Predicting the impacts of bioenergy production on farmland birds

Rivas Casado, Monica; Mead, Andrew; Burgess, Paul J.; Howard, David C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4494-7450; Butler, Simon J.. 2014 Predicting the impacts of bioenergy production on farmland birds. Science of the Total Environment, 476-477. 7-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.080

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.080

Abstract/Summary

Meeting European renewable energy production targets is expected to cause significant changes in land use patterns. With an EU target of obtaining 20% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020, national and local policy makers need guidance on the impact of potential delivery strategies on ecosystemgoods and services to ensure the targets are met in a sustainable manner. Within agroecosystems, models are available to explore consequences of such policy decisions for food, fuel and fibre production but few can describe the effect on biodiversity. This paper describes the integration and application of a farmland bird population model within a geographical information system (GIS) to explore the consequences of land use changes arising from different strategies to meet renewable energy production targets. Within a 16,000 ha arable dominated case study area in England, the population growth rates of 19 farmland bird species were predicted under baseline land cover, a scenario maximising wheat production for bioethanol, and a scenario focused on mix of bioenergy sources. Both scenarios delivered renewable energy production targets for the region (N12 kWh per person per day) but, despite differences in resultant landscape composition, the response of the farmland bird community as a whole to each scenario was small and broadly similar. However, this similarity in overall response masked significant intra- and inter-specific variations across the study area and between scenarios suggesting contrasting mechanisms of impact and highlighting the need for context dependent, species-level assessment of land use change impacts. This framework provides one of the first systematic attempts to spatially model the effect of policy driven land use change on the population dynamics of a suite of farmland birds. The GIS framework also facilitates its integration with other ecosystem service models to explore wider synergies and trade offs arising from national or local policy interventions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.080
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 3 - Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Environment > BD - 3.4 - Provide science-based advice ... CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 3 - Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Environment
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Parr
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Keywords:	farmland birds, ecosystem services, geographical information system, land use, renewable energy
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	03 Feb 2014 11:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/504670

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.080

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 3 - Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Environment > BD - 3.4 - Provide science-based advice ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 3 - Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Environment

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Parr

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Keywords:

farmland birds, ecosystem services, geographical information system, land use, renewable energy