"Agricultural landscapes have the potential to bring people and nature together in ways that support human wellbeing and sustain valuable biodiversity. When we get it wrong, however, we create landscapes that harm biodiversity and satisfy only the narrowest of human needs. There is a lot at stake in these landscapes and increasing environmental pressures globally increase the risks. This edited volume brings together an outstanding selection of experts to help us to understand how it is possible to get better outcomes for nature and people, considering principles practice and policy." Professor Saul Cunningham, Fenner School of Environment and Society - Australian National University, Australia
Despite recent efforts, agricultural production continues to threaten biodiversity, disrupt delivery of key ecosystem services and contribute to climate change. A more regenerative approach is required to enable farmers to restore and work with the ecosystem services that underpin sustainable farming and food production. Biodiversity lies at the heart of this process.
Managing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: Conservation, restoration and rewilding considers the range of techniques that can be implemented to improve biodiversity in farmland. It synthesises current research on the best ways to plan, implement and monitor ecological restoration projects as well as the role of government agri-environment schemes. The book also assesses what we know about the use and impact of individual conservation practices, such as field margins and hedgerows, and ways of successfully rewilding farmland.
Through a comprehensive and authoritative exploration of current research and best practice, the book promises to be a 'go-to' manual for key actors across the agri-food supply chain involved in protecting and promoting biodiversity and the ecosystem services which biodiversity underpins.
Featuring contributions from an international range of subject experts, the book will be a standard reference for researchers in agroecology, conservation and environmental science, farmers, agronomists and consultants, as well as government and other agencies supporting farmland conservation and restoration projects.
Dr Nick Reid is Emeritus Professor in Ecosystem Management and former Head of the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England, Australia. He is internationally renowned for his research on landscape revegetation, ecosystem restoration and management of biodiversity in production landscapes.
Dr Rhiannon Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management in the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England. Her research focuses particularly on the measurement and management of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Australian agricultural sector.
