JavaScript is off. Please enable it to view the full site.

Biodiversity based dairy farming

Turning a theoretical model into practice

Humanity’s enormous and increasing demand for the planet’s natural resources has resulted in a dramatic loss of biodiversity. Many of the pressures and underlying causes affecting ecosystems interact at a variety of scales from local to global. Trying to reverse or prevent further detrimental effects on nature within such a complex web of interdependent processes is a formidable challenge. Intensive unsustainable agriculture is one of the central global challenges affecting ecosystem integrity and biodiversity. The Netherlands is a hotspot intensive agricultural area and biodiversity in agricultural areas has been steadily declining. With a 35% share in land use in the Netherlands, dairy farming poses one of the key threats, but can also be part of the solution to restoring biodiversity.

felixx-wnf-scheme2.jpg

At the request of WWF-NL, the Louis Bolk Institute developed a conceptual framework for ‘biodiversity-based dairy farming to increase resilience and reduce risks’. Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners were commissioned by WWF-NL, to turn this theoretical concept into a spatial landscape transformation framework.

  

control model

felixx-wnf-controlmodel.jpg

A focus on short-term risk management and maximum profit drives intensive production. Production levels are boosted through the use of external inputs such as fertilizers, irrigation, antibiotics and pesticides. This model relies heavily on controlling externalities in the environment and the market and is characterized by a dependency on loans and bank investments.

  

Resilience MODEL

felixx-wnf-adaptivemodel.png

The resilience model provides an alternative approach where biodiversity and natural processes provide the foundation for increased resilience and reduced risks. Such a system combines optimisation of production with nature and biodiversity protection. By doing so, it also reduces off-farm impacts on the natural environment.

  

Balance Input & output

The control model targets high output (production), but requires substantial external input (resources). The resilience model aims to optimize production levels in relation to available resources. A better balance between input and output makes a system more resilient and therefore better able to cope with fluctuations and risk. The transformation from the control model to the resilience model requires a paradigm shift. Moving from maximum production to optimal production in relation to available resources results in larger profit margins and a more resilient system.

  

THE 4 PILLARS OF BIODIVERSITY

felixx-wnf-4pillars-1-.png

A resilient and biodiverse dairy farming system builds on four interconnected pillars of biodiversity: Functional agrobiodiversity, landscape diversity on the farm, specific species and corridors and source areas. To improve resilience and reduce risk, it is important to enhance functional agrobiodiversity. Functional agrobiodiversity should be supported by landscape diversity and connections of biodiversity source areas in the wider landscape. Maintaining and increasing specific target species often requires additional management. 

   

Building blocks

felixx-wnf-schemes-2-.jpg

The resilience model moves away from a ‘one size fits all’ model for dairy farming. Instead, it provides principles and building blocks whose physical implementation depend on the local ecological and cultural context.

  

application in a cultural and ecological context

felixx-wnf-situation-1-.jpg

The ecological context is determined by biophysical factors such as climate, topography, landscape type, local flora and fauna and soil composition. The cultural context derives from societal factors such as the history, values and belief systems in an area. The resilience model provides a framework for locally adapted biodiversity-based dairy farming.

   

idzegea, friesland

felixx-wnf-combo.jpg

To illustrate the context specific elaboration of the resilience model, a case study has been developed for a pilot area. Idzegea is an area in Friesland, in the northern part of the Netherlands, with a long history of dairy farming, milk production and cows at pasture. Idzegea is a peatland area dominated by dairy farming on pasture with some nature reserves, crisscrossed by a network of ditches and lakes. The landscape is dotted with small villages and dairy farms. The cultural and ecological conditions give substance to the four pillars of the resilience model for the specific context at Idzegea. 

slider

Year

2015 - 2018

Location

Friesland, The Netherlands

Type

Research, Masterplan

Team & partners

Michiel Van Driessche
Marnix Vink
Deborah Lambert
Willemijn van Manen
Jeroen de Ruijter
Carlijn Klomp
Kim Kool
Zofia Krzykawska
Fanny Genti
Louis Bolk Institute

List
  1. Rijnvliet, Edible Neighborhood
  2. Vief Kwartier
  3. The Newton
  4. Regulateur Gruno district
  5. Eemsdelta Campus
  6. Jonas Amsterdam
  7. K64 keflavík airport area masterplan
  8. Railroad Zone Amsterdam
  9. From node to place
  10. Masterplan Flora Campus Westland
  11. Alongside the Schie
  12. New Space - Design Guideline Liveability of Public Space, Groningen
  13. From Airport to Birdport
  14. Brainport Industries Campus
  15. Hondsrug Park Amsterdam
  16. Yangmeikeng Sea Boulevard
  17. Healthy Tracks
  18. Towards a healthy city by foot
  19. Floating Gardens, Amsterdam
  20. The Unbound Amsterdam
  21. Seaside Gardens, Gufunes
  22. Brainport Smart District Helmond
  23. The Swan, Zwolle (NL)
  24. Spatial Framework Blankenburg Süden, Berlin
  25. 'Typhoon-proof' Shenzhen's East Coast
  26. Circular City Bodø 2.0
  27. A green entrance for the airport
  28. Public Space Alpen
  29. Cartesius Quarter
  30. Isle of Dikes
  31. Smakkelaarsveld Utrecht
  32. Darmstadt Masterplan 2030+
  33. Bao’An G107 Corridor
  34. Master Plan Ter Aar, Nieuwkoop
  35. Waterfront Novosibirsk
  36. City Square Tyumen
  37. Almazov National Medical Research Centre
  38. Strategic Urban Green Study
  39. Public Space Strategy Kanpur
  40. Quartierlandschaft Dietenbach
  41. ImageWharf
  42. Ódinstorg Square
  43. Overloon War Museum
  44. Lokhalle Leverkusen
  45. Ludlstrasse Munich
  46. Yaanila Country Park
  47. Redevelopment Strategy Vogabyggð
  48. Villa Garden
  49. City life in the woods
  50. Schie Quarter Schiedam
  51. Socio-technical city of the future
  52. Buji River
  53. Vaskhnil Novosibirsk
  54. Precincts Canterbury Cathedral
  55. Maritime Campus Almere
  56. Resilient Riverscape Berat
  57. Sijthoff
  58. Strategic Plan Shkodra
  59. Ekaterinburg City Campus
  60. Transformation Strategy Gufunes
  61. Transformation Strategy Chelyabinsk
  62. Fish Market Leuven
  63. Zinder Culture Cluster
  64. Food Innovation Strip Ede-Wageningen
  65. S4 Highway Hangzhou
  66. Strategic Plan Fier
  67. Strategic Plan Elbasan
  68. Kronenburg Business Park
  69. Dharavi Mumbai
  70. Masterplan Smáralind Mall
  71. Urban Test Farm Emmen
  72. Ásbrú Enterprise Park
  73. Asylum Seekers Center Ter Apel
  74. Berlin Am Volkspark
  75. The Museum of the 20th Century
  76. Gardabaer
  77. Metropolitan Westerpark Amsterdam
  78. Science and Technology City Chongqing
  79. Yue Xiu 353 Transformation
  80. 5YN3RGY
  81. Erlongshan Recreational Park
  82. Danxia Recreational Park
  83. Campus Lelystad
  84. Proto Tamansari
  85. City Gardens Tyumen
  86. Park Somerlust Amsterdam
  87. Bandar Lampung Park
  88. R&D Campus Fengxian
  89. S-West Eindhoven
  90. Biodiversity based dairy farming
  91. Heidelberg Creative Quarter
  92. Barendrecht Vrouwenpolder
All projects Previous 97 / 100 Next Back to top Show on the map 309490 views