Spatial congruence between organic farming and biodiversity related landscape features in Germany

Abstract

Poor spatial targeting of agri-environmental measures (AEMs) is frequently criticised as a major cause for insufficient biodiversity conservation effectiveness. For the horizontal measure organic farming (OF), targeting of remuneration is considered to be necessary because conservation effectiveness might be higher in structurally complex landscapes with high amounts of biodiversity related landscape features. In this article, we investigate the spatial congruence between OF and biodiversity related landscape features at the NUTS 3-regional level (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) in Germany. Using principal component analysis and generalised least square models, we tested the predictor variable value for proportions of permanent pastures, (semi-) natural habitats, Natura 2000 sites, protected habitats and forests as well as the number of the total and endangered plant species. We found OF to be more prevalent in regions with favourable landscape conditions for increasing biodiversity on farmland, i.e. regions with higher proportion of permanent pastures, (semi-) natural habitats and protected habitats. Our results suggest that, at present, conservation potentially benefits from the general funding of OF in Germany without spatial targeting as OF is already concentrated in structurally complex landscapes. Given the assumption that targeted AEMs cause additional administrative efforts, the efficiency of the general funding seems to be sufficient.