Impacts of Agricultural Practices on Mountain Biodiversity

This paper investigates how agricultural practices impact mountain biodiversity. Within the PROMONT project this has been realized across six ADRION pilot areas. By combining species surveys, land-use mapping, and stakeholder input, PROMONT identifies how intensification, agrochemical use, and abandonment threaten ecological integrity. Findings show that traditional agro-pastoral systems support biodiversity, while modern intensification leads to habitat loss and species decline. Agroecological practices, such as organic farming and landscape heterogeneity, offer viable pathways for sustainable coexistence. The study proposes a replicable assessment methodology and recommends integrating biodiversity objectives into agricultural policy, promoting knowledge transfer, and supporting conservation-friendly farming to enhance ecological resilience in mountain environments.