Transcript Issues Relating to Impact of Agriculture on Environment

Key Issues Regarding Impact of
Agriculture on Environment
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Soil Quality and Erosion
Water Quality and Scarcity
Air Quality
Biodiversity
Landscape and Cultural Heritage
Soil
• Erosion is natural process – but human activity
can cause the process to accelerate.
– Slow it down by implementing conservation methods,
retaining hedgerows, not overgrazing land.
• Ireland’s risk low vs Spain & other
Mediterranean countries.
• Soil Quality affected by overgrazing and use of
fertilizers and pesticides.
Water
• Scarcity due to over abstraction
• 47% of Europe’s total land is used for agriculture.
• Main agricultural input (irrigation etc.)
• Climate change in Southern Europe.
• Quality issues related largely to pesticide
and fertilizer use.
– Fish kills and contamination of drinking water.
– Nitrate measure: General decrease in Europe
but significant increase in Ireland.
• Nitrates Directive: limit on amount applied to land
Air
• Acid Rain
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Caused by nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions.
Acidification of freshwater
Eutrophication of marine ecosystems
Europe: general decrease in ammonia emissions
Ireland: slight increase
• Greenhouse Effect
• Methane (cattle) and Nitrous Oxides (nitrogen based
fertilizers).
• Ireland: share GHG’s attributed to agriculture fell by
7% between 1990-2003, but still 3 times EU average.
• Agenda 2000 and Kyoto Protocol Agreement
Biodiversity
• Causes: direct habitat loss or degradation of habitats
– Forest management can have negative impact.
• WWF ‘Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’, 1999.
– Predicts loss of up to 50% of world’s species by 2050.
• Birdlife International
– 43% of bird species have unfavourable conservation statuses.
• EU
– Large number of animal species classified between critically
endangered and vulnerable.
– Legislation is in place allowing the protection of endangered
species, but many are not protected at European level.
Final Remarks
• Ireland
– Inappropriate use of fertilizers.
– Greenhouse gas emissions
• Europe – not so clear.
– Forward looking?
• Water scarcity: climate change and weather volatility
• Soil and Landscape: increased production of biofuels from
energy crops
• Tourism in new member states: implications for water quality,
soil, wildlife and landscape.