May

29

2008
 
 

The need for weeds



Turkish flora threatened by intensive agriculture, almost unnoticed

weeds“Weeds” provide valuable food for many species, yet their conservation status has been largely overlooked. A study by Cengiz Türe and Harun Böcük at Anadolu University, Turkey, now illustrates the extent of the oversight. Writing in Weed Research, they report on a worryingly high number of species – some 112 all told – listed on the wrong end of the IUCN’s Red List scale of endangerment. The intensification of arable farming in Europe has coincided with a dramatic decline in native plant species, hampering subsequent efforts to restore lost biodiversity. Turkey is particularly rich in endemic plant taxa, but modern agricultural practices are designed to eliminate non-crop species. Türe and Böcük make the bizarre, yet perfectly logical, suggestion that farmers should nurture weeds. Quite how farmers will react is another story… Source: Türe C & Böcük H (2008) Investigation of threatened arable weeds and their conservation status in Turkey. Weed Research DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3180.2008.00630.x

Image: © Lane Erickson

Filed Under Endangered species, Habitat, Invasive species, Restoration, Monitoring, Economics and conservation, Socio-political issues | 

Email This Post Email This Post

Comments

Leave a Reply