There are a third more plants on biodiversity promotion areas
Published: Monday, Mar 18th 2024, 13:20
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Biodiversity promotion areas are more effective for biodiversity than organic farming. However, it is best for plant diversity if these two measures are combined, wrote the Agroscope research institute in a press release on Monday.
To investigate the effectiveness of the various environmental programs in agriculture, Agroscope experts analysed 1170 grassland areas in Switzerland. The results were published in the "Journal of Environmental Management".
The researchers found an average of 1.8 more plant species on plots of ten square meters in organically farmed areas than in conventionally farmed meadows and pastures. This corresponds to a nine percent increase in plant diversity.
32 percent more plant species
They found 6.6 more species on biodiversity promotion areas than on intensively managed meadows and pastures, which corresponds to a 32 percent increase in plant species. Farmers must cultivate at least seven percent of their land as biodiversity promotion areas in order to fulfill the ecological performance certificate, which entitles them to receive direct payments. These areas may only be fertilized and cut infrequently.
In the study, the researchers cited the fact that although no synthetic pesticides and fertilizers are permitted on these areas, intensive organic fertilization is still permitted as the reason for the lower effect of organic farming. Agroscope wrote in the press release that biodiversity promotion areas are therefore needed for a more far-reaching promotion of plant species diversity.
The study was conducted as part of the "Species and Habitats in Agriculture" monitoring program. According to Agroscope, this is financed by the Federal Offices for the Environment and Agriculture and supervised by Agroscope researchers.
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