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

Farming and Core Biodiversity Principles

Core Biodiversity Principles is by Jo Ann Baumgartner, director of the Wild Farm Alliance. She is currently working with organic certifying organizations to adopt criteria that define biodiversity protection on organic farms and ranches.

  • Consider farmland within a watershed or ecosystem context.
  • Avoid conversion of sensitive habitats to agricultural production or development.
  • Protect threatened and endangered species, species of special concern, and keystone species.
  • Conserve and restore native plants and animals of the production operation, including in and around water bodies.
  • Maintain and restore linkages and connectivity, including large blocks of habitat to strengthen regional networks of conservation areas.
  • Prevent introduction and spread of non-native, invasive species.
  • Take advantage of nature's ecosystem services, such as pollination, pest control, beneficial predation and fire, flood and erosion control, nutrient cycling, and improved water quality and quantity.


Potential Benefits and Challenges of Managing Farm Lands
for Habitat Values


Potential Benefits to Landowners

Enhanced wildlife habitat
Pollination (enhanced yields)
Biological pest control (reduced yield losses)
Wind and snow protection
Erosion control and sediment filtration (improved water quality)
Lower long-term maintenance costs
Aesthetic values
Predation reduction
Additional income
Farmland protection
Buffering against genetic contamination or chemical drift
Community interaction and support
Enhanced public image
Cost-share opportunities
Better market perception
Increased land values

Potential Challenges

Short-term costs of resources and money
Time commitment
Can potentially attract and host unwanted pests or weeds
Depending on practices, may require taking some land out of production
Need for technical expertise and monitoring
Access to programs
Confusing array of programs

In this section. . .

Issues and Challenges
There is a direct correlation between our grocery lists and the endangered species list.
Farming is a Vital Link
Practices such as pasture-based meat production, diversified land use, habitat buffers along river systems, and protecting critical natural areas on farms and ranches help to establish a sense of fluidity or permeability on the agricultural landscape.
Farming as Conservation-based Agriculture
Conservation-based agriculture must take place on a landscape scale, and optimizing conservation values on individual properties is essential.
Farming and Core Biodiversity Principles
Criteria that define biodiversity protection on organic farms and ranches, and potential benefits and challenges to landowners.