and drivers of biodiversity change in agricultural landscapes is only possible to a limited extent. Accordingly, evidence‐based policy‐making with respect to farmland biodiversity conservation within the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2020 is hampered. To provide a conceptual framework for the future implementation of a national monitoring of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, this joint project had the following main objectives:

1. Typology and characterization of agricultural land systems at the national scale
2. Elaboration of strategic visions to conserve and promote biodiversity within specific agricultural land systems
3. Testing the suitability of existing biodiversity indicators and prioritising a suite of indicators that best fit each agricultural land system

The joint project provided important preparatory steps for the future implementation of a national monitoring of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes (MonViA: https://www.agrarmonitoring-monvia.de/).

Target Group

Agriculture, science, politics

Approach

In order to reach the main objectives of the joint project, the project team developed draft concepts. These concepts were discussed and consolidated during a series of workshops together with experts from science, policy and administration. By involving experts with different professional background we aimed at integrating different views on the overreaching research theme “biodiversity in agricultural landscapes”. This stakeholder involvement and engagement within the project was key to achieving concepts and products that are accepted. Moreover, the project was conducted in close collaboration with the joint project MonViA (see: https://www.agrarmonitoring-monvia.de/).

Results

Based on the findings of the project team and the workshops, the following main deliverables were compiled and are currently being prepared for publication:

• Deliverable 1: Classification of agricultural land system types in Germany
• Deliverable 2: Evaluation of effectiveness and feasibility of existing policy targets and measures to conserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes
• Deliverable 3: Development of guiding principles to promote the tranformation toward more biodiversity and ecosystem service in specific agricultural landscapes
• Deliverable 4: Deduction and prioritisation of tailored indicator sets to monitor biodiversity in specific agricultural landscapes