Research Article |
Corresponding author: Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis ( ioannis.vogiatzakis@ouc.ac.cy ) Academic editor: Joseph Tzanopoulos
© 2018 Maria Zomeni, Angeliki F. Martinou, Menelaos C. Stavrinides, Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Zomeni M, Martinou AF, Stavrinides MC, Vogiatzakis IN (2018) High nature value farmlands: issues in identification and interpretation using Cyprus as a case study. Nature Conservation 31: 53-70. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.31.28397
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High Nature Value Farmland systems (HNVf) in Europe are recognised for their importance for biodiversity conservation and their extent is one of the impact indicators in the CAP monitoring and evaluation framework for the 2014–2020 cycle. Due to differences in farming typologies and data availability between nations, a common methodology for identifying HNVf does not exist, nor is considered appropriate. In the current study we use the Mediterranean island of Cyprus as a case study to highlight EU-wide issues for the identification and mapping of HNVf. We brought together under a common spatial framework datasets on farming typology, agro-chemical inputs, water use intensity and biodiversity data collected from public authorities and nature/biodiversity conservation organisations. Using an expert driven approach informed by a range of stakeholders, we identified and mapped potential HNVf areas employing a 1 km2 mapping grid as the reporting spatial framework under two storylines for defining farmland area within every grid cell: a liberal with 10% threshold and a conservative with 25% threshold. Areas containing potentially HNVf may extend from 22.5–34.5% of the island, depending on the storyline employed. HNVf Type I is the more restricted type for both storylines, while Type II is the most extensive. The highest overlap was between Type II and Type III for the liberal storyline and between Type I and II for the conservative storyline. HNVfs cover an area between 30 to 57% of the Natura2000 network on the island depending on the storyline. With the liberal storyline for farmland definition, the spatial extent of HNVfs together with the existing Natura2000 sites cover 90% of the study area, while with the conservative storyline this figure drops to ca.75%. The results confirm the role of HNVfs within and around Natura2000 sites in Cyprus and their potential for providing connection and site buffering opportunities, particularly in the lowlands, while they can provide information about policy-making for agri-environmental payments targeting.
biodiversity, conservation, Mediterranean island, Natura2000, policy-making
Many environmental threats, including climate change, biodiversity loss and degradation of land and freshwater are attributed to unsustainable agricultural practices (
Agroecosystems are often considered incompatible with conservation and protection. However, in Europe the growing recognition that biodiversity conservation depends on the persistence of low-intensity farming systems catalysed the formation of the concept of High Nature Value farmland (HNVf) (
HNVfs are present all over Europe and include semi-natural pastures and hay meadows in Western Europe, Ireland and the UK and traditional cropping and orchard systems where livestock activities can also be present, such as olive groves, vineyards and cork oaks in the Mediterranean (
The percentage of HNVf relative to the total utilised agricultural area (UAA) is acknowledged as an important indicator for monitoring landscape changes at spatial and temporal scales, as it is sensitive to anthropogenic impacts and it can be easily communicated in a policy-relevant context. The identification of HNVf in EU member states (MS) and monitoring its extent and condition is a policy instrument for agriculture and nature conservation purposes. HNVf is one of the 32 agri-environmental indicators developed by Eurostat to monitor the effects of agriculture on the environment and one of the impact indicators in the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of CAP (http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/). At the same time, it is also a series of practical measures for biodiversity conservation (i.e. as habitats) and for providing valuable connections in the landscape for species movement (
Regrettably, HNVf systems are currently threatened by two major opposing forces, intensification on the one hand (e.g. high inputs of pesticides or overgrazing) and land abandonment on the other. On the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, both forces have been acting simultaneously on the landscape for the last 50 years. The Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) has seen a dramatic decline (Cyprus Statistical Service 2012) with extensive cereal crops and vineyards experiencing the largest decline. Intensification and land abandonment stem from the farmers’ need to increase their income which is usually a response to political and economic imperatives. Especially in marginal areas, a farmer’s profit can be discouragingly low for managing the land in a traditional, sustainable manner. The current challenge is to identify and apply strategies which will maintain the ecological benefits and create further socioeconomic turnover for the stewards of the HNV farming land across Europe. An essential first step towards this goal is defining what constitutes an HNVf system, describing its particular features and mapping HNVf land for each EU MS.
The methodology proposed by
Agriculture in Cyprus is characterised by a mosaic pattern of small plots with a diversity of permanent and arable crops. Two thirds of the farms in Cyprus are less than 20 ha in size (FSS 2007) while extensive farmlands with olives, carobs and vineyards have resulted in a diversity of cultural landscapes (
Cyprus is the third-largest Mediterranean island and a biodiversity hot-spot with high levels of endemism (
Mapping of HNVfs usually relies on four sets of indicators (
These data were complemented with CORINE Land Cover 2012 data (1:250,000) for the distribution of semi-natural vegetation. Seventeen CORINE level three types were used, namely the categories: 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 4.1.1., 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 5.1.2, 5.2.2. CORINE land cover data provided the best proxy information on the distribution pattern of semi-natural vegetation, since national data at similar or finer scales do not include all semi-natural categories and were produced with different schemes and for different purpose (e.g. the state forests map of the island).
The spatial datasets were evaluated for the definition and mapping of HNVfs in Cyprus by combining the specific selection rules applied by JRC for Cyprus (
The potential HNV farmland was delimited by combining the three HNV farmland-groups described in the European HNV indicator study of
Selection rules for mapping the three types of potentially HNVfs in Cyprus using the conservative storyline (25% threshold). The liberal storyline was applied with identical rules with the exception of the 10% threshold for % farmland within every 1 km2 grid cell.
HNVf definitions and mapping: A comparison between JRC’s approach (
Definitions | JRC’s approach | Approach employed herein |
---|---|---|
Type I: Farmland with a high proportion of semi-natural vegetation. | CLC cover types | Field parcels for cropland; CLC for semi-natural vegetation; Validation by stakeholders |
Type II: Farmland with a mosaic of low intensity agriculture and natural and structural elements, such as field margins, hedgerows, stone walls, patches of woodland or scrub, small rivers etc. | CLC cover types; Areas suggested by stakeholders | Field parcels for cropland; CLC for semi-natural vegetation; Other mapped natural and structural elements; Validation by stakeholders |
Type III: Farmland supporting rare species or a high proportion of European or World populations. | CLC cover types; IBAs | Field parcels for cropland; CLC for semi-natural vegetation; IBAs; Validation by stakeholders |
Fourteen organisations were invited to the two workshops. These organisations represented the major stakeholders in land management in Cyprus, i.e. Government, NGOs, Universities and farmers’ associations. Twelve organisations attended two workshops held in Nicosia with the numbers of participants (24 in total with complementary expertise) shown in brackets: Departments of Environment (3), Agriculture (2), Forests (3), Water Development (1), the Game and Wildlife Service (2), Birdlife Cyprus (2), Terra Cypria (2), Cyprus Federation of Environmental and Ecological Organisations (2), Management Authority for the Cyprus Rural Development Programme (1), Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation - CAPO (2), Cyprus University of Technology - Department of Agricultural Sciences (2), Open University of Cyprus - Terrestrial Ecosystem Management Lab (2).
The first workshop brought together, early in the process, stakeholders to discuss the definition of HNVf and the mapping methodology for the Cypriot context. These people, coming from different disciplines and expertise, were introduced for the first time to the proposed rule-based methodology and engaged in a productive dialogue to improve the mapping rules. The rules for mapping were explained and the use of various thresholds of farmland coverage within each grid cell was discussed. Important decisions were made, such as, for example, classifying extensive as opposed to intensive farming activity. More specifically, one hundred crop types were classified into low and high intensity types, based largely on irrigation and agrochemical use intensity. In addition it was agreed that the term farmland was to be used in accordance with other studies (e.g.
The outcome of the mapping process was presented during the second workshop to the same stakeholders and supplementary amendments were suggested and taken into consideration. During the second workshop, stakeholders pointed out that HNVf Types I and III were underestimated due to the under-representation of grazing lands in the mapping sources used (in both CORINE and CAPO). Conversely, HNVf II was considered overestimated for some areas since, according to stakeholders, the relative contribution of farmlands and natural/structural elements present in the estimation of ‘mosaickness’ should be somehow weighted with more emphasis placed on farmlands’ presence. In addition, it was proposed that the most agriculturally intensive areas in the east of the island could be included in HNVf Type III only where there is confirmed presence of species of European importance (Type III). Stakeholders also commented that known occurrences of HNVfs in mountainous areas were omitted (i.e. areas with extensive presence of traditional stonewalls), particularly under the conservative storyline. The map was updated to reflect the changes proposed by the experts (see Results and Figure
Potentially HNVf types according to a the 10% threshold and b the 25% threshold, in relation with existing Natura2000 sites.
Extent of the HNVf types in the study area (CYGCA), showing also the extent of overlap between types.
Liberal storyline 10% threshold | Type I | Type II | Type III | Type I & II & III | Total | % of island’s surface |
Type I | 5 | 233 | 4 | 100 | 342 | 3.7 |
Type II | 233 | 2312 | 485 | 100 | 3130 | 33.8 |
Type III | 4 | 485 | 50 | 100 | 639 | 6.9 |
34.5* | ||||||
Conservative storyline 25% threshold | Type I | Type II | Type III | Type I & II & III | Total | % of island’s surface |
Type I | 6 | 239 | 3 | 75 | 323 | 3.5 |
Type II | 239 | 1553 | 171 | 75 | 2038 | 22 |
Type III | 3 | 171 | 30 | 75 | 279 | 3 |
22.5* |
HNVf | Type I | Type I and II | Type I, II and III | Type I and III | Type II | Type II and III | Type III | Total | % of the N2K sites* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Area (km2) 10% | 0 | 3 | 47 | 3 | 83 | 256 | 39 | 431 | 57 |
Area (km2) 25% | 2 | 21 | 43 | 3 | 76 | 35 | 48 | 228 | 30 |
The areal extent of the two HNVf storylines (25% and 10%) is given in Table
During the second workshop, there was a general agreement amongst stakeholders that the map based on the 10% threshold better represented HNVf on the island. However, workshop participants pointed out that some amendments were required to improve HNVf representation; for instance, the exclusion of intensive agricultural lands on the east of the island, unless there was confirmed presence of species of European importance (see Materials and Methods). The incorporation of stakeholders’ comments in the mapping process resulted in changes as explicitly shown in Figure
When we applied a 10% threshold for farmland definition within every grid cell, there is a total of 431 km2 of HNVfs in Cyprus already situated in the Natura2000 network, almost half belonging to cells characterised as both Type II & III. When we applied a 25% threshold, this figure is reduced to 228, although again half belong to cells characterised as both Type II & III. However, in this storyline, there are 43 cells within Natura2000 which are characterised as Type I, II and III (Table
In the case of the liberal storyline (10% threshold), the spatial extent of HNVfs, together with the existing Natura2000 sites, cover 90% of the study area (Figure
The identification and mapping of High Nature Value farmlands is of utmost importance in preventing biodiversity loss but also in aiding with their preservation against intensification or abandonment (
A previous study by JRC classified ca. 37% of the whole island as possible HNVf (
Scale is an important issue and the proposed HNVf methodology (
The need for identifying HNVf at the national level is as pressing as the need for clear definitions, e.g. in areas where semi-natural habitats form mosaics with more intensive agriculture. Perhaps from the three HNVf types, Type I is clearer and more consistently mapped across case studies (countries) while is also more easily identified when widespread, especially in marginal regions of Europe (
Determining Type II systems can be quite subjective as each case-scenario requires some value judgement as to what is the right proportion of semi-natural habitat needed to sustain wildlife populations.
The area of agricultural land, classified as HNVf, has been proposed as a key indicator to monitor the impact of CAP of the environment in the 2007–2013 funding cycle and is a prominent metric for the next cycle of RDP (2014–2020). Within Axis 2 of the CAP, the agri-environmental measures are amongst the most important instruments for the support of traditional or HNVf farming (
Pressure on EU habitats and ecosystems is still prevalent. Only 17% of EU habitats and 11% of ecosystems are considered to be in a favourable state, nutrient surpluses persist in some water bodies (despite progress in others) and 45% of EU soils suffer from problems of quality (
Currently, the terrestrial part of the designated Natura2000 sites on Cyprus (CYGCA) cover 752.6 km2 and, although the percentage of habitats in a favourable state within the network is reported to be the highest in the EU (EEA 2016), a recent study on the effectiveness of the protected areas on the island suggests that this is far from adequate for conserving biodiversity (
In particular, HNVfs can provide buffering from externalities to the lowland Natura2000 sites which are under more pressure compared to their upland counterparts, due to their proximity to intensive agricultural and tourist activities. This is of utmost important for sites Potamos Panagias Stazousas (CY6000007) – Kosiis Pallourokampou (CY6000009) which host species such as Sylvia melanothorax, Oenanthe cypriaca, as well as Falco tinunculus and the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus). The next step would be to identify and design ecological networks amongst Natura2000 sites with their constituent elements (buffers, corridors, stepping stones). A target site could be the Alykes Larnakas (CY6000002) where, physically, the site is split into two due to the construction of the international airport. Starting with the HNVfs’ mapping, the challenge in Cyprus is to highlight synergies between nature conservation and agricultural production and to raise awareness about their importance and the financial opportunities they provide.
The high percentage of HNVfs in Cyprus may be good news for conservationists but disquieting for farmers unless they are somehow convinced that HNVfs have real benefit for them. Farmers, but also other stakeholder groups, as demonstrated during the workshops held for this case study, are apprehensive when it comes to lines on the map. When the discourse is about conservation elements, the assumption is that delineation will lead to designation and strict protection where restrictions to land management will apply. Already the erroneous perception on the concept of Natura2000 proves that management in the private lands within the Natura2000 network is problematic in Cyprus but also elsewhere in Europe (
We would like to thank the Department of Environment (MANRE) for support and in particular E. Stylianopoulou and M. Xenophontos. In addition, we would like to thank all stakeholders who participated in the two workshops. This study was partly funded by LIFE13 BIO/CY/00114. AgroLIFE: To promote and enable the conservation of High Nature Value Farmlands in Cyprus. EU LIFE + Biodiversity Project.