Dossier

The value of diversity

Stefan Lange | 23.06.2022

BD Institute of Biodiversity

Diverse agricultural landscapes are not only beautiful to look at, but also fulfil many ecological services that can also be economically relevant.

Ein Marienkäfer auf einer Pflanze — Visible - invisible: the multiple interactions of various organisms

Diverse, species-rich landscapes not only delight our senses and enhance our quality of life. Many of the species and ecosystems in these landscapes provide essential services for the existence of our society. The economic value of these services as "natural capital" is now receiving a great deal of attention in politics and society.

Well-known service providers in our agricultural production systems are flower-pollinating insects such as bees. Spiders and predatory insects serve as biological pest control and soil organisms ensure soil fertility. In order to be able to use the services provided by these organisms in the long term, their livelihoods in agricultural landscapes must be protected and promoted.

Our research aims to understand the interactions between landscape elements and agricultural practices on the one hand and the performance of the relevant organism groups on the other. From this, we derive recommendations for action for agricultural practice and for policy on the design of agri-environmental measures.

Expertise

Promoting agricultural birds through fallow land

Bird populations clearly benefit from agricultural fallows, especially in landscapes with medium structural complexity.

Comment

Where have all the insects gone?

A dispute has arisen among the public and experts about the extent to which the insect fauna in Germany is declining. This has opened a political window that makes it possible to examine the situation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Good thing, says Jens Dauber.

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