FarmLife BD - Concept for Biodiversity Assessment

Project progress

The work was based on a comparison of existing concepts for biodiversity assessment on farms. Specifically examined and described in the interim report were (1) the life cycle assessment approach "SALCA-Biodiversity," (2) the "Biodiversity Points System," developed from the project "Scoring with Diversity – Farmers Revitalize Nature," and (3) the project "Agriculture for Biodiversity." Based on the evaluation of the concepts with regard to the biodiversity construct, the validation of the resulting point values, and practical testing, the Swiss "Biodiversity Points System" was chosen as the basis for further concept development. For the "Biodiversity Points System," the indicator species groups vascular plants, grasshoppers, butterflies, and birds were mapped on arable and grassland as part of a validation study. The concept has been in use on thousands of farms in Switzerland since 2010.

Final report

The final report presents the concept and describes its transfer and adaptation to Austrian conditions. Indicators of biodiversity include the management of farm land, potentially valuable habitats, and species diversity per se. The survey focuses on agricultural land use and its diversity, structural and landscape features, designated biodiversity areas, plant varieties and animal breeds, as well as feeding and fertilization management. The report describes the relevant parameters in the categories (a) farm land and its diversity, (b) management of grassland, arable land, other areas, and the farmstead, and (c) additional information on farm management.

The results describe the concept for integration into the existing FarmLife operational management concept.