Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Variations of High Nature Value Farmland and Links with Changes in Bird Populations: A Study on France

摘要

The 'High Nature Value farming' idea connects the preservation of biodiversity with the need to safeguard the continuation of farming in certain areas and the maintenance of specific farming systems associated with a long-term management approach. The need for measures to prevent the loss of High Nature Value farmland is widely acknowledged. Conservation of biodiversity on agricultural land is an explicit objective of the pan-European Biodiversity and Landscape Strategy, the Bern Convention and, at EU level, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Rural Development Policy (Community Strategic Guidelines for Rural Development Programming Period 2007-2013). Conserving High Nature Value farmland is a key aspect in achieving future biodiversity targets. In their 2003 ¿Kyiv¿ declaration, the European Environment Ministers have set the goal to identify HNV farmland in Europe and take adequate conservation measures. The COM(2010) 4 final ¿Options for an EU vision and target for biodiversity beyond 2010¿ recognises the need of preserving and enhancing farming and forestry with a high nature value in the context of the CAP. Furthermore, in 2006 the frame of agri-environmental indicators for monitoring the integration of environmental concerns into the common agricultural policy has been formally identified and published in the COM (2006) 508. The High Nature Value farmland indicator is part of the framework, as well as indicators on Population trends in farmland birds. JRC/IES is one of the EC services that are developing such indicators.The aim of this study is to improve the methodology to define HNV farmland areas and investigate more thoroughly the link between bird species and farmland habitat. The French case study is presented in high detail; relevant statistical data were available regarding agriculture practices both at present and past time periods, which provided the information for the development of a national HNV indicator. Data from the French Breeding Bird Census have been used to seek for links between bird species and bird indices, and spatial and temporal distribution of HNV farmland.