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Jun
25
2007
Agri-environment schemes benefit common species but not rare ones
Agri-environment schemes are commonly supposed to promote biodiversity, but a recently published study claims they don’t deliver. Writing in the Journal of Applied Ecology, Queen’s University Belfast biologist Neil Reid and colleagues present evidence that the Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme in Northern Ireland has resulted in greater numbers of commonplace rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus and foxes Vulpes vulpes, but has done little for the much rarer Irish hares Lepus timidus. That’s exactly what shouldn’t happen: rabbits graze endangered plants and foxes have a taste for threatened ground-nesting birds. In the period between 1999 and 2003, some 24 billion Euros have been plowed into Europe’s agri-environment schemes. Maybe it’s time to think again… Source: Reid N, McDonald RA & Montgomery I (2007) Mammals and agri-environment schemes: hare haven or pest paradise? Journal of Applied Ecology DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01336.x
Related story in Conservation magazine: Agriculture versus Biodiversity
Image © Markus Divis
Filed Under Economics and conservation, Endangered species, Habitat, Invasive species, Monitoring, Restoration, Socio-political issues |
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