Abstract
Organic farming is expected to contribute to conserving national biodiversity on farms, especially remnant, old, and undisturbed small biotopes, forests, and permanent grassland. This objective cannot rely on the legislation of organic farming solely, and to succeed, farmers need to understand the goals behind it. A set of indicators with the purpose of facilitating dialogues between expert and farmer on wildlife quality has been developed and tested on eight organic farms. “Weed cover in cereal fields,” was used as an indicator of floral and faunal biodiversity in the cultivated land, and “uncultivated biotope area” on the farm was used as a general measure of wildlife habitats. Functional grouping of herbaceous plants (discriminating between “high conservation value” plant species and “competitive”/“ruderal” species) and low mobility butterflies were used as indicators of conservation value, especially focusing on the few sites left with considerable remnant conservation value. The dialog processes revealed that the organic farmers’ ideas and goals of conservation of wildlife quality were not necessarily the same as for biologists; the farmers expressed very different opinions on the biological rooted idea, that wildlife quality is related to the absence of agricultural impact. However, farmers also stated that the information given by the indicators and especially the dialogue with the biologist had influenced their perception and awareness of wildlife. We conclude that, combined with a dialogue process, using these indicators when mapping wildlife quality could be an important key component of a farm wildlife management advisory tool at farm level.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. M. Adams I. D. Hodge N. A. D. Bourn (1994) ArticleTitleNature Conservation and the Management of the Wider Countryside in Eastern England Journal of Rural Studies 10 147–157 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0743-0167(94)90026-4
Agger P., J. Brandt, C. Byrnak, S. M. Jensen, and M. Ursin, “Udviklingen i agerlandets småbiotoper i Østdanmark (The development of small, uncultivated biotopes in Eastern Danish farmland),” Research report 48 (1986). Roskilde University Centre
Alrøe, H. F. and E. S. Kristensen, “Research, values and ethics in organic agriculture – examples from sustainability, precaution, nature quality and animal welfare,” in P. Robinson, (ed.), 2nd Congress of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics (Copenhagen, 2000), pp. 61–65
Anonymous, “Directions towards sustainable agriculture,” Communication from the Commission, COM, 22 final (1999)
Anonymous, “Danske naturtyper i det europæiske NATURA 2000 netværk,” (Danish Nature types in the European NATURA 2000 network). Ministry for Environment and Energy, Danish Forest and Nature Agency, (Copenhagen, 2000a)
Anonymous, “Oversigt over Landsforsøgene,” (Report on local crop experiments), The Danish Agricultural Advisory Service. Table 35: (Effect and yield of pesticide treatments in barley, 1993–99), 2000b
Anonymous, “High nature value farmland – Characteristics, trends and policy challenges,” EEA report, No 1, (2004), p. 26
E. Aude K. Tybirk A. Michelsen R. Ejrnæs A. B. Hald S. Mark (2004) ArticleTitleConservation Value of the Herbaceous Vegetation in Hedgerows – Does Organic Farming Make a Difference? Biological Conservation 118 IssueID4 467–478 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.biocon.2003.09.022
Bol, V. van and A. Peeters, “Nature conservation in the framework of an Ecological Farming System (EFS),” in J. Isart, and J. J. Llerena (eds.), Biodiversity and Land Use: The Role of Organic Farming, Bonn: Proc. 1st ENOF Workshop, (Barcelona, 1995), pp. 127–136
J. Bowers (1999) ArticleTitlePolicy Instruments for the Conservation of Remnant Vegetation on Private Land Biological Conservation 87 327–339 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-3207(98)00074-3
Brandt, J., “Land use, landscape structure and the dynamics of habitat networks in Danish agricultural landscapes,” in J. Baudry, F. Burel, and V. Hawrylenko (eds.), EUROMAB: Comparisons of landscape pattern dynamics in European rural areas. Vol. 1, 1991, Seminars, (Paris: UNESCO, 1992), pp. 213–229
J. Burgess J. Clark C. M. Harrison (2000) ArticleTitleKnowledges in Action: An Actor Network Analysis of a Wetland Agri-Environment Scheme Ecological Economics 35 119–132 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0921-8009(00)00172-5
A. G. Busk (2002) ArticleTitleFarmers’ Landscape Decisions: Relationships between Farmers’ Values and Landscape Practices Sociologia Ruralis 42 IssueID3 233–250 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-9523.00213
J. B. Callicot L. B. Crowder K. Mumford (1999) ArticleTitleCurrent Normative Concepts in Conservation Conservation Biology 13 22–35 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.1999.97333.x
P. A. Chiverton N. W. Sotherton (1991) ArticleTitleThe Effects on Beneficial Arthropods of the Exclusion of Herbicides from Cereal Crop Edges Journal of Applied Ecology 28 1027–1039
S. Christensen N. Holst (1998) ArticleTitleNovel Strategies in Weed Control Providing for Environment, Economy and Landscape Resources Zeitschrift für Pflanzenkrankheiten und Pflanzenschutz Sonderheft 16 501–509
H. D. Clausen H. B. Holbeck J. Reddersen (2001a) ArticleTitleButterflies on Organic Farmland: Association to Uncropped Small Biotopes and their Nectar Sources, (Papilionoidea and Hesperoidea, Lepidoptera) Entomologiske Meddelelser 66 33–44
H. D. Clausen H. B. Holbeck J. Reddersen (2001b) ArticleTitleFactors Influencing Abundance of Butterflies and Burnets in the Uncultivated Biotopes of Organic Farmland Biological Conservation 98 IssueID2 167–178 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-3207(00)00151-8
G. Cox P. Lowe M. Winter (1990) The Voluntary Principle in Conservation Packard Publishing Limited Chichester
Ejrnæs, R., Structure and processes in temperate grassland vegetation, Ph.D. thesis, Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (National Environmental Research Institute, 1998)
R. E. Feber L. G. Firbank P. J. Johnson D. W. Macdonald (1997) ArticleTitleThe Effects of Organic Farming on Pest and Non-pest Butterfly Abundance Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 64 133–139
Forman, R. T. T., Land Mosaics. The Ecology of Landscapes and Regions, (Cambridge University Press, 1995)
G. Goodlass N. Halberg G. Verschuur (2003) ArticleTitleInput–Output Accounting Systems in the European Community – An Appraisal of their Usefulness in Raising Awareness of Environmental Problems European Journal of Agronomy 20 17–24 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1161-0301(03)00068-6
J. P. Grime (1979) Plant Strategies and Vegetation Processes John Wiley Chichester
N. Halberg (1999) ArticleTitleIndicators of Resource Use and Environmental Impact for Use in a Decision aid for Danish livestock farmers Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 76 17–30
N. Halberg G. Verschuur G. Goodlass (2005) ArticleTitleFarm Level Environmental Indicators; Are they Useful? An Overview of Green Accounting Systems for European Farm Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 105 195–212
A. B. Hald (1999) ArticleTitleWeed Vegetation (Wild Flora) of Organic versus Conventional Cereal Fields in Denmark Annals of Applied Biology 134 307–314
Hald, A. B., H. Pontoppidan, J. Reddersen, and H. Elbek-Pedersen, “Sprøjtefri randzoner i sædskiftemarker. Plante- og insektliv samt udbytter: Landsforsøg 1987–92,” (Unsprayed field margins in arable fields. Plants, arthropods and yields: National Survey 1987–92), Bekæmpelsesmiddelforskning fra Miljøstyrelsen (Pesticid research) 6, Miljøstyrelsen (Danish Environmental Protection Agency, Copenhagen, 1994)
J. G. Hodgson (1986) ArticleTitleCommonness and rarity in plants with special reference to the Sheffield Flora, I. The identity, distribution and habitat characteristics of the common and rare species Biological Conservation 36 199–252 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0006-3207(86)90052-2
J. G. Hodgson (1993) ArticleTitleCommonness and Rarity in British Butterflies Journal of Applied Ecology 30 407–427
H. Holbeck H. Clausen J. Reddersen (2000) ArticleTitleDagsommerfugle og køllesværmeres valg af nektarplanter i et økologisk jordbrugs småbiotoper, (Selection of nectar sources by butterflies and burnets in organic field boundary habitats) Entomologiske Meddelelser 68 47–59
C. J. Humphries P. H. Williams R. I. Vane-Wright (1995) ArticleTitleMeasuring Biodiversity Value for Conservation Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 26 93–111 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.es.26.110195.000521
IFOAM, “Basic Standards” 1. The principle aims of organic production and processing, Online, cited on July 20th 2000. Available at the World Wide Web: http://www.ifoam.org/standard/aims.html
Isart, J. and J. J. Llerena, (eds.), “Biodiversity and Land Use: The Role of Organic Farming,” Proceedings of the First ENOF Workshop, Bonn, Dec. 8–9, 1995. (Barcelona, 1995)
Just, F., E. Noe, and L. A. Rasmussen, “Korridorer i landskabet,” (Green corridors in the landscape), Syddansk Universitet, notat 36, 1996
S. Kvale (1983) ArticleTitleThe Qualitative Research Interview – A Phenomenological and a Hermeneutical Mode of Understanding Journal of Phenomenological Psychology 14 171–196
P. D. Lancashire H. Bleiholder T. Boom Particlevan den P. Langelüddeke R. Strauss E. Weber A. Witzenberger (1991) ArticleTitleA Uniform Decimal Code for the Growth Stages of Crops and Weeds Ann. Appl. Biol. 119 561–601
Leeuwis, C., Of Computer Myths and Modelling: The Social Construction of Diversity, Knowledge, Information and Communication Technologies in Dutch Horticulture and Agricultural Extension, Ph.D. thesis. (Department of Rural Sociology, Wageningen, 1993)
Mayrhofer, P. and P. Schawerda, Die Bauern, die Natur & das Geld. Modell Ökopunkte Landwirtschaft. Verein zur Förderung der Landentwicklung und intakter Lebensräume, Baden Österreich, 1991
M. McGeoch (1998) ArticleTitleThe Selection, Testing and Application of Terrestrial Insects as Bioindicators Biological Review 73 181–201 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S000632319700515X
D. Moorcroft M. J. Whittingham R. B. Bradbury J. D. Wilson (2002) ArticleTitleThe Selection of Stubble Fields by Wintering Granivorous Birds Reflects Vegetation Cover and Food Abundance Journal of Applied Ecology 39 535–547 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00730.x
Nentwig, W., “Sown weed strips – an excellent type of ecological compensation area in our agricultural landscape,” in J. Isart and J. J. Llerena (eds.), Biodiversity and Land Use: The Role of Organic Farming. Proc. 1st ENOF Workshop, Bonn 1995. (Barcelona, 1995), pp. 1–10
Noe, E., Værdier, rationalitet og landbrugsproduktion, Belyst ved en mikrosociologisk undersøgelse blandt danske økologiske og konventionelle kvægbrugere. (Values, Rationality and Farming – Examined in a micro sociological study of organic and conventional dairy farmers), Ph.D. thesis, (Department of Economic and Natural Resources at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 1999)
E. Noe N. Halberg (2002) Research Experience with Tools to Involve Farmers and Local Institutions in Developing more Environmentally Friendly Practices K. Hagedorn (Eds) Environmental Co-operation and Institutional Change Edward Elgar Cheltenham, UK 143–161
B. G. Norton (1994) On What We Should Save: The Role of Culture in Determining Conservation Targets P. I. Forey C. J. Humphries R. I. Vane-Wright (Eds) Systematics and Conservation Evaluation Clarendon Press Oxford 23–39
Nygaard, B., S. Mark, A. Baattrup-Pedersen, K. Dahl, R. Ejrnæs, J. Fredshavn, J. Hansen, E. Lawesson, B. Münier, P. F. Møller, M. Risager, F. Rune, J. Skriver, and M. Søndergaard, “Naturkvalitet, kriterier og metodeudvikling,” (Nature quality, criteria and methods development), Faglig Rapport nr. 285, Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (National Environmental Research Institute, 1999)
B. Ohlmer (1998) ArticleTitleModels of farmers’ decision, making: problem definition Swedish Journal of Agricultural Research 28 17–27
G. N. Ovenden A. R. H. Swash D. Smallshire (1998) ArticleTitleAgri-environment Schemes and their Contribution to the Conservation of Biodiversity in England Journal of Applied Ecology 35 955–960
E. Pollard (1977) ArticleTitleA Method for Assessing Changes in the Abundance of Butterflies Biological Conservation 12 115–134 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0006-3207(77)90065-9
E. Pollard D. O. Elias M. J. Skelton J. A. Thomas (1975) ArticleTitleA Method of Assessing the Abundance of Butterflies in Monks Wood National Nature Reserve in 1973 Entomologist’s Gazette 26 79–88
G. R. Potts (1986) The Partridge: Pesticides, Predation and Conservation Collins London
W. Powell G. J. Dean A. Dewar (1985) ArticleTitleThe Influence of Weeds on Polyphagous Arthropod Predators in Winter Wheat Crop Protection 4 298–312 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0261-2194(85)90032-8
J. Primdahl (1999) ArticleTitleAgricultural Landscapes as Places of Production and for Living in Owner’s versus Producer’s Decision Making and the Implications or Planning Landscape and Urban Planning 46 IssueID1–3 143–150 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0169-2046(99)00038-9
G. Purvis J. P. Curry (1984) ArticleTitleThe Influence of Weeds and Farmyard Manure on the Activity of Carabidae and Other Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Sugar Beet Crop Journal of Applied Ecology 21 271–283
Rasmussen, K., N. Holst, and I. S. Kristensen, “Ukrudt på otte økologiske kvægbrug – betydende faktorer for ukrudtets udvikling 1989–96,” (Weeds on eight organic livestock farms – factors significant for the dynamics of weeds 1989–96); 15. Danske Planteværnskonference. Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Report No 2 (1998), pp. 203–217
K. Rasmussen J. Rasmussen (2000) ArticleTitleBarley Seed Vigour and Mechanical Weed Control Weed Research 40 219–230 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-3180.2000.00184.x
Reddersen, J., S. Elmholt, and S. Holm, “Indirect effects of fungicides and herbicides on cereal field arthropods. Response to treatment-induced variations in leaf fungi and weeds in winter wheat 1994–1995,” Pesticides Research, 44. Miljøstyrelsen (Danish Environmental Protection Agency, Copenhagen 1998)
L. Sjöberg (2003) ArticleTitleIntuitive vs Analytical Decision Making: Which is Preferred? Scandinavian Journal of Management 19 17–29 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0956-5221(01)00041-0
N. W. Sotherton (1998) ArticleTitleLand Use Changes and the Decline of Farmland Wildlife: An Appraisal of the Set-aside Approach Biological Conservation 83 259–268 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-3207(97)00082-7
M. R. Speight J. H. Lawton (1976) ArticleTitleThe Influence of Weed-cover on the Mortality Imposed on Artificial Prey by Predatory Ground Beetles in Cereal Fields Oecologia 23 211–223 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00361237
M. Stoltze (1996) Danske dagsommerfugle (Danish Butterflies) Gyldendal Copenhagen
Stoltze, M. and S. Pihl, “Rødliste, 1997 over planter og dyr i Danmark” (Read list of plants and animals in Denmark (English summary). (Miljø og Energiminisetriet, 1998)
Stopes, C., M. Measures, C. Smith, and L. Foster, “Hedgerow management in organic farming - impact on biodiversity,” in J. Isart and J. J. Llerena, (eds.), Biodiversity and Land Use: The Role of Organic Farming. Proc. 1st ENOF Workshop, Bonn 1995. (Barcelona, 1995), pp. 121–125
J. T. Sørensen P. Sandøe N. Halberg (2001) ArticleTitleAnimal Welfare as one Among Several Values to be considered at Farm Level: The Idea of an Ethical Account for Livestock Farming Acta Agric. Scand., Sect. A, Animal Sci. Suppl. 30 11–16
T. E. Tew D. W. Macdonald M. R. W. Rands (1992) ArticleTitleHerbicide Application Affects Microhabitat use by Arable Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) Journal of Applied Ecology 29 532–539
K. Tybirk H. F. Alrøe P. Frederiksen (2004) ArticleTitleNature Quality in Organic Farming: A Conceptual Analysis of Considerations and Criteria in a European Context Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 17 IssueID3 249–274 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:JAGE.0000033081.92534.d4
R. I. Vane-Wright C. J. Humphries P. H. Williams (1991) ArticleTitleWhat to Protect? – Systematics and the Agony of Choice Biological Conservation 55 235–254 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0006-3207(91)90030-D
Vereijken, P., F. Wijnands, and W. Stol, “Designing and Testing Prototypes,” Progress Report 2 of the Research Network on Integrated and Ecological Arable Farming Systems for EU and Associated Countries (Concerted Action AIR 3 – CT920755). (AB-DLO, Wageningen, 1995)
G. P. Vickerman (1978) ArticleTitleThe Arthropod Fauna of Undersown Grass and Cereal Fields Sci. Proc. Royal Dublin Soc. Ser. A 6 273–283
G. Zenin M. Sattin (1998) ArticleTitleThreshold Level and Seed Production of Velvetleaf (Abutilon heophrasti Medicus) in Maize Weed Research 28 347–352
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Noe, E., Halberg, N. & Reddersen, J. Indicators of Biodiversity and Conservational Wildlife Quality on Danish Organic Farms for Use in Farm Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Indicator Development and Testing. J Agric Environ Ethics 18, 383–414 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-7044-3
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-7044-3