@article{ 2_6830, author = {Laura M. E. Sutcliffe and Péter Batáry and Urs G. Kormann and András Báldi and Lynn V. Dicks and Irina Herzon and David Kleijn and Piotr Tryjanowski and Iva Apostolova and Raphael Arlettaz and Ainars Aunins and Stéphanie Aviron and Ligita Baležentienė and Christina Fischer and Lubos Halada and Tibor Hartel and Aveliina Helm and Iordan Hristov and Sven D. Jelaska and Mitja Kaligarič and Johannes Kamp and Sebastian Klimek and Pille Koorberg and Jarmila Kostiuková and Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki and Tobias Kuemmerle and Christoph Leuschner and Regina Lindborg and Jacqueline Loos and Simona Maccherini and Riho Marja and Orsolya Máthé and Inge Paulini and Vânia Proença and José M. Rey Benayas and F. Xavier Sans and Charlotte Seifert and Jarosław Stalenga and Johannes Timaeus and Péter Török and Chris van Swaay and Eneli Viik and Teja Tscharntke}, title = {Harnessing the biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland}, year = {2014}, abstract = {A large proportion of European biodiversity today depends on habitat provided by low-intensity farming practices, yet this resource is declining as European agriculture intensifies. Within the European Union, particularly the central and eastern new member states have retained relatively large areas of species-rich farmland, but despite increased investment in nature conservation here in recent years, farmland biodiversity trends appear to be worsening. Although the high biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland has long been reported, the amount of research in the international literature focused on farmland biodiversity in this region remains comparatively tiny, and measures within the EU Common Agricultural Policy are relatively poorly adapted to support it. In this opinion study, we argue that, 10 years after the accession of the first eastern EU new member states, the continued under-representation of the low-intensity farmland in Central and Eastern Europe in the international literature and EU policy is impeding the development of sound, evidence-based conservation interventions. The biodiversity benefits for Europe of existing low-intensity farmland, particularly in the central and eastern states, should be harnessed before they are lost. Instead of waiting for species-rich farmland to further decline, targeted research and monitoring to create locally appropriate conservation strategies for these habitats is needed now.}, doi = {10.1111/ddi.12288}, }