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Key Issues Regarding Impact of Agriculture on Environment • • • • • Soil Quality and Erosion Water Quality and Scarcity Air Quality Biodiversity Landscape and Cultural Heritage Soil • Erosion is natural process – but human activity can cause the process to accelerate. – Slow it down by implementing conservation methods, retaining hedgerows, not overgrazing land. • Ireland’s risk low vs Spain & other Mediterranean countries. • Soil Quality affected by overgrazing and use of fertilizers and pesticides. Water • Scarcity due to over abstraction • 47% of Europe’s total land is used for agriculture. • Main agricultural input (irrigation etc.) • Climate change in Southern Europe. • Quality issues related largely to pesticide and fertilizer use. – Fish kills and contamination of drinking water. – Nitrate measure: General decrease in Europe but significant increase in Ireland. • Nitrates Directive: limit on amount applied to land Air • Acid Rain • • • • • Caused by nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions. Acidification of freshwater Eutrophication of marine ecosystems Europe: general decrease in ammonia emissions Ireland: slight increase • Greenhouse Effect • Methane (cattle) and Nitrous Oxides (nitrogen based fertilizers). • Ireland: share GHG’s attributed to agriculture fell by 7% between 1990-2003, but still 3 times EU average. • Agenda 2000 and Kyoto Protocol Agreement Biodiversity • Causes: direct habitat loss or degradation of habitats – Forest management can have negative impact. • WWF ‘Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’, 1999. – Predicts loss of up to 50% of world’s species by 2050. • Birdlife International – 43% of bird species have unfavourable conservation statuses. • EU – Large number of animal species classified between critically endangered and vulnerable. – Legislation is in place allowing the protection of endangered species, but many are not protected at European level. Final Remarks • Ireland – Inappropriate use of fertilizers. – Greenhouse gas emissions • Europe – not so clear. – Forward looking? • Water scarcity: climate change and weather volatility • Soil and Landscape: increased production of biofuels from energy crops • Tourism in new member states: implications for water quality, soil, wildlife and landscape.