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| Targets - Biodiversity Indicators | |
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Biodiversity Indicators Three biodiversity indicators were originally agreed for the Voluntary Initiative; Cereal Field Marginsand populations of GreyPartridge, and Corn Bunting.. In light of advice from the Pesticide Forum’s indicators sub-group, Yellowhammer has since been added to the list. All these relate to farmland bird species thought to be indirectly affected by pesticide use and by habitat management and are in line with the UK government’s overall Biodiversity Action Plan process. For more information on all the species and habitats which the government is seeking to protect please see www.ukbap.org.uk 1. Area of Cereal Field Margins (of value to Biodiversity) Cereal Field Margins provide an important habitat for the UK native arable flora and fauna species. Both the grey partridge and corn bunting will benefit from the availability of this habitat. As part of the Voluntary Initiative, the CPA’s ‘Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan’ (see under Biodiversity section of website) has a specific action plan setting out the management aspects needed to enhance and protect this habitat. CPA is providing advice in line with that provided by the Game Conservancy Trust, Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) and the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG). The aim is to support through targeted training, the successful adoption of crop protection management plans, communication of relevant research and advisory activities the Government’s target : to maintain, improve and restore by management the biodiversity of 15,000 ha of cereal field margins on appropriate soil types in the UK by 2010. NB. UK Government target has already been met and is therefore under review.
Grey Partridge has declined by >50% since the early 1990’s (from 145,000 breeding pairs) and therefore are a Red Listed species in terms of conservation concern. Agricultural intensification (shift to winter sowing, use of herbicides and insecticides), loss of habitat such as hedgerows and the employment of fewer gamekeepers have resulted in this decline. They are considered to be a good indicator species of habitat quality, hence if their numbers are improved many other farmland species should also benefit. CPA is providing advice in line with that provided by the Game Conservancy Trust, Linking Environment And Farming and the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group. The aim is to support thorough the promotion of new habitat management techniques, the successful adoption of crop protection management plans, training for advisors, communication of relevant research and advisory activities the Government’s targets: of halting the decline by 2005 (currently being reviewed) and ensuring the population is above 150,000 pairs by 2010 Biological indicators such as the Grey Partridge will take many years to respond to policy changes; for this reason it is not practical to set credible interim targets within the time span of the Voluntary Initiative. However, CPA has developed a Grey Partridge biodiversity briefing aimed at farmers and advisiors. Also a wide range of policy measures are being implemented as part of the UK BAP for this species, it will be extremely difficult therefore to isolate the affect that Voluntary Initiative will have on the species recovery. However the measures being promoted by the VI will be of benefit to this species. 3. Terrestrial Wildlife Population Trends for Corn Bunting Corn bunting has declined by >50% in the last 25 years and hence, is a Red Listed Species and of high conservation concern. Agricultural intensification and loss of habitat are the major causes of this decline, however recent scientific evidence suggests that the use of crop protection products may have reduced the availability of food for rearing of the young. This species is an arable farmland specialist largely dependent upon cropped land and will benefit from measures that enhance available field margin habitats and summer feed availability. A range of policy measures including the careful use of crop protection products, stewardship measures advice and training are being implemented as part of the UK BAP to reverse the decline in populations. CPA is providing advice in line with that provided by the RSPB, English Nature, Linking Environment And Farming and the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group. The aim is to support the promotion of new habitat management techniques, successful adoption of crop protection management plans, advisor training, communication or relevant research and advisory activities in order to help the Government’s long term targets : to increase numbers of corn bunting to at least 50% of 1996 levels and expand the bird’s range by 2008. Biological indicators such as the Corn Bunting will take many years to respond to policy changes; for this reason it is not practical to set credible interim targets within the time span of the Voluntary Initiative. The first relevant UK BAP interim target for this species is in 2008. A wide range of policy measures are being implemented as part of the UK BAP for this species, it will be extremely difficult therefore to isolate the affect that Voluntary Initiative will have on the species recovery. However the measures being promoted by the VI will be of benefit to this species. Terrestrial Wildlife Population Trends for Yellowhammer The UK Yellowhammer population fell by 54% between 1970 and 1998 according to British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) figures. This is probably because fewer (seed) food sources are available to them on farmland. The 2006 review of UK Biodiversity Action Plan (Bap) indicators has shown that farmland bird populations have generally stabilised, however, Yellowhammer has continued to decline. Again, although the input of VI measures will be difficult to ascertain, combined with increased up-take of ELS measures, the population of Yellowhammer should improve due to increased availability of food sources and improved habitat provision such as hedgerows. In addition, the following targets will provide a mechanism to help delivery of the above indicators. Number of agronomists who have undertaken a recognised additional environmental training/qualification- at least 750 by 2006. Number and land area of farmers who have obtained the new Farm Environmental Management - Crop Protection Certificate, at least 50% of all eligible “farmer decision makers” trained and registered by 2006 Number of products with Environmental Information sheets published, all professional products marketed by CPA members by 1 April 2006 |