Conservation And Farming

Question 1

Define conservation

Answer 1

Actively managing ecosystems in order to increase biodiversity

Question 2

Define monoculture

Answer 2

Large fields growing only a single crop

Question 3

What are some intensive farming techniques?

Answer 3

1) clearing woodland - to increase land for cultivation or grazing. Reduces number of species of trees and variety of habitats leading to to decrease in animal diversity
2) removing hedgerows - to enlarge field and increase area for agriculture. Having hedges can lead to increased interspecific competition with crops for light, so removing them leads to greater yield and income for farmers. Removal leads to loss of habitat for wildlife and reduction in insects and birds which could have acted as pests to the crops. All reduces biodiversity. Hedges also act as corridors for wild animals to move around in safely and meet animals from other areas during mating season
3) **spraying pesticides) - kills invertebrates which eat the crop. Kills pests and pollinating insects such as butterflies and bees.
4) spraying herbicides- to kill weeds which compete with the crop plants. This kills plants which are at the bottom of food chain, animals higher up reduce in numbers due to lack of food
5) growing monocultures - reduces variety of habitats and biodiversity
6) improving grazing land - by sowing ryegrass and clover species which provide cows and sheep with the most nutritious fodder. Fertilising the fields increases the growth of the ryegrass which outcompetes lower growing weed species

Question 4

What are some conservation measures for farming?

Answer 4

1) the environmental stewardship scheme - encourages farmers to replant hedgerows and to leave margins around their fields to act as wildlife habitats and corridors. This would help increase biodiversity by creating more niches. This is advantageous to farmers because it could lead to:
• an increase in predators of pests resulting in less damage to crops and a greater yield
• may attract more pollinators relating in a greater yield

2) banned use of various insecticides as they have a disproportionate effect of non pest species such as bees

3) endangered species are protected

4) intensive agricultural development is restricted in areas which have been declared National Parks, sites of special scientific interest or areas of outstanding natural beauty