Organic farms 'best for wildlife'

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Organic farms 'best for wildlife'

 

 

 

Organic farms are better for wildlife than those run conventionally, according

to a study covering 180 farms from Cornwall to Cumbria.

The organic farms were found to contain 85% more plant species, 33% more bats,

17% more spiders and 5% more birds.

 

Scientists - from Oxford University, the British Trust for Ornithology, and the

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology - spent five years on the research.

 

Funded by the government, it was the largest ever survey of organic farming.

 

" The exclusion of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers from organic is a

fundamental difference between systems, " the study says.

 

Other key differences found on the organic farms included smaller fields, more

grasslands and hedges that are taller, thicker and on average 71% longer.

 

Dr Lisa Norton, of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, said: " Hedges are full of

native, berry-producing shrubs, which are great for insects and the birds and

bats that feed on them. "

 

Increased biodiversity was a " happy by-product " of sustainable farming practices

and farmers working with " natural processes " to increase productivity, she

added.

 

The fact the organic arable farms were more likely to have livestock on them

also made them richer habitats for wildlife.

 

The study's lead author, British Trust for Ornithology habitat research director

Dr Rob Fuller, told BBC News: " There were very large benefits right across the

species spectrum. "

 

The study had looked at a " very, very high " proportion of England's organic

arable farms, he said.

 

More organic farming would help " restore biodiversity within agricultural

landscapes " , Dr Fuller added.

 

" Less than 3% of English farmland is organic so there is plenty of scope for an

increase in area. "

 

Soil Association policy manager Gundula Azeez said: " A greater area of

organically-managed land in the UK would help restore the farmland wildlife that

has been lost from our countryside in recent decades with intensive farming. "

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4740609.stm

 

 

 

Caroline Collard