Preface

Buffer zones for biodiversity of plants and arthropods: is there a compromise on width?

The present report “Buffer zones for biodiversity of plants and arthropods: is there a compromise on width?” on buffer zones along hedges represents a follow-up on a review publication from the Danish Ministry of Environment (Sigsgaard et al. 2007). That review addressed the potential use of various types of buffer zones to improve biodiversity and natural pest regulation in arable fields. The review publication established a need for research on the necessary dimensions of buffer zones, if such zones should become an operational and efficient tool to conserve biodiversity under pressure from intensive modern agriculture.

On this background, the Ministry of Environment made a call for research proposals among which the present project was financed. The project focuses on identifying a buffer zone width, which can both ensure a significant biodiversity increase and also be agriculturally feasible. The project has used plants, insects and spiders to measure biodiversity effects of different widths of buffer zones in spring barley.

The project has involved the following institutions and persons:

Department of Agriculture and Ecology, University of Copenhagen (zoological expertise): Peter Esbjerg (Project leader), Lene Sigsgaard, Rasmus Nimgaard and Søren Navntoft.
Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen (botanical expertise): Louise C. Andresen, Ib Johnsen, Niels Bruun, Jill Nothlev and Andreas Kelager.
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Aarhus (statistical expertise): Kristian Kristensen.

The project group enjoyed current guiding discussions with an expert group:

Jørn Kirkegaard (coordinator) and Lise Samsøe-Petersen, Environmental Protection Agency, Danish Ministry of Environment.
Hans-Werner Griepentrog, Jannie Maj Olsen and Jacob Weiner, Dept. of Agriculture and Ecology, Univ. of Copenhagen.
Lisa Munk, Dept. of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Univ. of Copenhagen.
Søren Marcus Pedersen and Jens Erik Ørum, Dept. of Food and Resource Economics, Univ. of Copenhagen.
Lise Nistrup Jørgensen, Dept. of Integrated Pest Management, Univ. of Aarhus.
Hanne Lindhard Pedersen, Dept. of Horticulture, Univ. of Aarhus.
Poul Henning Petersen, Danish Agricultural Advisory Service.
Niels Lindemark, Danish Crop Protection Association.
Marc Trapman, BioFruitAdvices.

We thank the whole group for the collaboration.

The project was hosted by Gjorslev Estate. We owe the owner Peter Tesdorph sincere thanks for this possibility. The project layout and the treatments were managed in a most careful and competent way. For this we are very grateful to the Estate Manager Anders Bak Hansen and his most skilled Machine Operator Frank Holm. Without the skills and support from Peter Tesdorph and his staff this fairly complicated large scale project design could not have been carried out.