How farming styles influence biodiversity maintenance in Austrian agricultural landscapes

Abstract

Austria is characterised by a high variety of different landscapes ranging from high mountain areas to continental lowlands. Wilderness areas as well as traditionally maintained agricultural landscapes contribute to Austria's biodiversity. Farming still is the main activity in rural areas, but it is now largely dependent on agro-environmental subsidies. We investigated the relationship between biodiversity and farming activities in selected Austrian agricultural landscapes. The negative effect of high land-use intensity on biodiversity on agricultural land could be confirmed. The concept of farming styles, which integrates human attitudes, farming objectives and economic success can be used to show the different ecological performances of farmers. A close link between mentality of farmers, land-use intensity and biodiversity could be established. Farmers who were highly production oriented supported the lowest nature values on their land, whereas both traditionally oriented and innovative farm businesses carried a higher potential to farm in concordance with the biodiversity of their landscape. The farming styles also differed in their dependency on subsidies. We conclude that agro-environmental subsidies, which are the main factor ensuring sustainable farming in less favoured areas in Austria, would have a far better effect if they were tailored to the individual needs of different regions and predominant farming styles.