Protection of biodiversity of free living birds and mammals in respect of the effects of pesticides

519 Pages·2014·8.1 MB·English

TEXTE

30/2014
Protection of biodiversity
of free living birds and
mammals in respect of the
effects of pesticides
| TEXTE | 30/2014
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH OF THE
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT,
NATURE CONSERVATION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY

Project No. (FKZ) 3710 63 411
Report No. (UBA-FB) 001830
Protection of biodiversity of free living
birds and mammals in respect of the
effects of pesticides

by
Teresa Jahn
Hermann Hötker
Michael-Otto-Institut im NABU, Forschungs- und Bildungszentrum für
Feuchtgebiete und Vogelschutz, Bergenhusen

Rainer Oppermann
Richard Bleil
Laura Vele
Institut für Agrarökologie und Biodiversität (IFAB), Mannheim

On behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (Germany)
UMWELTBUNDESAMT
This publication is only available online. It can be downloaded from
https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/protection-of-
biodiversity-of-free-living-birds .
The contents of this publication do not necessarily
reflect the official opinions.
ISSN 1862-4804
Study performed by: Michael-Otto-Institut im NABU, Forschungs- und Bildungszentrum für
Feuchtgebiete und Vogelschutz
Goosstroot 1
248861 Bergenhusen
Study completed in: May 2013
Publisher: Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt)
Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau-Roßlau
Germany
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email:
Abstract
Pesticides can affect wild-living bird and mammal species either directly by poisoning or
indirectly by removing food and shelter. In this report we focus on indirect effects and their
risk management.
After agriculture in Germany has become more intensive over the past decades, many
populations of farmland birds and mammals are in an unfavourable conservation status. For 27
farmland bird species and 22 farmland mammal species we compile trends, habitat (crop)
selection, threats and risk management measures. There is scientific-based evidence for indirect
effects of pesticides at the population level of four European farmland bird species and several
mammal species outside Europe. Data on diet and on habitat selection suggest that indirect
effects of pesticides may affect many more species. We develop an index of pesticide sensitivity
for farmland birds and mammals in Germany. According to expert opinion pesticides are
among the major causes for population declines of farmland birds and we provide supporting
evidence for this view.
We analyze risk management measures with respect to efficiency and acceptance by farmers
and authorities. At present agri-environmental schemes aiming to compensate for the negative
effects of modern agriculture cover only about 0.5 % of the arable land in Germany. We
develop a scheme of umbrella species to simplify risk management. We outline different
strategies for implementing an effective risk management and we calculate associated costs. A
levy on PPPs targeted to the implementation of a region-specific risk management would be
practicable at relatively low costs.
Kurzbeschreibung
Pestizide wirken auf Vögel und Säugetiere entweder direkt durch Vergiftung oder indirekt
durch Reduktion der Nahrung und der Deckung. In diesem Bericht behandeln wir vor allem
die indirekten Effekte und das dafür erforderliche Risikomanagement.
Nach einer jahrzehntelangen Intensivierung der Landwirtschaft in Deutschland befinden sich
viele Populationen von Vögeln und Säugetieren der Agrarlandschaft in einem schlechten
Erhaltungszustand. Für 27 Vogel- und 22 Säugerarten der Agrarlandschaft stellen wir Daten zu
Trend, Habitatwahl (Wahl der Feldfrucht), Bedrohungen und Risiko-Managementmaßnahmen
zusammmen. Die indirekte Wirkung von Pestiziden auf Populationsniveau ist für vier
europäische Agrarvogelarten und einige Säugerarten außerhalb Europas nachgewiesen. Daten
zur Nahrungs- und Habitatwahl lassen jedoch vermuten, dass zahlreiche weitere Arten
betroffen sind. Wir stellen einen Index zu Sensivität gegenüber indirekten Effekten von
Pestiziden in Deutschland vor. Nach Expertenmeinung gehören Pestizide zu den wichtigsten
Gründen für die Bestandsabnahmen bei Vögeln der Agrarlandschaft. Diese Sichtweise wird
durch weitere in diesem Bericht zusammengestellte Indizien unterstützt.
Wir untersuchen Risikomanagementmaßnahmen bezüglich ihrer Effizienz und ihrer Akzeptanz
bei Landwirten und Behörden. Derzeit umfassen Vertragsnaturschutzmaßnahmen, die negative
Auswirkungen der modernen Landwirtschaft kompensieren sollen, nur etwa 0.5% der
Ackerfläche Deutschlands, eine offensichtlich unzureichende Fläche. Wir schlagen ein
Zielartenkonzept vor um die Umsetzung des Risikomanagements zu erleichtern. Wir skizzieren
verschiedene Strategien zur Implementierung eines wirkungsvollen Risikomanagements und
vergleichen die Kosten. Eine Abgabe auf Pflanzenschutzmittel zur Finanzierung eines
regionalen Risikomanagements erscheint als die günstigste Lösung.
Protection of biodiversity of free living birds and mammals in respect of the effects of pesticides
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1.1 Selection of farmland bird and mammal species ........................................................... 1
1.1.2 Effects of pesticides on birds and mammals ................................................................... 4
1.2 Project aims & approach ......................................................................................................... 5
1.3 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 6
1.4 References................................................................................................................................. 6
2 Development of agricultural structures in Germany ................................................................. 9
2.1 The status today ....................................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Development over the past few decades ............................................................................10
2.2.1 Development of the intensity of land use .....................................................................13
2.2.2 Development of ecologically important structures and plots ....................................14
2.2.3 Relationships between land usage and plant protection ............................................18
2.3 Use of pesticides in Germany ...............................................................................................20
2.3.1 Overview of the use of pesticides in Germany .............................................................20
2.3.2 Digression - glyphosate as most used herbicide ...........................................................22
2.4 Intensity of use on different crops ......................................................................................23
2.5 Implications of the development of agricultural structures in Germany for
birds and mammals in the cultivated countryside ............................................................24
2.6 References...............................................................................................................................25
3 Bird and mammal species in agricultural landscapes .............................................................27
3.1 Population trends and conservation status ........................................................................27
3.1.1 Population trends and conservation status of birds.....................................................27
3.1.2 Population trend and conservation status of mammals ..............................................32
3.1.3 Conservation targets ........................................................................................................34
3.2 Habitat selection and crop-specific occurrence of farmland species ..............................38
3.2.1 Habitat selection and crop-specific occurrence of farmland bird species .................38
3.2.2 Habitat selection and crop-specific occurrence of farmland mammal species ........42
3.3 References...............................................................................................................................50
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Protection of biodiversity of free living birds and mammals in respect of the effects of pesticides
4 Effects of pesticides on farmland species ...................................................................................53
4.1 Review: Direct and indirect effects of pesticides on farmland bird and
mammal species and the impact on their populations ....................................................53
4.1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................53
4.1.2 Direct and indirect effects on farmland bird and mammal species ..........................55
4.1.3 Pesticide impact on farmland bird and mammal species on the population
level ...................................................................................................................................64
4.1.4 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................68
4.1.5 References .........................................................................................................................69
4.2 Pesticide sensitivity index for farmland bird and mammal species ...............................75
4.2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................75
4.2.2 Methods .............................................................................................................................75
4.2.3 Results & Discussion .........................................................................................................78
4.2.4 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................85
4.2.5 References .........................................................................................................................86
4.3 Impact of pesticide classes and application times.............................................................87
4.3.1 Pesticide classes ................................................................................................................87
4.3.2 Application times .............................................................................................................88
4.3.3 References .........................................................................................................................93
4.4 Impacts of indirect PPP effects in the context of an agricultural intensification .........95
4.4.1 Birds ...................................................................................................................................95
4.4.2 Mammals ...........................................................................................................................96
4.4.3 References ...................................................................................................................... 100
4.5 How do pesticides shape modern agriculture? .............................................................. 101
4.5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 101
4.5.2 Risk-management in pesticide-free conventional agriculture ................................. 101
4.5.3 Exploration of the effects of PPP-free farming on birds ........................................... 105
4.5.4 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 109
4.5.5 References ...................................................................................................................... 110
4.6 Conclusion: Evaluation of whether the current practice of PPP usage supports
conservation goals for affected species ............................................................................ 112
4.6.1 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 112
4.6.2 References ...................................................................................................................... 113
5 Risk management ...................................................................................................................... 114
5.1 Risk management measures (RMMs)................................................................................ 115
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Protection of biodiversity of free living birds and mammals in respect of the effects of pesticides
5.1.1 Description of possible RMMs ...................................................................................... 115
5.1.2 Evaluation of the suitability of RMMs ......................................................................... 148
5.1.3 Feasibility and acceptance ........................................................................................... 159
5.1.4 Overview of the ecological suitability of the measures and their practical
implementation ............................................................................................................ 173
5.1.5 References ...................................................................................................................... 177
5.2 Umbrella species ................................................................................................................. 184
5.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 184
5.2.2 Applicability of the umbrella species concept for risk management ..................... 186
5.2.3 References ...................................................................................................................... 190
5.3 Risk management strategies – implementation of risk management measures
into agricultural practice ................................................................................................... 191
5.3.1 Existing tools of risk reduction .................................................................................... 191
5.3.2 Designing a comprehensive risk management strategy .......................................... 197
5.3.3 Elaboration of a strategy to implement RMMs into agricultural practice on
a voluntary basis funded by a levy charged on PPP sales ....................................... 202
5.3.4 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 209
5.3.5 References ...................................................................................................................... 210
5.4 Cost-Benefit-Analysis ........................................................................................................... 212
6 Proposals and Recommendations for the PPP risk management in respect of
particularly endangered species ............................................................................................. 217
6.1 Current concepts of risk regulation ................................................................................. 217
6.2 Risk management for particularly endangered species ................................................ 218
6.2.1 Grey Partridge ................................................................................................................ 218
6.2.2 Red Kite .......................................................................................................................... 219
6.2.3 Skylark ............................................................................................................................. 221
6.2.4 Linnet .............................................................................................................................. 222
6.2.5 Corn Bunting ................................................................................................................. 223
6.2.6 Ortolan Bunting ............................................................................................................. 224
6.2.7 European Hamster ........................................................................................................ 226
6.2.8 Brown Hare .................................................................................................................... 227
6.3 References............................................................................................................................ 229
7 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 238
Annex I: Detailed species portraits – birds
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Protection of biodiversity of free living birds and mammals in respect of the effects of pesticides
Annex II: Detailed species portraits – mammals
Annex III: Tab. 5.1 Risk management measures
IV