Brief Outline on Biodiversity & Land Use

The term encompasses not only the overall richness of species that can be found in a specific region but also the diversity of genotypes, functional groupings, communities, habitats, and ecosystems that may be found in that region. As a consequence of this, the linkages between biodiversity in its broadest meaning and land use can be complicated and highly reliant on the environment in which they are examined. Additionally, the interactions between them are frequently bidirectional, making it difficult to determine direct lines of causation. This makes it challenging to discover straightforward relationships between causes and effects. Certain patterns of biodiversity may only be maintained in certain locations if certain land management methods or land uses continue to be prevalent in those locations. In other places, the potential uses of land are heavily influenced by the types of biological resources that are already on the ground.

Impact of land use on biodiversity

The decisions that are made about land use in order to meet current as well as future food demands have huge ramifications for biodiversity. They have an impact on the extent and quality of habitats, on the partitioning of abiotic resources, and on possible complementarities, all of which contribute to the disruption of the equilibrium that exists between domesticated and wild forms of biodiversity. Options for land use can have either a positive or negative impact on biodiversity, and such impacts might be permanent or temporary, local or global. The adverse effects can be broken down into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct impacts include things like the direct loss of biodiversity (for example, as a result of deforestation), the disruption of habitats and of biodiversity-mediated functions (for example, the formation of soil), and so on. Indirect impacts are those that have an effect on the larger environment, which ultimately has an effect on habitats, functions, and the richness and abundance of species.

Use of synthetic inputs and biodiversity

The use of high rates of synthetic inputs in agriculture and livestock, such as pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, or excessive fertilizers, is another major driver of biodiversity loss associated with choices made regarding land use. This loss is caused by the destruction of natural habitats and the introduction of invasive species. For instance, the use of pesticides is a well-known factor in the decline of birds, in addition to the biodiversity of soil and aquatic ecosystems. It has been widely documented that the use of pesticides has led to significant declines in the number and performance of pollinators, which in turn has had direct and negative effects on agricultural productivity.

Consequences of biodiversity loss

In a world where approximately 800 million people go hungry every year, the negative impacts on biodiversity are often presented as a trade-off, as an inevitable consequence of having to feed, dress, shelter, transport, and warm a growing population of more than seven billion people. However, as land use choices are closely associated with global goals such as meeting food security, in a world where about 800 million people go hungry every year, this is not the case. This line of thinking predominates in the discussion regarding the connection between the many options for land use and the level of biodiversity. It suggests that efforts to preserve biodiversity cannot be reconciled with current methods of food production and the land-use decisions that go along with them.

Conclusion

Biodiversity is one of the fundamental driving forces that affects and determines the majority of ecosystem services. The Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment conducted interdisciplinary and long-term (50 years) research to identify causes that contributed to the loss of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes and to find solutions to mitigate these detrimental impacts. The fast loss of biodiversity has been witnessed all throughout the planet in recent centuries. Human activity has harmed the habitat’s ability to provide living circumstances for a diverse plant, animal, and fungus population. The conversion of more stable ecosystems, such as woods, meadows, and wetlands, to fewer stable ecosystems, such as agricultural land, increases dangers to fundamental processes in the environment, such as energy flow and matter cycling.

As the world’s population continues to expand and become wealthier, there will be a greater demand for agricultural and forestry products. Additionally, as teleconnections in the global economy led to an increase in remote environmental responsibility, biodiversity and ecosystem service losses caused by changes in land use are expected to accelerate.