Rice farming vs. Biodiversity Main Problems in Mondego Lowlands

Rice farming vs. Biodiversity Main Problems in

Mondego Lowlands

David Rodrigues

Dep. Forest Resources, ESAC, Coimbra, Portugal

Results of the Project PAMAF 4031 “Ecology and Game Management of Anatidae and Rallidae on Mondego

Lowlands. Correlations with Rice Production, Nature Conservation

and Sanity”, that tested some management actions of rice fields to

improve conditions for waterfowl.

• Main problems:- LASER leveling of the fields- Pesticides applied- Dried fields after rice crop

Anas platyrhynchos Anas strepera Anas crecca

Anas clypeata Anas penelope Anas acuta

Anas querquedula Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula

COIMBRA Quinta de Fôja

Paul do Taipal

Paul da Madriz

Quinta do Canal

N

FIGUEIRA DA FOZ

RIO MONDEGO

Rio

R I O M O N D E G O

2500 0 2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 Metros

A r u n c a

Paul de

Arzila

Study Area

Old traditional ricefieldsVouga Lowlands

Procambarus clarkii

Chironomus spp

Actions tested• creating small areas (20 to 50 m2) free of vegetation, during rice production• wise use of pesticides and herbicides during the rice production – integrated production• flooding of rice fields after crop harvest

•

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Results

Quinta do Canal – 08/19981200 Anas platyrhynchos Quinta da Foja – 08/19951600 Anas platyrhynchos

Quinta do Canal – 01/199592 Anas acuta

135 Anas penelope251 Anas platyrhynchos

1272 Anas clypeata

Results

ResultsPlegadis falcinellus

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Conclusions- Rice fields are important as feeding

habitat for many waterbirds of SPAs and IBAs;

- Priority areas for agro-environmental incentives of rice production should be extended until 15 km from SPAs or IBAs for waterbirds, and incentives can be in a inverse order to the distance from these areas – e.g. 5, 10, 15km;

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Conclusions (cont.)- Agro-environmental incentives of rice

production should include flooding of rice fields after crop harvest, at least from early November to end of January, on at least 50% of the subsidized area;

- Waterfowl managers should consider the management of rice fields as bird feeding habitat during rice crop, by reducing the density of seeding and/or creating areas free of vegetation.