Agricultural Ecology
Contact: Barbara Smith
Aims:
- To be a forum for exchange of information between ecologists, conservationists, agricultural researchers, land managers and policy makers
- To consider conservation in the farmed landscape, using ecological theory to address agricultural problems, economic and ecological sustainability of current farming systems, and the implications of agricultural policies.
- To do this: a) through meetings, workshops, field visits, an email bulletin board and a website; b) through contact with other societies
The first Annual Meeting of the Agricultural Ecology Specialist Interest Group was held on 1st – 2nd November 2012 at Charles Darwin House, London.
Background to the Group
Agriculture is the predominant land use in Britain and the developed world. The pervasiveness of this type of land use and the fact that it involves fundamental changes in ecological processes means agricultural science is a very important subject in Britain and worldwide.
Because agricultural systems are both an economic and environmental resource agricultural research covers several subject areas which have traditionally remained quite separate. These include population, community and ecosystems ecology, conservation ecology, weed control, crop science, grassland production and forestry production.
There has long been a need for a forum for workers involved in these different areas to exchange information on subjects of mutual concern. The Agricultural Ecology Group aims to bridge the gap between ecologists working in agricultural systems, conservationists with an interest in agricultural systems, crop, grassland and forest scientists working on increasing economic production, weed scientists, and agricultural policy makers. It will integrate very different approaches (ecology, economic production, conservation) to agricultural systems to address common issues. Finally, it will enhance communication among scientists and others working on agricultural systems using meetings, workshops, BES Bulletin reports and an email forum.
Current / Future Meetings
23 – 25 April 2013: Environmental Management on Farmland (in collaboration with the Association of Applied Biologists), Forest Pines Hotel, near Brigg, North Lincolnshire – Principal organiser: Nigel Boatman, FERA. Please visit the AAB website for further details.
11th June 2013: Farmer-Researcher Open Event, Cumbria, New directions in agriculture-environment schemes: ecosystem service delivery in extensive farming systems -Principal organiser: Beth Brockett, Lancaster University
18 – 19 December 2013: Re-thinking Agricultural Systems in the UK, (a collaboration between Agricultural Ecology, Computational Ecology and Forest Ecology SIG’s and the Association of Applied Biologists) View the flyer for this meeting [Adobe PDF, 2011 Kb] Principal organiser: Barbara Smith, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Contact details:
Barbara Smith Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Burgate Manor Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 1EF, UK agricultural@britishecologicalsociety.org
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