Some of Europe’s largest agricultural fields have been transformed into a more fragmented landscape rich in biodiversity. This year, Slovakia created 7,000 kilometres of biodiversity strips, with more than 90 percent of farmers taking part in their creation. Conservationists say these measures have brought the biggest change to the countryside since the era of collectivisation.
The strips must meet specific width requirements, creating a foundation for bees and other forms of biodiversity. According to surveys, they have helped small game, birds and pollinators.
Jozef Ridzoň from the Slovak Ornithological Society says entomologists found 40 times higher numbers of pollinators in biodiversity strips compared with surrounding fields. Hunters have also reported a 72 percent increase in small game. He says more than three quarters of fields larger than 50 hectares have disappeared, meaning the extremely large fields common in the past no longer exist.
Biodiversity strips have been part of Slovak farmland since 2023. Experts say it is important that they remain in place in the future as they improved the structure of the landscape.
Pavol Findura, managing director of the university agricultural enterprise at the Slovak University of Agriculture, says future support schemes will be crucial. Farmers are effectively reducing their production area, and some are still uncertain whether the measure will be financially worthwhile. He says there needs to be sufficient financial motivation for farmers to continue. The rules for agricultural subsidies after 2028 are currently under discussion.
Source: STVR
