?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Environmental+and+biodiversity+impacts+of+organic+farming+in+the+hills+and+uplands+of+Wales&rft.creator=Fowler%2C+Susan&rft.creator=Frost%2C+David&rft.creator=de+Carle%2C+Caroline&rft.subject=+Biodiversity+and+ecosystem+services&rft.description=1.+Organic+farming+is+based+on+principles+of+co-existence+with+natural+systems%2C+the+minimisation+of+pollution+and+damage+to+the+environment%2C+and+the+promotion+of+the+health+of+soil%2C+plant+and+animal+to+produce+healthy+food+with+high+standards+of+animal+welfare+and+respect+for+the+wider+social+and+ecological+impacts+of+the+agricultural+system.%0D%0A2.+Organic+Farming+has+become+an+important+aspect+of+EU+agri-environment+policy.+Since+the+implementation+of+EC+Reg.+2078%2F92+the+EU+promotes+organic+farming+explicitly+on+its+positive+effects+on+the+environment.%0D%0A3.+The+environmental+and+biodiversity+benefits+of+organic+systems+in+the+lowlands+for+mixed+farming+is+generally+accepted+(Shepherd%2C+2003)+but+similar+benefits+for+upland+systems+have+not+been+identified.+This+report+has+been+produced+by+OCW+with+funding+from+CCW+to+address+this+gap.+Where+relevant%2C+means+to+ensure+the+beneficial+impacts+through+changes+to+agri-environment+schemes%2C+organic+standards%2C+and+education+and+dissemination+are+identified.%0D%0A4.+Hill+and+uplands+are+characterised+as+areas+over+200m+above+sea+level+where+the+physical+landscape+results+in+production+constraints.%0D%0A5.+Biodiversity+losses+linked+to+changes+in+hill+and+upland+agriculture+include+the+erosion+of+genetic+diversity+in+farmed+livestock+and+crops+as+well+as+in+wildlife+and+flora%2C+a+reduction+in+habitat%2C+soil+and+wildlife+diversity+and+the+loss+of+local+knowledge+and+farming+culture.%0D%0A6.+The+organic+approach+to+sustainable+agriculture+in+hill+or+upland+systems+is+through+the+use+of+multi+species+swards+and+mixed+stocking.%0D%0A7.+The+report+identifies+potential+points+of+difference+between+organic+and+conventional+management+practices+with+regard+to+hill+and+upland+farming+and+highlights+research+requirements+to+confirm+or+explore+those+potentials.%0D%0A8.+Conventional+farms+can+adopt+any+or+all+of+the+practices+of+the+organic+farming+system%2C+but+the+engagement+with+the+entire+system+and+annual+inspections+are+specific+to+the+organic+farmer.%0D%0A9.+The+impacts+are+not+just+determined+by+the+system+of+organic+regulations+and+but+also+by+the+management+ability+and+technical+skills+of+the+farmer+and+workers.%0D%0A10.+The+practices+on+organic+livestock+farms+identified+that+may+differ+from+conventional+and+have+direct+biodiversity+or+environmental+impacts+are%3A+lower+stocking+rates+(overall+manure+loading+maximum+of+170kg%2FN%2Fha%2Fyr)%3B+an+adjustment+of+the+stocking+balance+(increasing+ratio+of+cattle+to+sheep)%3B+keeping+indigenous+breeds+and+strains+adapted+to+the+environmental+conditions+on+the+farm%3B+limitation+on+products+to+control+external+parasites%3B+reduction+and+restriction+on+the+use+of+prophylactic+veterinary+medicines%3B+the+use+of+foragebased+diets%3B+storage+and+use+of+slurries%2C+manures+and+composts%2C+and+constraints+on+the+import+and+export+of+nutrients.%0D%0A11.+Organic+practices+in+management+of+grassland+and+crops+identified+that+may+differ+from+conventional+and+have+direct+biodiversity+or+environmental+impacts+are%3A+cessation+of+N+fertiliser+use%3B+restriction+on+P+%26+K+use%3B+use+of+lime+to+maintain+pH%3B+use+of+clovers+and+herbs+in+grass+leys%3B+cessation+of+use+of+chemical+pesticides+and+all+herbicides%3B+mechanical+and+manual+weed+control+and+sensitive++and+timely+cultivations%3B+the+use+of+mixed+farm+systems+and+rotations+on+in-bye+land%3B+the+use+of+cover+crops+and+undersowing%3B+the+use+of+green+manures.%0D%0A12.+Organic+regulations+do+not+require+habitat+creation%2C+but+standards+state%2C+%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%9Cthat+concern+for+the+environment+should+manifest%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%9D%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A6%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%9Cin+high+standards+of+conservation+management+throughout+the+organic+holding%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%9D.%0D%0ADiscussion%0D%0A13.+Apart+from+practices+that+impact+directly+on+biodiversity+or+the+environment%2C+each+management+decision+on+the+farm+will+have+knock-on+effects+that+have+their+own+consequences%2C+for+example+welfare+standards+for+livestock+require+bedding+materials+and+greater+housing+space.%0D%0A14.+Organic+farms+operating+solely+in+the+hills+and+uplands+can+only+be+part+of+a+system.+Use+of+in-bye+land+or+having+a+relationship+with+lowland+holdings+to+provide+winter-feed+and+forage+is+necessary+to+comply+with+regulations.+This+will+increase+the+amount+of+lowland+managed+organically%2C+bringing+widely+recognised+environmental+benefits.%0D%0A15.+Organic+agriculture+is%2C+by+legal+definition%2C+a+system+of+production+and+is+based+on+principles+and+uses+practices+adopted+to+optimise+the+health+of+the+system.+Any+farmer+may+adopt+individual+practices%2C+and+the+Tir+Gofal+scheme+provides+an+opportunity+for+farmers+to+provide+positive+conservation+measures%2C+whether+conventional+or+organic.+Farming+under+the+EU+Regulation+defining+Organic+farming+provides+assurance+to+the+end+consumer+that+the+system+used+to+produce+or+process+the+food+product+was+according+to+that+system.+This+provides+a+reliable+means+for+consumers+to+support+a+system+of+agriculture+that+fits+more+closely+with+their+expectations+than+intensive+systems.%0D%0A16.+Any+advantages+of+lower+stocking+rates+and+mixed+stocking+will+only+be+maintained+while+organic+farms+are+viable.+Organic+labelling+provides+an+opportunity+for+consumers+to+make+a+positive+choice+for+high+welfare%2C+environmentally+benign+systems%3B+however+the+difficulties+of+marketing%2C+the+lack+of+consumer+awareness+of+food+production+issues+and+unwillingness+to+pay+are+barriers+to+access+to+premium+markets+for+many+producers.%0D%0AConclusions%3A%0D%0A17.+The+potential+benefits+of+individual+practices+outlined+in+the+document+are+often+clear%2C+but+there+are+currently+few+data+to+confirm+the+extent+of+some+of+the+practices+that+may+have+most+beneficial+impact.+The+need+for+data+on+actual+practices+of+the+organic+farmers+in+the+hills+and+uplands+is+therefore+highlighted.%0D%0A18.+Few+Standards+changes+are+recommended%2C+however+the+monitoring+of+derogations+to+standards+and+use+of+restricted+veterinary+inputs+is+recommended.%0D%0A19.+Research+and+development+needs%2C+technical%2C+education+and+dissemination%2C+and+agri-environment+policy+issues+which+may+establish%2C+ensure%2C+or+enhance+the+environmental+and+biodiversity+impacts+of+organic+farming+in+the+hills+and+uplands+are+outlined.%0D%0A20.+Infrastructure+work+to+integrate+hill+and+upland+and+lowland+systems+is+necessary+to+facilitate+organic+farming+in+the+uplands%3B+this+may+assist+the+viability+of+lowland+organic+holdings%3A+the+environmental+benefits+of+which+are+established.&rft.contributor=Fowler%2C+Susan&rft.date=2004-03&rft.type=Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10828%2F1%2Fenvimpactsuplands.pdf&rft.identifier=Fowler%2C+Susan%3B+Frost%2C+David+and+de+Carle%2C+Caroline+(2004)+Environmental+and+biodiversity+impacts+of+organic+farming+in+the+hills+and+uplands+of+Wales.+[+Unpublished%2C+]&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10828%2F