Due to the increasing intensification of agriculture, the availability of extensively utilised areas has greatly decreased. Orchards are one of these habitats, which are of particular importance for many animal and plant species due to their varied and semi-open structure.
Although orchards are subsidised by agri-environmental measures, they are currently not economically competitive and are therefore in sharp decline - important habitats are being lost. There are currently only estimates of the total number of orchard trees in Austria, but a comprehensive data set on the occurrence of orchard areas and targeted monitoring of this habitat is still lacking.
This is where the DivMoSt project comes in: Based on remote sensing data, a nationwide and recurring monitoring system for orchards is to be initiated. In addition, data will be collected for selected groups of organisms (wild bees, butterflies, birds, bats) for which orchards are important habitats. In a total of 40 representative study areas, the current condition of orchards is being surveyed through field inspections.
In order to increase synergies and ensure data comparability, the survey methods for wild pollinators and birds are based on established systems. Bats are recorded using acoustic detectors and netting. In addition, an interdisciplinary analysis of the biodiversity data together with remote sensing and orchard information will improve the picture of the status and development of biodiversity in cultivated land.
Project manager at the W&O RTD: Mag. Martina Staples und Mirjam Weißmann
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