Habitat and species diversity indicators in relation fo farm managment parameters

Farmland biodiversity is an important component of Europe's biodiversity. More than half the continent is occupied by agricultural lands. They host specific habitats and species, which (in addition to the conservation values they provide) perform vital ecological functions. Indicator are needed to enable the monitoring of biodiversity at the farm level for the purpose of assessing the impacts of farming practices and of agricultural policies. Our European project BioBio aims at identifying farmland biodiversity indicators which are scientifically sound, operational and relevant for stakeholders. We screened the literature for farmland biodiversity indicators and, in an iterative process with stakeholders, we identified 28 candidate indicators for genetic, species and habitat diversity. Those selected biodiversity indicators, as well as 14 management parameters that are known to relate to biodiversity, were assessed in 12 case study regions across Europe. Each case study region represents a typical production system (i.e. specialist field crops, horticulture and permanent crops, specialist grazing with cattle and other livestock types, mixed crop and livestock farming). In each region, 8-20 farms were randomly selected, mostly within the two groups of organic and non organic farms, to obtain a gradient of farming intensity. Indicators were measured applying standardized sampling procedures and farmer interviews. Sampling effort was recorded in order to assess the cost of indicator measurement. For each case study region, biodiversity indicators are presently being evaluated in conjunction with management indicators. Surrogate indicators will be proposed when possible and indicators will be prioritized taking into account their validity, practicality, cost and priority for stakeholders. Based on preliminary results, the poster focuses on the results of biodiversity indicators (habitats, spiders, bees, earthworms, plants) got on the 16 both organic and conventional farms we surveyed in the Gascony Hills, southwards between Toulouse and Auch