The impact of livestock on biodiversity

Green Week 2010

Henk Westhoek
Impact of livestock production on biodiversity: 2

Land use: livestock is responsible for 80% of the

global land use for agriculture
Emission of N (water and air) and P (water)

Through land use and nitrogen it is responsible for

around 30% of global biodiversity loss

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Impact of livestock production on biodiversity: 3

Land use: livestock is responsible for 80% of the

global land use for agriculture
Emission of N (water and air) and P (water)

Through land use and nitrogen it is responsible for

around 30% of global biodiversity loss

Contribution to the emission of GHG: around 12%

Different other impacts

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Livestock uses about two-thirds of agricultural
land in the EU 4

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Livestock uses about two-thirds of agricultural
land in the EU 5

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Livestock uses about two-third of agricultural
land in EU 6

In total 130 million ha

plus 20 million hectare
abroad

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Livestock uses about two-thirds of agricultural
land in the EU 7

In total 130 million ha

plus 20 million hectare
abroad

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Land use for livestock production in the EU27 8

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Land use for livestock production in the EU27 9

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Different kinds of grassland 10

High nature value

grassland

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Different kinds of grassland 11

High nature value

grassland

Fertilized
grassland

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Different kinds of grassland 12

High nature value

grassland

Fertilized
grassland

Grassland on recently cleared

rain forests areas

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Different kinds of grassland 13

High nature value

grassland

Fertilized
grassland

Grassland on recently cleared

rain forests

Effect on biodiversity
The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010
Mean species abundance (MSA) 14

Abundance of each
species in present land
use compared with
abundance in primary
vegetation

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Mean species abundance (MSA) 15

Abundance of each
species in present land
use compared with
abundance in primary
vegetation

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Mean species abundance (MSA) 16

Abundance of each
species in present land
use compared with
abundance in primary
vegetation

Not only effect of land

use, but also of:
Infrastructure
(fragmentation),
Nitrogen deposition
Climate change

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

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The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Development of MSA 18

30% of biodiversity loss to be

attributed to livestock

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Impact of N on biodiversity 19

N deposition

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Impact of N on biodiversity 20

N deposition N leaching

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Netherlands: a special case 21

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

The Netherlands: a special case 22

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Livestock in the Netherlands 23

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

The Netherlands: ammonia emissions 24

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

The Netherlands: nutrients surpluses 25

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

What could be done . 26

to reduce the impact from livestock production on

biodiversity inside and outside Europe ?

How does the global food system work?

Which are the relevant policy levers?

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Meat consumption patterns differ per region 27

Source: FAO AT 2030/50

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

Soya: a complex picture 28

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

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The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

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The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

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The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

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The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

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Not expandable

The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

What could be done to reduce the impact of
livestock production on biodiversity? 34

Land use:
Sensible and prudent intensification:
closing the yield gap
Reduction in consumption of meat and dairy
Reduction of losses in production and consumption
Protection of vulnerable areas
Discourage expansion of agriculture

Nutrients:
Higher efficiency / reduction of losses
Closing of nutrient cycles
Reduction in consumption
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The impact of livestock on biodiversity - Greenweek 2010

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