Collection
Collection: Effects of agricultural landscapes on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and yield
Agriculture is the leading cause of farmland biodiversity loss and an associated decline of various ecosystem services. Nevertheless, a wealth of agricultural diversification measures can support and maintain biodiversity, but often at the expense of yield compared to high-input conventional farming. However, some options can meet both requirements, i.e., where there is no or minimal yield loss while maintaining the underlying biodiversity, which needs to be showcased to the farmers. With a focus on sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices, including traditional and indigenous ones, this collection aims to bridge the gap between ecological knowledge and practical applications, fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between human activities and the natural environment.
We are interested in studies that explore key themes, such as biodiversity dynamics, ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes, crop quality and yield optimization and resilience, land-use planning, and management, as well as encouraging inter- and transdisciplinary perspectives. Each contribution is expected to provide valuable insights into the broader discourse on landscape dynamics. Understanding landscape-scale ecological processes is crucial as they govern the intricate interactions between different components of agricultural landscapes.
We are also interested in studies that focus on multiscale approaches to capture the complexity of these interactions from local to broader landscape scales. This integrated approach is essential for accurately predicting the effects of environmental changes on agricultural landscapes. By targeting researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and educators in landscape ecology, agriculture, environmental science, and sustainability, the collection strives to advance the understanding of agricultural landscapes and their implications for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and yield. We aim to demonstrate the diversity of farmland biodiversity and management, highlighting perspectives from the global North and South. In doing so, the collection will facilitate the development of evidence-based strategies for sustainable farming practices that balance productivity with environmental conservation.
This collection will address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2: Zero Hunger and 15: Life on Land.
Students and Early Career Researchers are encouraged to submit to this collection.
Pre-submission enquiries are welcome.
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Editors
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Péter Batáry (MAE, PhD)
Scientific advisor at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research focuses on conservation biological-oriented research at the landscape scale, Dr. Batáry interested in agroecology, urban ecology, and how environmental interventions can be aligned with production or development. Major fields of his research group are grassland fragmentation studies, biological effectiveness of agri-environment schemes, pest control and pollination, and meta-analyses. Dr. Batáry is also a former Landscape Ecology editorial board member.
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András Báldi (MAE, MHAS)
Professor at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research focuses on conserving and sustainable management of farmland biodiversity and ecosystem services, Prof. Báldi is interested in agroecology, ecological intensification, and how to implement these practices, considering local scale management and its interactions with landscape complexity. Major fields of his research group are pollination studies, ecosystems mapping and assessment, and the science-policy interface at the European and global levels.
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Moses Azong Cho (PhD)
President of the Africa Chapter (AFRICA-IALE) of the International Association for Landscape Ecology, Prof. Cho is a remote sensing scientist with over two decades of expertise who has dedicated his career to unravelling the intricate interdependencies between biodiversity, agriculture, and land use. Currently serving as Chief Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Prof. Cho leads the Precision Agriculture Research Group and holds the esteemed title of Extraordinary Professor within the Department of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Pretoria.
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Katalin Szitár (PhD)
Postdoctoral researcher at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research where she studies biodiversity and ecosystem services of urban and rural green infrastructure at various spatial scales, Dr. Szitár interested in the restoration ecology and invasion biology of grasslands and farmlands with special attention to plants.
