Localized Agri-Food Systems and Biodiversity

Interest in localized agri-food systems has grown significantly in recent years. They are associated with several benefits and are seen as important for rural development. An important share of the academic debate addresses the contribution of localized food systems to the current and/or future sustainability of agriculture. Sustainability is defined in several ways, but many scholars recognize that sustainability can only be achieved by a combination of socio-economic, cultural, and environmental aspects. However, the attributes and indicators used for sustainability analyses also differ. Biodiversity is, for instance, often not included in analyses of environmental sustainability even if biodiversity is of crucial importance for longer-term ecological sustainability. To contribute to the debate about the importance of localized food production for sustainability from the environmental point of view, specifically with regard to biodiversity, this is therefore discussed based on the results of several studies presented in this paper. The studies focus on Nordic low-intensity livestock systems related to species-rich semi-natural grasslands. All the studies show that low-intensive agriculture and use of semi-natural grasslands may play an important role in maintaining biodiversity on both small and large scales. They also show that milk and dairy products from free-ranging livestock in heterogeneous landscapes with semi-natural grasslands may have a unique quality associated with local grazing resources. Thus, producers can combine production of food of documented high nutritional and gastronomic value with maintenance of biodiversity, i.e., localized agri-food production based on low-intensive agriculture systems and semi-natural grasslands may be a win-win recipe for both farmers and the society.publishedVersio

Er det forskjeller i beitepreferanser mellom gamle" og "moderne" kuraser? - et norsk-svensk NordGen-prosjekt som skal avsluttes i 2011"

Studier av forskjeller i beitepreferanser mellom høytytende og moderat ytende melkekuraser er foreløpig få. Det er derfor et stort behov for mer kunnskap om eventuelle reelle forskjeller. I dette prosjektet undersøkes det om det kan påvises forskjeller i beitepreferanser mellom ”gamle” og ”moderne” raser i melkekubesetninger som går på beite i seterområder i Trøndelag, Norge, og i Härjedalen, Sverige.publishedVersio

Evaluation of grants given to maintain semi-natural grasslands in Nord-Trøndelag, Central-Norway

Since 1993, Norwegian governmental subsidies have been applied to preserve valuable semi-natural grasslands in Norway. After 8 years of management and payments, the effects of the subsidies were investigated in the county of Nord-Trøndelag. The intention of the subsidies, to secure both open landscapes and biodiversity, was not obtained due to a general lack of knowledge of ecology and biodiversity at all levels. This clearly demonstrates the importance of knowledge and information exchange between scientists, authorities, politicians and farmers to secure maintenance of the most valuable semi-natural grasslands. In addition, transdisciplinary research and exchange of knowledge between archaeologists, historians and ecologists are necessary to preserve the most valuable cultural landscapes with regard to both biodiversity and cultural monuments. This study was presented at the EGF meeting 21-24 June 2004, Luzern, Switzerland.Evaluation of grants given to maintain semi-natural grasslands in Nord-Trøndelag, Central-NorwaypublishedVersio

Carbon sequestration potential and the multiple functions of Nordic grasslands

Grasslands are important carbon sinks, but the underlying processes for their soil carbon sequestration potential are still not well understood, despite much attention given to this topic. In Europe, grasslands, especially semi-natural grasslands, are also important for promoting biodiversity. Moreover, recent global reports have highlighted the importance of biodiversity in supporting climate actions. In boreal and alpine regions in the Nordic countries, grasslands also play an important role in milk and meat production and food security. Certain grassland features and management practices may enhance their soil carbon sequestration potential. Semi-natural grasslands maintained by optimized livestock grazing are vital for aboveground biodiversity and show promise for belowground biodiversity and carbon sequestration potential. It is essential to assess the multiple functions of grasslands, particularly semi-natural grasslands, to facilitate the optimization of policy measures across policy areas. Climate and biodiversity policies should not counteract each other, as some do today. This essay addresses the multiple functions of grasslands and calls for more knowledge about carbon sequestration in Nordic grasslands. This will enable the management of these ecosystems to align with climate mitigation, maintain biodiversity, and satisfy the global need for increased food supply.publishedVersio

Carbon sequestration potential and the multiple functions of Nordic grasslands

Grasslands are important carbon sinks, but the underlying processes for their soil carbon sequestration potential are still not well understood, despite much attention given to this topic. In Europe, grasslands, especially semi-natural grasslands, are also important for promoting biodiversity. Moreover, recent global reports have highlighted the importance of biodiversity in supporting climate actions. In boreal and alpine regions in the Nordic countries, grasslands also play an important role in milk and meat production and food security. Certain grassland features and management practices may enhance their soil carbon sequestration potential. Semi-natural grasslands maintained by optimized livestock grazing are vital for aboveground biodiversity and show promise for belowground biodiversity and carbon sequestration potential. It is essential to assess the multiple functions of grasslands, particularly semi-natural grasslands, to facilitate the optimization of policy measures across policy areas. Climate and biodiversity policies should not counteract each other, as some do today. This essay addresses the multiple functions of grasslands and calls for more knowledge about carbon sequestration in Nordic grasslands. This will enable the management of these ecosystems to align with climate mitigation, maintain biodiversity, and satisfy the global need for increased food supply

Bonden sin kulturmarksflora for Vestlandet

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Krafttak for kysttorsken - Kunnskap for stedstilpasset gjenoppbygging av bestander, naturtyper og økosystem i Færder- og Ytre Hvaler nasjonalparker

Ytre Oslofjord har en unik kystnatur av svært stor verdi for både fastboende og tilreisende. Færder- og Ytre Hvaler nasjonalparker ligger side om side ytterst i fjorden, og skal sikre naturverdiene for kommende generasjoner. Nasjonalparkene har utformet egne forvaltningsplaner og -mål, som gjenspeiler et ønske om å legge best mulig til rette for at fiskearter, fugler, planter og insekter skal fortsette å trives innenfor parkenes grenser. Generelle mål for naturverdiene er at de skal opprettholdes med god økologisk funksjon, og et høyt biologisk mangfold.publishedVersio

The Nature Index: A General Framework for Synthesizing Knowledge on the State of Biodiversity

The magnitude and urgency of the biodiversity crisis is widely recognized within scientific and political organizations. However, a lack of integrated measures for biodiversity has greatly constrained the national and international response to the biodiversity crisis. Thus, integrated biodiversity indexes will greatly facilitate information transfer from science toward other areas of human society. The Nature Index framework samples scientific information on biodiversity from a variety of sources, synthesizes this information, and then transmits it in a simplified form to environmental managers, policymakers, and the public. The Nature Index optimizes information use by incorporating expert judgment, monitoring-based estimates, and model-based estimates. The index relies on a network of scientific experts, each of whom is responsible for one or more biodiversity indicators. The resulting set of indicators is supposed to represent the best available knowledge on the state of biodiversity and ecosystems in any given area. The value of each indicator is scaled relative to a reference state, i.e., a predicted value assessed by each expert for a hypothetical undisturbed or sustainably managed ecosystem. Scaled indicator values can be aggregated or disaggregated over different axes representing spatiotemporal dimensions or thematic groups. A range of scaling models can be applied to allow for different ways of interpreting the reference states, e.g., optimal situations or minimum sustainable levels. Statistical testing for differences in space or time can be implemented using Monte-Carlo simulations. This study presents the Nature Index framework and details its implementation in Norway. The results suggest that the framework is a functional, efficient, and pragmatic approach for gathering and synthesizing scientific knowledge on the state of biodiversity in any marine or terrestrial ecosystem and has general applicability worldwide

Grønnstruktur og biologisk mangfold - Noen problemstillinger og FoU-utfordringer

Denne rapporten presenterer noen viktige problemstillinger og FoU-utfordringer innen temaet ”biologisk mangfold knyttet til grønnstruktur”. Den grønne strukturen i byer og tettsteder kan ha stor betydning for det biologiske mangfoldet. Gamle trær og restarealer med lang kontinuitet er særlig viktige habitater. Biodiversiteten trues imidlertid bl.a. av fragmentering av slike habitater og av fremmede arter. Norge har gjennom Rio-konvensjonen forpliktet seg til å ta vare på biologisk mangfold, også i urbane strøk. Ivaretakelse av biologisk mangfold ved byutvikling forutsetter at man har god kunnskap om byens økologiske nettverk, hvordan landskapsstrukturen påvirker det stedegne biologiske mangfoldet, hvordan og i hvilken grad fremmede arter er en trussel, hvordan verdifulle habitater bør skjøttes m.v. Denne kunnskapen må komme tidlig inn i planprosessen. Rapporten gir også eksempel på hvordan kompetansen i Bioforsks kulturlandskapsgruppe kan være til nytte i denne sammenheng.publishedVersio