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Home > Programs and Policy > Habitat Conservation > Habitat Conservation Basics > Habitat and Farmlands

Habitat and Farmlands

Farmlands and Biodiversity

Much of the private land in the United States is used for farming or raising livestock. These lands can provide habitat for many species of fish and wildlife. Farmlands also create a host of environmental problems associated with the intensive use of chemicals and fertilizers and the removal of native vegetation. However, there is a growing interest in the application of new farming techniques that minimize adverse impacts on the land and wildlife, and in restoring some farmed lands to more natural conditions. There is great potential for farmlands to provide higher quality biodiversity – which means more native habitat and more secure populations of native species. Some lands currently used for farming can be easily restored to a more natural state. For example, allowing previously converted wetlands to flood again often stimulates the growth of native seed long dormant in the soil. Other lands can be replanted with native trees along floodplains or stream banks to provide shade, filter chemicals, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife.

Protecting Habitat in Farmlands

It wasn't by accident that the most biologically diverse and productive lands were settled for agriculture. Read how incentives, assistance and other resources can help farmers and ranchers manage their lands more sustainably. Includes examples of successful conservation-based agriculture efforts.
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Habitat and Farmlands: Resources

Recommended reading and web sites worth visiting.
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Habitat in Agricultural Landscapes: How Much is Enough?

This paper provides a synthesis of current understanding regarding habitat conservation and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, and helps establish a framework for setting conservation goals, policy and future research priorities.
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