The social and cultural benefits of high-diversity landscape features

In the age of climate change and the biodiversity crisis, when extreme weather events, such as extended drought periods and flash floods, become ever more frequent, new solutions and more holistic approaches are needed in farming in order to stay resilient. Such solutions should enable natural water retention on the land, support biodiversity, enrich the soil and thus reduce farms’ and farmers’ dependence on external inputs, making them more resilient in the face of external shocks and disturbances. High-diversity landscape features (HDLF), when established and maintained on farmlands in the right way, can provide such long-term benefits to both farmers and the agroecosystems they depend on. There is an increasing public awareness of environmental problems and challenges associated with the intensification of agriculture and modern agricultural practices, which are primarily focused on production efficiency. In part as a result of this increased awareness, farmers are facing higher expectations both from consumers and the general public, as well as from new agricultural policies, to deliver better outcomes for biodiversity and the environment (e.g. through increased conditionality, ‘space-for-nature’, etc.). These additional demands on farmers add to the already considerable socio-economic challenges they face. At the same time, growing disconnection of (especially urban) communities from nature and food production mean that large parts of society are unaware of where their food comes from, how it is produced, or its impact on the environment. To some extent, this is changing as society’s recognition of its need for nature as well as a secure supply of quality food recently increased, especially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and related lockdowns as well as rapid food price inflation. High-diversity landscape features provide an opportunity for farms and farmers to bring both nature and the reality of food production closer to society. HDLF can maintain or restore people’s sense of place in farming regions, given that HDLF have traditionally emerged from the landscape and the way land was used and cultivated. Different types of HDLF are anchored in traditions associated with the landscape in different ways (e.g. flower strips vs. dry stone terraces). Understanding the perceptions of what a farmed landscape should look like and how HDLF fit into this perception could play an important role in reconnecting farm(er)s with society. HDLF can furthermore provide potential for education and awareness-raising with the possibility of gaining increased public support and appreciation to both farming and farmers.