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.
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