How much potential impact may agriculture land use in a protected area have on the habitats, species and ecological processes therein? By identifying protected areas with low pressure from agriculture, it is possible to highlight locations that are likely to better conserve the ecosystems, species and ecological processes that are associated to more pristine conditions and that are more sensitive to the direct and indirect impacts from this form of human land use. On the other hand, by identifying protected areas with a relatively high percentage of cropland, it is possible to suggest in which locations it is a priority to implement measures that enhance the compatibility of crop production with biodiversity conservation. These measures may include promoting less intensive agricultural practices or retaining natural vegetation remnants within and between crops, which may contribute to provide habitat resources and to facilitate the movement of species across otherwise impermeable landscapes.
Indicator unit: The API assesses the percentage of the surface of a protected area that is covered by cropland.
Area of interest: API has been calculated for all protected areas, countries for each terrestrial protected area of size ≥ 1 km2 and for the terrestrial parts of each coastal protected area of size ≥ 1 km2 as well as their 10 km unprotected buffer zone (for buffers, values are computed and reported only for protected areas of size ≥ 5 km2 ). We further show trends regarding the percentage of agricultural land at the country level.
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Data Uploaded by Luca Battistella using the Digital Observatory for Protected Areas Services (2022)
DOPA Agricultural Pressure Indicator (API)
Use and interpretation: This indicator can be used to assess the potential impact that agriculture may have on the biodiversity and ecological integrity of a protected area. There are several reasons why agricultural land use in a protected area may be of concern and lead to negative outcomes for the conservation of many of the habitats, species and ecological processes therein (see e.g. Green et al., 2005; Balmford, Green & Phalan, 2012; Cai & Pettenella, 2013). First, agriculture expansion is one of the main drivers of deforestation and habitat loss worldwide. Second, the input of pesticides and fertilizers may decrease habitat quality and cause declines in population sizes for many species, even at significant distances from the croplands. Third, agricultural activities such as tillage may affect soil structure and biodiversity. Fourth, agricultural land use can favor the abundance of more generalist, cosmopolitan species in the detriment of the specialist species that are associated to largely undisturbed habitats, which are usually those species of higher conservation concern, as well as promote the spread of invasive alien species. Although the API does not separately evaluate each of these pressures or potential effects, it provides a general assessment of the potential combined magnitude of all these impacts that may be associated to agricultural land use in a protected area.