Description of practice

Semi-natural landscape elements include trees or rows of trees, bushes, springs, dikes, hedges, hollow roads, and (parts of) fields that are set aside such as ditches and pools. These elements often give a specific character to a region. They attract fauna and flora that can be natural enemies of pests.

Examples of how to use semi-natural landscape elements Further information
(see Note below)

AMP32 01

Photo: Luuk Fleskens

Rows of trees

Rows of trees help protect soils from erosion, attract fauna, provide shade and tree products.

 

AMP32 02

Photo: Luuk Fleskens

Farmstead boundaries

Farmstead boundaries provide habitat and feeding resources for wildlife and facilitate mobility of wildlife through the landscape.

 

AMP32 03

Photo: Luuk Fleskens

Herb strips

Herbs are planted in strips to provide additional revenue and as an important food source for pollinator species.

 

AMP32 04

Photo: Luuk Fleskens

Field margins

Uncultivated field margins provide habitat and feeding resources for wildlife, protect other features (e.g. hedgerows, watercourses) from farm operations, and act as wildlife corridors.

 

»Agricology

AMP32 05

Photo: Luuk Fleskens

Dry stone walls

Dry stone walls are an important habitat for small reptiles, insects, mammals and birds. They also affect the micro-climate and provide cultural character to the landscape.

 

AMP32 06

Hedges

Hedges are an important element of cultural landscapes, provide a host of resources for wildlife (food, shelter, nesting sites, refuge from farm operations) and create corridors across the landscape.

 

»WOCAT technology 1646
»Agricology

AMP32 07

Shrub buffer strip with bund

Belts of shrub or grass are planted on level bunds constructed along contour lines in gently sloping farmland.

 

»WOCAT technology 1544

AMP32 08

Trees as buffer zones

Trees are planted between different cultivation zones to prevent pests from crossing between zones and provide a haven for endemic flora and fauna.

 

»WOCAT technology 1709


Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.