Developing biodiversity monitoring tools for use at the farm scale: Concepts, indicator sets and operational tools

Summary

Several farm-based “biodiversity monitoring tools” (BMTs) have emerged in recent decades, responding to a need by various stakeholder groups. In this chapter, we provide a) an overview of issues in designing biodiversity indicators, and b) in-depth accounts of examples of three different types of BMTs: two dedicated indicator sets ( “Credit Point System” and “Biodiversity Performance Tool”); biodiversity indicators in a farm sustainability assessment tool (the SMART-Farm Tool); and Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodologies for biodiversity. Farm-level BMTs rarely observe species or habitats directly but use management and area-based proxies. Only in the case of LCIA are impacts translated into predicted direct impacts to biodiversity (changes in regional/global extinction risks). While potential exists for innovation, many BMTs already exist and have been applied in decision-making processes. Strengthening this process to enhance monitoring at the farm scale is a necessary and urgent task to address agriculture’s growing impact biodiversity.