There is a very interesting paper (Gabriel et al. 2010. Scale matters: the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales. Ecol.Lett. 13:858-869), which actually evaluate the effects of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales (i.e., from plots within fields to regions, including farms). I think you will find there a good example of biodiversity metrics comparable across scales

Perhaps you can see the Fermando Funes works in Cuba

Simon, if you can understand french and are also interested in plant diversity, you could have a look at this paper. There is an abstract and figure/table legends are in english:

Farruggia A, Dumont B, Jouven M, Baumont R & Loiseau P (2006). La diversité végétale à l'échelle de l'exploitation en fonction du chargement dans un système bovin allaitant du Massif Central. Fourrages 188: 477-493

Nombreuses sont les références sur les effets des modes de gestion sur la biodiversité à l'échelle de la parcelle, mais peu de travaux abordent la biodiversité à l'échelle de l'exploitation. Ce travail étudie la diversité végétale dans des exploitations allaitantes herbagères de montagne dans le nord du Cantal. L'objectif était de préciser le niveau de diversité rencontrée selon le chargement à l'échelle des parcelles et des exploitations, et d'établir des liens entre l'utilisation des prairies et leur diversité. Des relevés botaniques ont été réalisés par faciès dans les parcelles de 4 exploitations (chargements de 0,7 à 1,2 UGB/ha) et ont permis d'évaluer la diversité spécifique et la composition fonctionnelle en graminées. La richesse spécifique à l'échelle de l'exploitation et de la parcelle augmente lorsque le chargement diminue mais la gamme de diversité au sein des parcelles est plus grande sur l'exploitation au chargement intermédiaire. Les types fonctionnels de graminées rencontrés dans les prairies ont été mis en relation avec le chargement et les pratiques. Dans les prairies pâturées, la plus grande richesse spécifique observée serait liée à la présence de plusieurs faciès et à un apport en équivalent azote minéral moins élevé que dans les prairies fauchées.

Dear Elena, Antonio and Bertrand

Thank you for your valuable advises. I red the recomanded papers with interest. They are very useful.

Simon, I suggest you also have a look at Kovacs-Hostyanszki et al. (2013) Earthworms, spiders and bees as indicators of habitat quality and management in low-input farming region - A whole farm approach. Ecological Indicators 33: 111-120. We are currently involved in a project called Indibio which aims to develop indicators at the farm level, but papers are not ready yet.

I think the CLM manual can be useful:

CLM is a Dutch institution bringing together farmers, ecologists and others and developing new appraches for biodiversity in agricultuural areas. They use this yardstick and have information about the results, too.

Manual

for the GAIA biodiversity yardstick

As a farmer you can use the GAIA biodiversity yardstick (a free internet tool) to get an idea of the on-farm biodiversity. The yardstick makes biodiversity measurable and comparable (with benchmarks). The biodiversity yardstick consists of 40 questions on 6 themes.

1.Crop and animal varieties used

2.General management applied with biodiversity benefits (crop protection, nutrient and soil management)

3.Productive areas under targeted nature management (extensive cropping, postponed mowing, etcetera)

4.Area and management of non-productive elements in the field (water courses, hedgerows, etcetera)

5.Management of natural reserves

6.Green area and management on the farmyard

In most cases you can click a button next a set of possible answers. The answers define scores for the 6 biodiversity themes and scores for their (positive) effect on 11 categories of flora and fauna relevant for agriculture areas. Besides this, surface areas of nature elements on the farm are shown. These surfaces don’t influence the mentioned scores.

Getting started

To enter the Gaia biodiversity yardstick, you need to register. A password will be generated automatically and sent to you through email. This password will not only protect your data but you will be also able to adjust your data anytime.

After registration you can record your farm data in approximate 20 minutes time.

When you have finished a form, you should click the button “save form”. It is possible to stop recording after clicking “save form” and to continue recording at any later time.

Once completely recorded, the programme will calculate your scores. You may print your score charts. Your score will become available to CLM as anonymous result and may be used in general benchmarks. CLM will never publish individuals scores without permission of the concerning farm.

More information

The Gaia tool is being set up as mother system, from which more specific instruments can be further developed. Targeted at particular countries, regions or crop systems. Hence the tool's name Gaia (mother earth). The prototype is being developed for the Netherlands, using species groups and management practices that are typical for a relatively intensive type of dairy, arable and vegetable farming in Northwest Europe. The prototype can therefore be readily applied in the Netherlands. Minor additions will make it applicable in other countries like Germany, Denmark and Belgium. A further step could be the enhancement of the tool for other production systems. This would require a broadening of the possible measures (varieties/breeds, management) and output (species groups). One remaining limitation, however, is the unsuitability of the tool for very extensive systems, where farmland and nature areas are hard to distinguish. In other words: Gaia is made for systems aimed primarily at agricultural production.

Also see an example of a poster with individual results (pdf) related to group results as can be procuded bij CLM.

Read or download general information about the yardstick and the application (pdf)

For questions and remarks, please contact CLM

0031 345 470 700

begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0031 345 470 700 Vrij end_of_the_skype_highlighting

•Joost Lommen, [email protected] or

•Henk Kloen, [email protected]

Copyright & liabilityThe data of the GAIA biodiversity yardstick are property of CLM, and CLM has full copyrights. It is prohibited to apply (parts of) the GAIA biodiversity yardstick for any other use than for own use, and to reproduce or to save (parts of) the GAIA biodiversity yardstick in an electronic system without asking permission of the owner.

CLM does all it can to keep the information right and up to date. CLM is not responsible for possible negative results or damage that can occur as an effect of the use of the information of the yardstick.

I have conducted a study about agrobiodiversity characteristics in to different ecologies;

I wish they can be useful for you:

Article A multidisciplinary study of rural homegardens in Basht, Sou...

Article An evaluation of agrobiodiversity in home gardens of two eco...