Ecological and low intensity agriculture as contributors to landscape and biological diversity

Possible impacts of ecological farming and low intensity conventional agric ulture on landscape values such as biodiversity, landscape diversity and nu trient flows are analysed. Literature data and the results of several case studies are summarised. The results show that ecological farming significan tly increases biological and landscape diversity and decreases the risk of nutrient leaching and soil erosion. Marginal areas, where low intensity agr iculture creates less pollution load and supports biodiversity, have the mo st potential for conversion to ecological agriculture. However, owing to th e greater impacts of ecological agriculture on biodiversity in intensively managed agricultural areas, ecological farming should be developed within t he core areas of intensive agricultural production. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.