6. Speci fic Protection Goal Options for in-soil organisms in agricultural landscapes
6.3. Consequences of choosing different Speci fic Protection Goal Options for in-soil organisms key drivers 57
Limits of operation for the key drivers are given in Section 6.2(Tables 10–17) and Section 4. The proposed SPG options (especially for the in-field areas) are given as limits of operation of the addressed service providing unit so than it can (still) deliver the identified ecosystem service. If lower magnitude of effects as the limits of operation is considered by risk managers (e.g. negligible effects also in the in-field areas), then no consequences for the service provision are expected. If magnitude of effects higher that the ones reported in tables 10 to17 are considered relevant, then unacceptable consequences regarding the ecosystem service provision and the long-term persistence of the populations are to be expected. An overview table (Table18) with the proposed in-field SPG options is presented below. The consequences of choosing different SPG Options are explained in the Table 19.
Soil Bacteria and Archaea
Ecological entity Attribute Magnitude/temporal scale
Food web support Functional group Abundance/
biomass/activity
Small effects up to monthsMedium effects up to weeks Large effects up to days
Offfield
Biodiversity and all ecosystem services
Microbial community Diversity Negligible effects/temporal scale not relevant
Table 18: Overview of the proposed in-field protection goal options
Organism group Ecological entity/attribute
Option: below the limit of
operation Option: limit of operation Option: above the limit of operation
Magnitude and Duration Magnitude and Duration Magnitude and Duration Earthworms Population/abundance– biomass Negligible effects
Small effect up to weeks
Small effect up to months Medium effects for months Enchytraeids Population/abundance– biomass Negligible effects
Small effects up to weeks Medium effects up to days
Small effect up to months Medium effects up to weeks
Medium effects for months
Microarthopods Population/abundance– biomass Negligible effects
Small effects up to weeks Medium effects up to days
Small effect up to months Medium effects up to weeks
Medium effects for month
Macroarthropods Population/abundance– biomass Negligible effects
Small effects up to weeks Medium effects up to days
Small effect up to months Medium effects up to weeks
Medium effects for month
Gastropods Population/abundance– biomass Negligible effects Small effect up to weeks
Small effect up to months Medium effects for month Nematodes Population/abundance– biomass Negligible effects
Small effects up to weeks Medium effects up to days
Small effect up to months Medium effects up to weeks
Medium effects for month
Mycorrhiza, other fungi and protozoa Community/structure Negligible effects
Small effects up to weeks Medium effects up to days
Small effect up to months Medium effects up to weeks
Medium effects for month
Soil bacteria and Archaea Community/microbial community Negligible effects
Small effects up to weeks Medium effects up to days
Small effect up to months Medium effects up to weeks Large effects up to days
Medium effects for months Large effects for weeks
Table 19: Consequences of option choice regarding the effects of intended PPP use on in-soil organisms
Consequences of option choice regarding the effects of intended PPP use on in-soil organisms
Option: Below limit of operation Option: Limit of operation Option: Above limit of operation Biodiversity, genetic
resources, cultural services (all in-soil organism groups in the scope of this Opinion)
The upper level of the normal operating range for in-soil organism communities in agricultural landscapes is sustained.
Species-specific interactions, food-web structure and ecosystem processes are unaffected by the intended PPP use.
General protection goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009(a) is fully achieved.
Support of the target‘Increase the contribution of agriculture to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity’ (3a) of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy(a), which has shown no significant progress so far.
This Option contributes to Action 10 of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy(a):‘The Commission and Member States will encourage the uptake of agri-environmental measures to support genetic diversity in agriculture and explore the scope for developing a strategy for the conservation of genetic diversity’.
The aims of Council Directive 92/43/EEC(b) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna andflora are achieved
The limit of operation identified in the SPG tables marks a tipping point for the normal operating range of in-soil key drivers delivering genetic resources and cultural services and supporting all ecosystem services.
Reduction in species diversity reduces the efficiency with which ecological communities capture biologically essential resources, produce biomass, decompose and recycle biologically essential nutrients.
Biodiversity is supported to a degree that insures the long-term functioning of agricultural system, even if sensitive species are affected in the short term and species-specific interactions might be disrupted.
General protection goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 is still achieved if off-field areas of pertinent size in a diversified landscape sustain the upper level of biodiversity normal operating range
Species loss above a tipping point may force ecosystems to move to a different (locally) stable state or to collapse.
Loss of biodiversity will weaken the ability of agricultural ecosystems to respond to external changes such as climate change (loss of stability and resilience).
Biodiversity losses will lead to disruption of valuable ecosystem functions thereby reducing delivered services. Cultural services will be reduced if vulnerable species decline or disappear.
General protection goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 is not achieved.
The target‘Increase the contribution of agriculture to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity’ (3a) of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy(a)will most probably not be met.
The aim of halting of biodiversity loss by 2020 is not achieved:‘Halting biodiversity loss constitutes the absolute minimum level of ambition to be realised by 2020’ (2009/2108(INI)(c)and 2011/2307(INI)(d).
UN sustainable development goals (SDG)(e)Sustainable Goals 2.4 and 15.5 are jeopardised. These goals are:
‘By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought,flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality’ and
‘Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species’
Consequences of option choice regarding the effects of intended PPP use on in-soil organisms
Option: Below limit of operation Option: Limit of operation Option: Above limit of operation Nutrient cycling
Upper limit of the normal operating range of soil organisms as drivers of organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling is supported.
The aims of the EU thematic strategy for soil protection(f)to‘protect soil and to preserve its capacity to perform its
functions in environmental, economic, social and cultural terms’ are fully supported.
UN sustainable development goals (SDG) 14 Sustainable Goals and 2.4 and 12.2 are supported These goals are: capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought,flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality’ and
‘By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources’
This limit of operation marks the lower threshold of the normal operating range for soil organisms in the decomposition of dead organic matter and the delivering of nutrients.The General Protection Goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 and the goal of the EU thematic strategy for soil protection to‘protect soil and to preserve its capacity to perform its functions in environmental, economic, social and cultural terms’ are still met in the long term.
Nutrient availability and plant productivity are not impaired in the long term, even if vulnerable species in functional groups might be affected in the short term. To ensure this, off-field areas of pertinent size in a diversified landscape should deliver the upper level of biodiversity normal operating range, in order to sustain recovery and recolonisation of vulnerable soil organisms in the middle and long term.
Reduced nutrient availability might reduce plant productivity. The requirements for external inputs of nutrients to maintain crop yield will increase.
Disruption of trophic networks can occur, impairing the ecological equilibrium of the system.The aims of the EU thematic strategy for soil protection(d)to‘protect soil and to preserve its capacity to perform its functions in environmental, economic, social and cultural terms’ may not be met.
UN sustainable development goals (SDG)(c)2.4 and 12.2 are jeopardised.
These goals are:
‘By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought,flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality’ and
‘By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources’
Consequences of option choice regarding the effects of intended PPP use on in-soil organisms
Option: Below limit of operation Option: Limit of operation Option: Above limit of operation Pest and pathogen control
(in particular: pest pathogen competitors and suppressors, toxin dispersal antagonists, see Table5)
Control of specific pest and pathogens by soil organisms is at the upper level of the normal operating range for agricultural soils.
Aims of Directive 2009/128/(g)for achieving a sustainable use of pesticides are fully supported:‘Member States shall establish or support the establishment of necessary conditions for the implementation of integrated pest management. In protection and enhancement of important beneficial organisms, e.g. by adequate plant protection measures’
Resilient organisms will still deliver the service of pest and pathogen control in agricultural soils.
However, control of specific pathogens by vulnerable soil organism key drivers might be reduced in the short term.
The General Protection Goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 and the aims of Directive 2009/128/(e)for achieving a sustainable use of pesticides are still implemented, as long as off-field areas of pertinent size in a diversified landscape should deliver the upper level of biodiversity normal operating range, in order to sustain recovery and recolonisation of vulnerable soil organisms in the middle and long term
Enhanced proliferation of pest and pathogens through the disruption of intra- and interspecies interaction within the soil community (competition, predation, and parasitism) mightfinally lead to reduced plant productivity.
Pests and pathogens may increase both numerically and in geographical spread, leading to greater reliance on chemical pesticides and further reduction in biodiversity.
Aims of Directive 2009/128/(e)for achieving a sustainable use of pesticides are not implemented:
‘Member States shall establish or support the establishment of necessary conditions for the implementation of integrated pest management. In protection and enhancement of important beneficial organisms, e.g. by adequate plant protection measures’
Natural attenuation
(in particular: microorganisms and soil fauna influencing the biodegradation, dispersion, sorption and; mineralisation of contaminants, see Table6)
The aims of the EU thematic strategy for soil protection(d)to‘protect soil and to preserve its capacity to perform its
functions in environmental, economic, social and cultural terms’ are fully supported.
UN sustainable development goals (SDG) 6.3 and 15.3 are supported. These goals are:
‘By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and
minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally’
and
‘By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and
The upper limit of the normal operating range for soil organisms to perform natural attenuation of contaminants in agricultural soils are reached.
The General Protection Goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 and the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD)(h) that commits European member states to achieve a good ecological and chemical status for surface waters and a good quantitative and chemical status for groundwater is still supported, even if the degradation of specific compounds by specialised vulnerable soil organisms might be hampered in the short term
Slower removal and attenuation of contaminants from soil.
Reduction in soil fertility through microbial primary catabolic role in the degradation of plants and animal residues in the cycling of the organic, inorganic nutrients content of soil.
Potential leaching of contaminants to groundwater and run-off/drainage entry into surface water.
The aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD)(f)that commits European member states to achieve a good ecological and chemical status for surface waters and a good quantitative and chemical status for groundwater may not be fulfilled.
The aims of the EU thematic strategy for soil protection to‘protect soil and to preserve its capacity to perform its functions in environmental, economic, social and cultural terms’ may not be met.
UN sustainable development goals (SDG) 6.3 and 15.3 are jeopardized.
These goals are:
‘By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally’ and
Consequences of option choice regarding the effects of intended PPP use on in-soil organisms
Option: Below limit of operation Option: Limit of operation Option: Above limit of operation floods, and strive to achieve a land
degradation-neutral world’ ‘By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including
land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
Soil aggregate stability is increased, organic matter is incorporated into the soil profile and soil profile development is supported.
Stabilisation of organic matter and carbon sequestration in soil aggregates will protect carbon-rich detritus from microbial
degradation.
Soil structure formation and support will prevent water logging, oxygen depletion and increased denitrification
Movement of soil organisms in the soil profile will reduce hydrophobic patches formation.
The aims of the EU thematic strategy for soil protection to‘protect soil and to preserve its capacity to perform its
functions in environmental, economic, social and cultural terms’ is fully supported.
UN sustainable development goal (SDG) 2.4 is jeopardised. This goals states: capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought,flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality’
In-soil key drivers of soil structure formation and water retention will deliver these services at the lower limit of the normal operating range.
Vulnerable key drivers might be affected by PPP use in the short term.The General Protection Goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 and the aims of EU thematic strategy for soil protection(d)are still implemented, as long as off-field areas of pertinent size in a diversified landscape deliver the upper level of biodiversity normal operating range, in order to sustain recovery and recolonisation of vulnerable soil
organisms in the middle and long term
Soil structure disruption may lead to soil compaction in vulnerable soils, which is not broken up by soil organism key drivers. Less macropores will increase water logging in vulnerable soils, less connecting micropores to lower water holding capacity.Increased surface run-off and erosion may lead to contaminant and nutrient entries into surface waters. Risk of floods increases.
The aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD)(f)to achieve a good ecological and chemical status for surface waters and a good quantitative and chemical status for groundwater may not be fulfilled.
The aims of Council directive 91/676/EEC(i)Concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources may not be fulfilled.
Agricultural areas may be classified as ‘areas facing natural constraints’
according Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013(j), which might cause additional costs to the European Community in the form of payments to farmers to maintain agriculture in these areas. To receive direct payments in the context of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), farmers shall maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition. Soil degradation may lead to increased effort to maintain the reference conditions or even to the loss of direct payments.
UN sustainable development goal (SDG) 2.4 is jeopardised. This goals states:
‘By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought,flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality’
Consequences of option choice regarding the effects of intended PPP use on in-soil organisms
Option: Below limit of operation Option: Limit of operation Option: Above limit of operation Food web support
(all in-soil organisms as part of the soil food web and as food provision for species at higher trophic level, see Table9)
Structure and functioning of the soil food web in agricultural soils is preserved and the support of all above-ground terrestrial food webs is achieved.
Vulnerable species at higher trophic level, e.g. farmland birds, that are highly dependent on invertebrates for chick growth and survival will be supported.
The aim of halting of biodiversity loss by 2020 is fully supported:‘Whereas the disappearance of species may break the food chain that is key to the survival of other animal and plant species of vital importance for food production, adaptation to climatic conditions, resistance to external agents and the preservation of genetic values’ (e.g. 2009/2108(INI) and 2011/2307(INI)
Disruption of trophic networks can occur when vulnerable soil organisms are affected by PPP intended uses in the short term, impairing the ecological equilibrium of the system.
The General Protection Goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009; the aims of Council Directive 79/409/EEC(k)on the conservation of wild birds and of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna andflora are still achieved in the long term– as long as off-field areas of pertinent size in a diversified landscape deliver the upper level of biodiversity normal operating range, in order to sustain recovery and recolonisation of vulnerable soil organisms
Vulnerable species at higher trophic level, e.g. farmland birds, that are highly dependent on invertebrates for chick growth and survival, will decline further and may become extinct.
Diverse income-earning activities such as game-bird shooting may recede, leading to reducedfinancial viability of farms.
General protection goal‘no unacceptable effect on biodiversity and the ecosystem’ set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 is not achieved.
Aims of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna andflora are not achieved.
The aim of halting of biodiversity loss by 2020 is not achieved:‘Whereas the disappearance of species may break the food chain that is key to the
The aim of halting of biodiversity loss by 2020 is not achieved:‘Whereas the disappearance of species may break the food chain that is key to the