Managing Landscape Margins for Better Outcomes

The challenges ahead for world agriculture are huge. Before the end of the century we need to feed 10 billion people sustainably – with climate change, water scarcity and energy security issues making life much more difficult for farmers.  We must achieve this on about the same amount of agricultural land that we use today.  Large-scale extensification of the arable land area would negatively impact biodiversity and would result in hugely damaging greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture (SIA) is emerging as a key concept.  We can define that simply as “growing more from less”.  SIA requires that we achieve better environmental outcomes as well as higher productivity and use all inputs more efficiently, especially water, nutrients and land.  There will not be a single solution, but a mosaic of solutions depending on local farm conditions, scale and resources. Can we imagine highly productive farming landscapes that encourage biodiversity and reduce problems from intensive farm operations?  Yes!  And the best results will come from better planning and managing of the land.

Figure 1. Watershed modeling helps identify fields with increased run-off risk.*

While modern technologies and agronomic practices will facilitate increased productivity and “resource use efficiency” on the farm, if we want to achieve better environmental outcomes, then we need to think at the landscape scale.  Imaging tools, such as figure 1, are being developed for management at this level.

To improve water quality we need to identify areas in the watershed that are potential sources of diffuse pollution from run-off, and look at the management of those fields.  The model can identify fields with a co-occurrence of the main risk factors – impermeable soil layers close to the soil surface, sloping fields where crops are grown, and the use of chemicals and fertilisers.  With this knowledge, we can recommend appropriate best management practices to protect water quality.

One of the tactics that a farmer could consider to address water quality is the use of a field margin alongside the watercourse.  Vegetative buffer strips, well designed and maintained, can significantly reduce run-off. Many landscape elements are multi-functional.  Field hedgerows and margins used to protect water bodies from run-off and spray drift can also be important in creating on-farm habitats designed to increase availability of pollinators and to benefit farmland birds. A relatively small area, well planned, can make a big difference to biodiversity in an intensively farmed landscape.  The best outcomes for wildlife will come from combining landscape elements, creating corridors through which wildlife can move.

Cornfield annual mix at high seeding density, consisting of four components.

Field margins can attract and encourage other desirable wildlife, such as small animals and birds, and also beneficial insects that may deliver pest control as an additional ecosystem service.  One of the most important issues for bee-hive health is availability of local food sources throughout the year.  For birds, availability of winter food resources is also a big issue.  Particular mixtures of flowers and grasses can provide these wildlife different benefits. We are adapting these for different climates across Europe as we build towards creating 10,000 ha of high biodiversity, pollen and nectar rich margins.

Using satellite and aerial images, we can make rapid improvements to the habitat and food resources for wildlife, and also protect water quality through improved planning of how land is used. With our partners we are creating a practical resource for farmers that can help them design an appropriate plan for their fields.

Spatial planning for landscape design is potentially an important tool for governments, particularly in the developing world, where modern technology offers exciting possibilities to design landscapes for better outcomes.  Each village could have its own land use (and water use) plan to create a landscape that really enriches the lives of the people who live there.  An integrated national approach would balance development of transport, energy and water infrastructure, urban planning, protecting wilderness areas for wildlife and building thriving rural communities.

That can’t happen overnight, but have a look at Google Earth and imagine the possibilities for yourself!