The fate of biodiversity is intimately linked to agricultural development. Policy reform is an important driver of changes in agricultural land-use, but there is considerable spatial variation in response to policy and its potential impact on biodiversity. We review the links between policy, land-use and biodiversity and advocate a more integrated approach. Ecologists need to recognize that wildlife-friendly farming is not the only land-use strategy that can be used to conserve biodiversity and to research alternative options such as land sparing. There is also a need for social scientists and ecologists to bring their approaches together, so that land-use change and its consequences can be investigated in a more holistic way.

This study was conducted at Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia from Feb 2001 to April 2002 for field study, and Jul to Aug 2003 for GIS [geographical information system] analysis. Factors affecting land use changes at the individual family and village factor levels of the 15 buffer zone villages associated with four major vegetation types, namely lowland, monsoon, lower montane, and anthropogenic of Lore Lindu National Park were examined. This study aimed to determine the dominant driving factors for land use change from natural forest to non-forest, and its implications, on biodiversity. Village surveys were conducted to gather individual family data, i.e. family size, educational attainment, agricultural land possession in the village, agricultural income, ranger activity and agricultural land inside the National Park areas, using semi-structured interview. General village information included population, migration, distance to the city, and ground check for potential agricultural land in the village through key informant interviews and direct field observation. Forest monitoring with a transact of 50 m apart and length up to 1,300 meter was established for each village. The number of trees with less than 50 cm dbh, trees with 20-50 cm dbh, rattan clumps with stem less 8 m, rattan stumps, and vegetation types were used as proxy for biodiversity status. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the dominant factors of land use changes at the individual family and village levels. Individual or a combination of the nine driving variables, namely population, family size, education attainment, number of migrant families, range activity, agricultural land possession, agricultural income, potential agricultural land in the village, and road distance to the city were tested. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between land use change and biodiversity status. Net present value of the natural forest and non-forest land uses were computed in the benefit and cost analysis. The dominant factors for land use change at the village level were migrants and education, and agricultural land possession at the individual family level. Hence, changes in forest structure resulted to a negative effect in biodiversity status. The net present value (NPV) of land use change from natural forest to non-forest was negative. This implies that the area should be better retained as a natural forest. Collaborative management with appropriate zonation implementation is one feasible solution to long-term biodiversity conservation in Lore Lindu National Park.

BIOPRESS is a EC-FP5 research project to support GMES `Global Monitoring for Environment and Security¿. It aims to provide the EU-user community with quantitative information on how changes in land cover and land use have affected the environment and biodiversity in Europe. This report is dealing with the results of the first phase of the BIOPRESS project for the Netherlands. The report concentrates on the selection, acquisition, processing and interpretation of recent and historical aerial photographs, and the production of land use change statistics for the Netherlands. Land cover and land cover change statistics were derived for five windows (30km by 30km) for 1950 and 1990 (scale 1:100.000) and nine transects (2km by 15km) for 1950, 1990 and 2000 (scale 1:20.000). Subsequently, the historic land cover dynamics have been analysed within the Natura2000 sites as well as outside these areas, including descriptions of land cover changes and their related pressures (intensification, abandonment, afforestation and urbanisation) influencing biodiversity.

BIOPRESS is a EC-FP5 research project to support GMES `Global Monitoring for Environment and Security¿. It aims to provide the EU-user community with quantitative information on how changes in land cover and land use have affected the environment and biodiversity in Europe. This report is dealing with the results of the first phase of the BIOPRESS project for the Netherlands. The report concentrates on the selection, acquisition, processing and interpretation of recent and historical aerial photographs, and the production of land use change statistics for the Netherlands. Land cover and land cover change statistics were derived for five windows (30km by 30km) for 1950 and 1990 (scale 1:100.000) and nine transects (2km by 15km) for 1950, 1990 and 2000 (scale 1:20.000). Subsequently, the historic land cover dynamics have been analysed within the Natura2000 sites as well as outside these areas, including descriptions of land cover changes and their related pressures (intensification, abandonment, afforestation and urbanisation) influencing biodiversity.

This report describes the biodiversity for the Pechora River basin Integrated System Management (PRISM). The Pechora River Basin, situated just west of the Ural Mountains, Russia, consists of vast boreal forests and tundra landscapes, partly pristine and undisturbed. The concept of biodiversity is discussed and parameters are selected which are descriptive for biodiversity at both the landscape and stand level. Based on these parameters the biodiversity is assessed to describe or quantify impacts of certain forest or land use exploitation scenarios. The chosen parameters for biodiversity should therefore be meaningful for the expected or possible changes. The biodiversity is described, based on field data which was collected for vascular plants, lichens, mosses, invertebrates, birds, mammals, fishes, reptiles and amphibians and benthos. For the different taxa it is described and discussed what the biodiversity is of the Pechora River Basin, for the different land units that have been defined. The results are extrapolated to the River Basin level

Agriculture and forestry have transformed European Landscape almost to a full extent over millennia. A major consequence is that changing human activities have shaped ecological systems and the continuation of these activities is, in many instances, a prerequisite for the conservation of ecological characteristics. The construction of biodiversity by human activities since the Neolithic can be studied through archaeological records and reconstruction of land use history based on archival materials and historical cadastral maps. The case of biodiversity is striking, as many species are so dependent on historical land uses that they vanish in case of drastic land use changes either in the direction of abandonment or in the direction of more intensive usages. In this context, the understanding of the role of history, social and policy regimes are of overriding importance as an entry point to study biodiversity. The transitions from the area-based energy system of agricultural societies to the fossil-fuel based industrial energy system is a major driver of these changes. The Zones Atelier Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network in France is an example of a national network of research sites that provides an opportunity to analyse the effects of climatic differences and local practices on biodiversity. But an additional network across the European Union is necessary to understand the role of high-level policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP is a main driver of land use in agricultural/ rural landscapes across Europe. It became the rule in Western Europe at different dates since 1970 and is now implemented in Central and Eastern Europe where agriculture has been collectively or State run till 1990. Other relevant policies include the aim to double renewable energy use, including biomass, as stated in the EU white book on renewable energy, and European policies on spatial planning, trans-european networks (TENs), etc. In this paper we describe the development of national and European networks of sites designed to address questions related to biodiversity and society. The eventual aim is to establish a pan-European network of LT(S)ER sites (where the S stands for socio-economic) through which we can understand the main policy and socio-economic drivers affecting biodiversity loss.

This study combines ecological and social criteria in land use planning in order to identify "hot spot" areasand subsequently prescribe policies and management options. It demonstrates that biodiversity corridor approach would conserve biodiversity better than the present concentric zoning paradigm. The flora and fauna surveys used protocols on research design and sampling. Areas at lower elevation have slightly greater biodiversity indices (BI) values. Although BI values were from alpha diversity level, findings underscored the importance of preserving plant and animal species especially "hot spot" areas. The social survey used interview schedules, questionnaire and focused group discussion. Environmentally aware stakeholders were perceptive in preserving biodiversity, creating corridors and effectively delineating land for Man and land for Nature. Majority of stakeholder respondents (83-96%) viewed the biodiversity corridor as very important. They proposed 50m on both sides of rivers/creeks as riparian corridors. At the farm level, 90% of PO/FEC [peoples' organization]/[forest-edge communities] respondents indicated willingness to reserve portions of their farmlots for biodiversity conservation. GIS [geographical information system] mapping revealed the hot spots were at lower elevation areas and considered very critical. This is where biodiversity is high but also absorbs heaviest human pressure. If concentric zoning paradigm is applied, it shall have extirpated 21 avifaunal species, 8 mammalian fauna and threatens 283 plant species among which are 196 tree species and 128 endemic species. Reorientation of biodiversity project implementors is needed on the importance of restoration and preservation of some natural habitats which are high in biodiversity at lower elevations. It is recommended that environmental zoning be adopted.

Biodiversity is a term given to the variety of life on earth and the natural patterns it forms. It is often classified/understood at three levels, which are genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. Genetic diversity represents the heritable variation within and between populations of organisms. Species diversity is measured by the total number of species in a given study area. Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of different habitats. Evidence shows that, there is a highly complex relationship between species and ecosystem diversities. It is these relationships that determine the extent of biodiversity in rangelands. Eastern Africa rangelands cover a large area of land (88% of Kenya, 83% of Tanzania, 40% of Uganda, 56% of Ethiopia and almost all of Somalia, Eritera and Djibouti). They are characterized by a high biodiversity, which is economically important both locally and nationally. A part from this role, rangelands serve for a number of functions such as ecological, ethical and the protection of gene pool. They are especially important, however, as the principal support for pastoralists, foragers and farmers dependent on rain-fed crops whereby a large number of them still live a basically subsistence existence. The Eastern African indigenous knowledge in management of rangeland biodiversity involves several techniques. Pastoralists have, over many generations, developed communal tenure and land use practices; and they also have their own herd management, range management and well management practices, which help them to successfully use the rangelands on a sustainable basis.

The complex dynamic interactions between land resources and society have to be taken into account when planning land use and managing land resources. Simulation models and participatory modeling can be ideal tools to improve our understanding of these complex interactions. For several decades, land use in Malinau district was dictated by the central government through the allocation of land to agriculture, timber concessions and mining companies. Now, with a policy of decentralization in place, district governments have a greater say in the allocation of land use. As a part of the district government development programs to increase district revenue, several forest areas are likely to be allocated for plantation production, but the proposed creation of a “conservation district” will require some level of forest protection. Using a combination of empirical data and stakeholder’s participation, a computer model using STELLA software was developed to investigate long term land use, district revenue and livelihood dynamics. Indonesian forests are globally important biodiversity hotspots. However, we hypothesize that land use changes, in which forests are converted to plantation and other intensive land uses, are to the benefit of most key stakeholders that can drive these changes. The modeling results show that the imperative for large-scale development (i.e. plantation and other intensive land use systems) is enormous, as such systems will yield significant benefits to local authorities and local people. While there will undoubtedly be losers with such development (e.g. hunter-gatherers relying on non-timber forest products; those who are displaced by plantation expansion; the conservation lobby), the current incentives are likely to drive forest conversion.