Scaling the benefits of agri-environment schemes for biodiversity

Abstract

Key lessons • Agri-environment schemes have mixed outcomes for biodiversity, and more monitoring is needed particularly for certain taxonomic groups. • Agri-environment scheme effectiveness is heavily reliant on the spatial scale of implementation, and addressing this at local and landscape scales is critical for advancing their application for conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. • At local scales, information about how species respond to environmental features, as well as the impact of management actions, could improve site selection and effectiveness of management prescriptions. • At landscape scales, the offsite benefits of agri-environment schemes could be enhanced by better understanding the impact of surrounding landscape context. • Incorporating information about the patterns of diversity over large areas, as well as the role and sensitivity of habitat metrics to biodiversity, could greatly enhance the biodiversity benefits of agri-environment schemes.