Hedgerows as Ecosystems: Service Delivery, Management, and Restoration

Abstract

Hedge density, structure, and function vary with primary production and slope gradient and are subject to other diverse factors. Hedgerows are emerging ecosystems with both above- and belowground components. Functions of hedges can be categorized as provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting ecosystem services; these functions include food production, noncrop food and wood production, firewood production, pollination, pest control, soil conservation and quality improvement, mitigation of water flux and availability, carbon sequestration, landscape connectivity and character maintenance, and contributions to biodiversity. Urban hedges provide a relatively equitable microclimate and critical connections between green spaces and enhance human health and well-being through contact with biodiversity. Soil and water conservation are well researched in tropical hedges but less is known about their contribution to pollination, pest control, and biodiversity. Establishing a minimum hedge width and longer intervals between cutting of temperate hedges would enhance biosecurity and promote carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Hedges have a global role in mitigating biodiversity loss and climate change, which restoration should maximize, notwithstanding regional character. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Volume 51 is November 2, 2020. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Agricultural landscape affects sex‐specific differences in the abundance of Drosophila suzukii in raspberry orchards

“…Thus, we do not recommend removing these habitat structures from the agricultural landscape. Additionally, these habitat structures provide shelter for natural enemies (Garratt et al, 2017;Veres et al, 2013) and other species, which increases biodiversity in the agricultural landscape (Holland & Fahrig, 2000;Lecq et al, 2017;Montgomery et al, 2020).…”

Selection of Non-Crop Plant Mixes Informed by Arthropod-Plant Network Analyses for Multiple Ecosystem Services Delivery Towards Ecological Intensification of Agriculture

“…The creation of wilderness areas and floral strips to support pollinators and pollination service has been part of the agricultural management policy in the Western temperate countries where the landscape had become more homogeneous [6,10,11]. The impacts of such habitat management on pollination service delivery are also well-reviewed [12][13][14]. However, there are various gaps in our understanding about how landscape and farm management can impact natural pest regulation [7], and literature on the impacts of natural habitat restoration for natural pest predators is still emerging [12][13][14][15].…”

“…The impacts of such habitat management on pollination service delivery are also well-reviewed [12][13][14]. However, there are various gaps in our understanding about how landscape and farm management can impact natural pest regulation [7], and literature on the impacts of natural habitat restoration for natural pest predators is still emerging [12][13][14][15].…”

The Political Ecology of Hedgerows and Their Relationship to Agroecology and Food Sovereignty in the UK

“…Yet hedgerows have massive potential, with changed and/or relaxed management, to contribute to biodiversity conservation, soil conservation and enhancement, carbon sequestration (e.g., by allowing far more trees to grow to maturity), water retention and flood alleviation, climate change mitigation, shelter for crops and livestock, and cost savings (and reduced CO 2 emissions) for the farmer and land manager (Montgomery et al, 2020;Tilzey, 2021b). In short, hedgerows can make an important potential contribution to agroecological transitions and an overall contribution to multifunctional agro-ecosystems with multiple benefits to biodiversity, climate change mitigation, soil health, human health, well-being, and livelihoods.…”