Land Use and the Environment Lecture 9 PDF

AESC10010 Land Use and the Environment Lecture 9: Threats to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Assoc. Prof. Helen Sheridan Room 203D Agriculture Building [email protected] ...

AESC10010 Land Use and the Environment Lecture 9: Threats to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Assoc. Prof. Helen Sheridan Room 203D Agriculture Building [email protected]  Common farmland and forest birds – EU European grassland butterfly index population Index European Court of Auditors, (2020) European Court of Auditors, (2020) The 6th Mass Extinction The Global Living Planet Index – 69% decrease in population sizes of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish between 1970-2016 (WWF, 2022). European grassland Common farmland and forest butterfly index birds – EU population Index European Court of Auditors, (2020)  Biodiversity: Threats Threats – HIPPO (Edward O Wilson – The Crisis of Biodiversity 1985) Habitat destruction Invasive species Pollution Human Over Population Overharvesting Introduced Pathogens Climate Change (Millennium Ecosystem Report) Most species lost in the last 100 years has largely been due to human activity  Habitat Destruction Combination of: Habitat degradation i.e. reduce the ecological functioning of the habitat Habitat removal Local extinction national extinction overall extinction The primary cause in range declines in species and populations  Habitat Destruction Habitat Fragmentation Previously continuous habitat become divided Natural disturbance (fire, flood, earthquake etc) Human-driven (agriculture, infrastructure, urbanisation) Important factors to consider in terms of how well the habitat will continue to function: Fragment size Edge to area ratio and edge effects Proximity and connectivity to other fragments of similar habitat From: EEA Report 2/2011 Landscape Fragmentation in Europe Connectivity between habitat fragments Connectivity between fragments:  Farmland habitat type Sligo Offaly Cork n = 118 Predicted distribution of High Nature Value farmland in the Republic of Ireland Region p < 0.001 Matin, S., Sullivan, C.A., O’ hUallachain, D., Meredith, D., Moran, J., System p = 0.002 Sheridan et al. (2017) Finn, J.A., Green, S (2016) Journal of Maps Vol 12. Creamer et al., 2016 Walsh et al., 2010 Cattle Farming Sheep Farming Jeanneret et al., 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00256-x Biodiversity: Threats Threats – HIPPO (Edward O Wilson) Habitat destruction Invasive species Pollution Human Over Population Overharvesting Introduced Pathogens Climate Change (Millennium Ecosystem Report) Most species lost in the last 100 years has largely been due to human activity What is an invasive species? “Non-native species that have been introduced by human intervention, outside their natural range and that has the ability to threaten our native wildlife, cause damage to environment, economy or human health” “Once introduced, control, management and eradication where possible of invasive species can be very difficult and costly, therefore early detection and reactive measures are desirable” “Most non-native (also known as alien) species do not cause any harm and only a small proportion are considered to be invasive” https://www.biodiversityireland.ie/projects/in vasive-species/what-is-an-invasive-species/ Invasive species legislation: EU Regulation (1143/2014) on invasive alien (non-native) species Now lists 66 Species of concern in the EU Plants and animals The Regulation requires MS to put in place surveillance and rapid response mechanisms and to develop management measures  Alien Invasive Species Negative implications for native biodiversity Direct predators Competitors Vectors of disease Modify habitats Alter native species dynamics Intentional and unintentional introduction http://invasivespeciesireland.com/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/NIEA-ID-Guide-Mustela-vison- Mink.pdf  Alien Invasive Species Grey squirrel –Native to deciduous forests of N. America –Released in Ireland in 1911 –Displaced native red squirrel –Competition for food and habitat –Carrier of virus (Parapox virus) which can be fatal for red squirrel  Alien Invasive Plants Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica Ornamental Dense stands up to 3 meters Asexual reproduction Viable stem material Rhizomes Flailing hedgerows Riverbank instability Access Biodiversity: Threats Threats – HIPPO (Edward O Wilson) Habitat destruction Invasive species Pollution Human Over Population Overharvesting Introduced Pathogens Climate Change (Millennium Ecosystem Report) Most species lost in the last 100 years has largely been due to human activity Pollutants: At least 1500 potential pollutants Acids and alkalis Detergents Domestic sewage and animal slurry Fertilisers (N & P) Pesticides Food processing wastes Gases (ammonia and chlorine) Heat Pathogens Radioactive materials etc etc…… https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater-- marine/EPA-Water-Quality-Indicator-Report-2023-web-11June2024.pdf https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater-- marine/EPA-Water-Quality-Indicator-Report-2023-web-11June2024.pdf https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater-- marine/EPA-Water-Quality-Indicator-Report-2023-web-11June2024.pdf https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater-- marine/EPA-Water-Quality-Indicator-Report-2023-web-11June2024.pdf Legislation governing water quality: The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) To protect watercourses from agricultural sources of pollution by N and P and promote the adoption of Good Agricultural Practice Each MS must draw up a NAP (4 yrs) Sets limits on the amount of livestock / organic manure that can be applied to land annually (170 KG N/ha/yr) Sets closed periods for land spreading of fertilisers and organic manures Sets storage capacity levels depending on the part of the country Legislation governing water quality: The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) Provides a more coordinated framework to improve quality in all water resources, to protect public health, the environment, to sustain water intensive industries including agriculture and tourism The ND forms an integral part of the WFD Requires MS to: Protect/enhance all waters (surface, ground and coastal) Achieve ”good status” for all waters (2027) Manage water bodies based on river basins or catchments Involve the public in the process Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) In priority action areas where there are agricultural and non-agricultural pressures on water quality