Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes

Abstract

The World community has pledged themselves to the preservation and protection of biodiversity through international agreements. This applies especially for agricultural landscapes and arable land whose biodiversity is closely related to the technological and social development of men and therefore subject to continuous change. During the last century in central-European agriculture, a considerable decrease of biodiversity due to agricultural intensification could be observed. The loss of second arable weed species was especially high before the 1980s. However, while the presence of characteristic species further declined, new species, which originate from different habitats or immigrated as neophytes, established themselfes. Nevertheless, a decline of biodiversity on single plots of about 20% in comparison to the 1950/60s can be documented. To prevent the further decline of native second weed species specific actions based on farm specific biodiversity plans should be taken. These plans must be under the responsibility of each farmer who cultivates the area. The trend of simplified production methods must be inverted, along with the restriction of the use of herbicides and insecticides.