Deforestation is an environmental concept that every secondary school student is familiar with. Many scenarios project continuing deforestation in tropical ecosystems however the situation in Europe is in fact the opposite, Pereira et al. (2010). The amount of forest and scrub land in Europe is now increasing.
Before deforestation the pre-neolithic landscape of Europe was a mosaic of forest, grasslands and scrub maintained by herbivorous mega fauna and forest fires. Then Homo sapiens got involved. The rise of classical civilizations accelerated early clearings and this continued into the Middle Ages, with an estimated 50-70% of cover lost in this time-frame, Navarro and Pereira, (2012). During this time species abundance, diversity and range were all significantly reduced. The mosaic of wilderness was replaced with an urbanized, managed, agricultural landscape. However once this stage had been reached, European landscapes have continued to change.
The decline of agriculture
Traditional agricultural landscapes are significant in European environmental policy. The European Habitats Directive lists 231 habitat types, 41 of which are associated with low intensity agricultural management e.g. hay meadows, Halada et al. (2011). However since the mid 20th century the agricultural landscape of Europe has been in flux. Since 1961 there has been a 17% reduction in the rural population of Europe and the number of livestock declined by 25% between 1990 and 2010.
Marginal agricultural areas have been subject to a spiral of decline throughout the 20th century and arguably longer. Land of low productivity, competition from foreign markets and better opportunities in urban areas cause depopulation. With this comes a dereliction of services and ultimately deprivation. As long as the young continue to migrate to cities the populations of marginal agricultural areas will continue to age and decline, Keenleyside and Tucker, (2010).
European policy has been to try and maintain these landscapes and reverse or halt the decline in population through subsidies. The common agricultural policy designates these marginal areas as 'less favourable areas' (LFAs). In 1975 33% of agricultural land in the EU was categorised as an LFA. In 2005 this had increased to 50%. 12.6 billion euros of payments were made to farmers in LFAs between 2007-2013, propping up an unprofitable industry with the goal of maintaining the cultural landscape. The question I wish to address is could this money be better spent?
Rewilding, an alternative...
Rewilding is the passive management of ecological succession. Succession on abandoned farmland will lead to scrub and in most cases, when left long enough, woodland. The map below is from Navarro and Pereira (2012) and shows the hotspots of abandonment and rewilding (areas that are projected to rewild or become aforested by 2030). A saddening lack of green on the UK.
But what are the benefits of rewilding and can the significant challenges be overcome? As discussed in a previous post one argument against rewilding is based on the IDH, however I feel that this hypothesis is flawed and empirical evidence supports this view. There is also significant opposition from farmers who worry about predation of their livestock by large carnivores, between 1992 and 1998 an average 2 million euros a year was spent compensating farmers. This figure will be higher now and will likely increase as more areas rewild. Also since the 1960s the abundance and distribution of large European carnivores has increased, Enserink and Vogel (2006), good news for some but not all.
I think the best argument for rewilding and the best chance of convincing sceptics is based on considering the ecosystem services such a process will provide. The supporting service of biodiversity will increase, allowing for a range of benefits in regulating and cultural services. I have already highlighted the increase in large carnivores but re-vegetation also increases soil moisture and biomass content increasing the numbers of worms and insects. This has positive impacts on bird abundance and diversity, Russo (2006). Carbon sequestration is provided by the increase in vegetation helping mitigate climate change and soil nutrients are restored. Re-vegetated land provides better protection against flooding and the reintroduction of keystone species has ecosystem wide benefits (see the example of the wolf here).
The rewilded landscapes will provide opportunities for recreation and tourism, reinvigorating deprived areas and providing sustainable, meaningful employment. I am convinced as a species we have lost our fundamental connection to, and appreciation of, nature and believe that the restoration of large areas to 'wild' land will go a long way to reconnecting us. Also because rewilding is so passive, once the initial recovery has begun, the tangible and more spiritual benefits can be attained for limited levels of investment.
The UK is a crowded little island and rewilding on the scale expected in parts of Europe will never be realistic, but it should seriously be considered for large parts of our landscape. Imagine a return of the Caledonian forest across huge areas of the Highlands or Oak and mixed woodland carpeting the moors and heaths of South West England and the North. I wholeheartedly believe our country would be a better place for it.
References
Enserink, M. and Vogel, G. (2006) "The carnivore comeback." Science. 314: 746-749
Halada, L. Evans, D. Romao, C. and Petersen, J-E. (2011) "Which habitats of European importance depend on agricultural practices?". Biodiversity and Conservation. 20 (11): 2365-78.
Keenleyside C. and Tucker G. (2010) "Farmland abandonment in the EU: an assessment of trends and prospects. London. WWF and IEEP. 97pp.
Navarro, L. and Pereira, M. (2012) "Rewilding Abandoned Landscapes in Europe". Ecosystems. 15 900-912
Pereira, HM., Leadley, PW., Proenca, V., Alkemade, R., Scharlemann, JPW., Fernandez-Manjarres, FP., Araujo, MB., Balvanera, P., Biggs, R., Cheung, WWL., Chini, L., Cooper, HD., Gilman, E., Guenette, S., Hurtt GC., Huntingdon, HP., Mace, GM., Oberdorff, T., Revenga, C., Rodrigues, P., Scholes, R., Sumaila, UR. and Walpole, M. (2010) "Scenarios for global biodiversity in the 21st century" Science. 330 1496-501.
Russo, D. (2006) "Effects of land abandonment on animal species in Europe: conservation and management implications" Integrated assessment of vulnerable ecosystems under global change in the EU. Project report.
No comments:
Post a Comment