Mapping and monitoring High Nature Value farmlands: Challenges in European landscapes

Lomba, Ângela; Guerra, Carlos A.; Alonso, Joaquim; Honrado, João P.; Jongman, R.H.G.; McCracken, David I.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.04.029

Cited by 126 publications

(131 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…However, as also evidenced by Lomba et al (2014) and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP, 2007a), the three HNVf types may overlap to each other inside a same agro-ecosystem. In fact, different HNVf types are not easy to be discriminated by simply identifying the predominant features (e.g., presence ecological infrastructures, farmland habitat, etc.).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…As evidenced by Lomba et al (2014) review, several approaches can be used for mapping HNVf at regional level but, the most effective and expended is the combined one.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As pointed out by Lomba et al (2014) and Paracchini et al (2008), the spatial resolution of the geographical dataset used for the computation of HNVf indicators by the different approaches can be a constraint. Accordingly, though CLC map (level 3) provides information on the main agriculture system currently occurring across the European territory, it doesn't give any information on the type and intensity of agriculture management practices currently adopted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, Klimek et al (2014) identified priority areas for the conservation of farmland biodiversity at national level by modelling both the spatial distribution of both plant species (i.e., species-rich farmland) and landscape elements (e.g., hedgerows, ditches and scrubs). At European level, several authors Samoy et al, 2007;Paracchini et al, 2008) adopted combined approach that foresee the use of different data types such as land cover, farming systems and protected/sensitive areas (Lomba et al, 2014). In order to develop an EU agri-environment indicator on HNV farmland, information on the distribution pattern of HNV farmland retrieved from the land cover data were combined with farm system data that provide information about types and characteristics of farms (EEA, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification and mapping the high nature value farmland by the comparison of a combined and species approaches in Tuscany, Italy

et al. 2015

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Low-intensity farming systems play a crucial role in nature conservation by preserving 50% of habitats, flora and fauna occurring in Europe. For this reason the identification, classification and mapping of high nature value farmlands (HNVfs) is becoming an overriding concern. In this study, two different approaches, namely combined approach and species-based approach, were used to spatially identify HNVfs (type 1, 2 and 3) across Tuscany region (Italy). The first approach calculated different indicators (extensive practices indicator, crop diversity indicator, landscape element indicator) at 1×1 km grid cell spatial resolution using pre-existent spatial datasets integrated within a global information system environment. Whilst, the speciesbased approach relied on a pre-existent regional naturalistic inventory. All indicators and the resulting HNVfs derived from the two approaches were aggregated at municipality level. Despite some difference, the two adopted approaches intercepted spatially the same HNVfs areas, accounting for 35% of the total utilised agricultural area of the region. Just 16% of HNVfs resulted located inside protected areas, thus under current conservation and protection management actions. Finally, HNVfs of the Tuscany region were spatially aggregated in four relevant agro-ecosystems by taking into consideration the cropping systems and the landscape elements' characteristics peculiar in the region. IntroductionApproximately 45% of the European Union territory consists of agricultural landscapes (Henle et al., 2008), which encompass a set of combination of factors such as soils and orographic conditions, water availability and different intensity levels of farming and farm activities. Such combinations are responsible for the establishment and the existence of an array of ecological conditions and biodiversity (Pain and Pienkowski, 1997).Over the centuries, the rapid and profound evolution of agriculture has reduced the naturalness of the Europe's primordial environment. Nevertheless, the emergence of both semi-natural habitats and a new diversity of flora and fauna depend upon the presence of farming landscapes (Kristensen, 2003;Beaufoy and Cooper, 2009), whose mosaiclike distribution in the territory provides a high variety of habitats that in turn guarantees a great biodiversity . Kristensen (2003) argues nearly all our cultural landscapes arose from agricultural practices and 50 % of all species in Europe depend on agricultural habitats.Since the early 90s, the concept of high nature value farming (HNVfs) has been framed to meet the growing recognition that in Europe the several habitats and species related to farming systems preserve high nature conservation value, which can be protected only by farmers and their farming practices . Various authors relate to the emergence of the HNV to farming systems low intensity, namely systems with low use of agricultural external inputs and thus low yielding (Baldock et al., 1993;Beaufoy et al., 1994). Andersen and colleagues (2003) argue t...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…As evidenced by Lomba et al (2014) review, several approaches can be used for mapping HNVf at regional level but, the most effective and expended is the combined one.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Identification and mapping the high nature value farmland by the comparison of a combined and species approaches in Tuscany, Italy

et al. 2015

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“…At the European landscape level, very few structural or functional indicators are known to assess the impact of e.g. the CAP on hedgerows, stone walls, ponds or other landscape elements; the same may count for indicators of forest policies (Lomba et al 2014;Paracchini and Capitani 2011;Piorr 2003;Verburg et al 2013;Wascher 2004). …”

Section: Data On Landscapementioning

confidence: 99%

Europe: the paradox of landscape change : A case-study based contribution to the understanding of landscape transitions

Sluis

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Reconciling nature conservation and traditional farming practices: a spatially explicit framework to assess the extent of High Nature Value farmlands in the European countryside

Lomba

Alves²,

Jongman

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Agriculture constitutes a dominant land cover worldwide, and rural landscapes under extensive farming practices acknowledged due to high biodiversity levels. The High Nature Value farmland (HNVf) concept has been highlighted in the EU environmental and rural policies due to their inherent potential to help characterize and direct financial support to European landscapes where high nature and/or conservation value is dependent on the continuation of specific low-intensity farming systems. Assessing the extent of HNV farmland by necessity relies on the availability of both ecological and farming systems' data, and difficulties associated with making such assessments have been widely described across Europe. A spatially explicit framework of data collection, building out from local administrative units, has recently been suggested as a means of addressing such difficulties. This manuscript tests the relevance of the proposed approach, describes the spatially explicit framework in a case study area in northern Portugal, and discusses the potential of the approach to help better inform the implementation of conservation and rural development policies. Synthesis and applications: The potential of a novel approach (combining land use/cover, farming and environmental data) to provide more accurate and efficient mapping and monitoring of HNV farmlands is tested at the local level in northern Portugal. The approach is considered to constitute a step forward toward a more precise targeting of landscapes for agri-environment schemes, as it allowed a more accurate discrimination of areas within the case study landscape that have a higher value for nature conservation.

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Mapping and monitoring High Nature Value farmlands: Challenges in European landscapes

Cited by 126 publications

References 43 publications

Identification and mapping the high nature value farmland by the comparison of a combined and species approaches in Tuscany, Italy

Identification and mapping the high nature value farmland by the comparison of a combined and species approaches in Tuscany, Italy

Europe: the paradox of landscape change : A case-study based contribution to the understanding of landscape transitions

Reconciling nature conservation and traditional farming practices: a spatially explicit framework to assess the extent of High Nature Value farmlands in the European countryside

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