How useful do you consider the This should inform us of the value Some farmers consider such semi-natural habitats on your farm? the farmer associates with such habitats as an integral part of their Prompt questions: habitats, in absolute or in system, others as merely a Habitat for beneficial agroecological terms. constraint. organisms? As the Common Agricultural Policy They connect habitats? evolves, the question of how Barrier to pests and farmers value the semi-natural diseases? habitats, which they will be Windbreak or shelter for required to maintain, becomes of livestock? increasing relevance. Erosion or pollution control? What are the main environmental This will enable you to see if the For example, if the study area is constraints or issues in your local issues you have identified are vulnerable to erosion, look for any area? known to the farmer and to anti-erosion measures in place or integrate his response to these possible. issues in any proposals. If the farm is close to a protected area, check for impacts of the farm management on the flora or fauna of this area. How do the actions of neighbouring Like the previous question, this one For example, an organic farmer farms impact your own strategy? encourages the farmer to look may be impacted by more Prompt questions: beyond the frontiers of his/her own intensive agricultural practises Incompatible practises farm to consider possibilities at from nearby. between neighbouring landscape scale. If the farmer aims to increase farms? habitat connectivity and dispersal Opportunities for habitat of beneficial organisms, it may be creation, hedgerow worthwhile acting in collaboration planting? with neighbouring farms. 9. Assessing vulnerability and resilience of High Nature Value farming systems Type: Project-based assignment, either using a real farm as a case (includes field work, such as interviewing the owners) or virtual farm case (in class work). Suitable for: vocational or higher education level; Students of agricultural studies / environmental studies / “futures” – related studies. It could also be used for training advisors or community/NGO group for work with farmers. Objectives: To become aware of various aspects of a farm’s resilience and indicators to measure resilience. To learn or practice skills in analysing diversity and interpreting results in light of the resilience concept. Methodology. Adopted from Altieri, M. 2016. Developing and promoting agroecological innovations within country program strategies to address agroecosystem resilience in production landscapes: a guide. GEF Small Grants Programme, UNDP.
How useful do you consider the semi-natural habitats on your farm? Prompt questions: Habitat for beneficial organisms? They connect habitats? Barrier to pests and diseases? Windbreak or shelter for livestock? Erosion or pollution control? This should inform us of the value the farmer associates with such habitats, in absolute or in agroecological terms. Some farmers consider such habitats as an integral part of their system, others as merely a constraint. As the Common Agricultural Policy evolves, the question of how farmers value the semi-natural habitats, which they will be required to maintain, becomes of increasing relevance. What are the main environmental constraints or issues in your local area? This will enable you to see if the issues you have identified are known to the farmer and to integrate his response to these issues in any proposals. For example, if the study area is vulnerable to erosion, look for any anti-erosion measures in place or possible. If the farm is close to a protected area, check for impacts of the farm management on the flora or fauna of this area. How do the actions of neighbouring farms impact your own strategy? Prompt questions: Incompatible practises between neighbouring farms? Opportunities for habitat creation, hedgerow planting? Like the previous question, this one encourages the farmer to look beyond the frontiers of his/her own farm to consider possibilities at landscape scale. For example, an organic farmer may be impacted by more intensive agricultural practises from nearby. If the farmer aims to increase habitat connectivity and dispersal of beneficial organisms, it may be worthwhile acting in collaboration with neighbouring farms. 9. Assessing vulnerability and resilience of High Nature Value farming systems Type: Project-based assignment, either using a real farm as a case (includes field work, such as interviewing the owners) or virtual farm case (in class work). Suitable for: vocational or higher education level; Students of agricultural studies / environmental studies / “futures” – related studies. It could also be used for training advisors or community/NGO group for work with farmers. Objectives: To become aware of various aspects of a farm’s resilience and indicators to measure resilience. To learn or practice skills in analysing diversity and interpreting results in light of the resilience concept. Methodology. Adopted from Altieri, M. 2016. Developing and promoting agroecological innovations within country program strategies to address agroecosystem resilience in production landscapes: a guide. GEF Small Grants Programme, UNDP.
HNVLinkAssignmentsforclassfieldandfarm.docx