Providing a conceptual framework for a national monitoring of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes

Background and Objective

Due to the lack of appropriate data, a robust and scientifically sound assessment of the status, trends and drivers of biodiversity change in agricultural landscapes is only possible to a limited extent. Accordingly, evidence‐based policy‐making with respect to farmland biodiversity conservation within the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is hampered. To provide a conceptual framework for the future implementation of a nationwide monitoring of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, this joint project had the following main objectives:

1. Typology and characterization of agricultural land systems at the national scale
2. Elaboration of strategic visions to conserve and promote biodiversity within specific agricultural land systems
3. Testing the suitability of existing biodiversity indicators and prioritising a suite of indicators that best fit each agricultural land system

The joint project provided important preparatory steps for the future implementation of a nationawide monitoring of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes (MonViA: https://www.agrarmonitoring-monvia.de/).

Target Group

Agriculture, science, politics

Approach

In order to reach the main objectives of the joint project, the project team developed draft concepts. These concepts were discussed and consolidated during a series of workshops together with experts from science, policy and administration. By involving experts with different professional background we aimed at integrating different views on the overreaching research theme “biodiversity in agricultural landscapes”. This stakeholder involvement and engagement within the project was key to achieving concepts and products that are accepted. Moreover, the project was conducted in close collaboration with the joint project MonViA (see: https://www.agrarmonitoring-monvia.de/).

Results

Based on the findings of the project team and the workshops, the following main deliverables were published:

• Teil 1: Pingel, M., Sinn, C., Holz, L., Klimek, S., Sietz, D., Birkenstock, M., Röder, N., Golla, B. (2026). Typisierung der Agrarräume Deutschlands. Berichte aus dem Julius Kühn-Institut Nr. 231, DOI: doi.org/10.5073/20251219-095049-0
• Teil 2: Holz, L., Krämer, C., Birkenstock, M., Röder, N., Sietz, D., Pingel, M., Klimek, S., Golla, B. (2026). Bewertung der agrarraumspezifischen Wirksamkeit und Realisierbarkeit existierender Politikziele und–maßnahmen zum Schutz der Biodiversität. Thünen Working Paper 279. Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig. DOI: doi.org/10.3220/253-2026-0
• Teil 3: Sietz, D., Birkenstock, M., Golla, B., Krämer, C., Pingel, M., Holz, L., Röder, N., Klimek, S. (2026). Entwicklung transformativer Zielbilder zur Förderung der Biodiversität und ihrer Ökosystemleistungen in Agrarlandschaften. Thünen Working Paper 280. Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig. DOI: doi.org/10.3220/253-2026-1
• Teil 4: Pingel, M., Golla, B., Birkenstock, M., Krämer, C., Holz, L., Röder, N., Sietz, D., Klimek, S. (2026). Ableitung und Priorisierung agrarraumspezifischer Indikatoren–Sets für ein Monitoring der Biodiversität in Agrarlandschaften. Berichte aus dem Julius Kühn-Institut Nr. 232, DOI: doi.org/10.5073/20251219-095701-0