Biodiversity

Dear Editor:

RE: Concern over farmland impact expressed at public meeting on growth in county, Jan. 19.

To the list of reasons for minimizing more than just residential development on farmland can be added biodiversity conservation.

“Benign neglect” of non-arable corners of otherwise tilled farmland has resulted in biodiversity reservoirs that conserve the very pollinators on which crops depend. Further, on a per-unit area basis, more rare and threatened plant species have been recorded on farms compared with designated conservation lands.

However, understandably, politicization of science surrounding at-risk and other species has contributed to concern by many landowners about “government overreach” to conserve them on private land, and reticence to further document the extent to which farmland that is marginal for food production should be valued for its contribution to biodiversity conservation.

Without evidence, it will continue to be a challenge to develop rational policies in this regard. With evidence, the agricultural sector becomes a valued partner, rather than perceived pariah, in biodiversity conservation.

Tom Nudds, Centre Wellington