Agriculture & Wildlife

Background

Agricultural land covers 6.8 per cent of the surface area of Canada. In addition to producing crops, Canadian farms also support wildlife habitat, such as forests, hedgerows, wetlands and streams. There are more than 20 million hectares of pasture alone in the agricultural landscape of Canada, which is important habitat to thousands of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, plants and insects. Natural habitats on farmland not only support wildlife but also provide important ecosystem services, such as pollination, natural pest control, and drought and flood mitigation.

Over the last several decades, agricultural intensification has diminished biodiversity on farmland because it converts land to more concentrated use, which supports far fewer species. Intensification also increases risk of agricultural pollutants flowing into watersheds, which impacts fish and aquatic invertebrates.

We do not believe that conservation of wildlife should happen on the back of farmers. We need better policies that ensure incentives to farmers for maintaining wildlife habitat. Also, we must improve how we share our knowledge about farming practices in order to reduce these risks.

Achievements to Date

We’ve already achieved so much.

• We’ve completed a policy analysis on biodiversity conservation measures in Canadian agricultural policies and provided recommendations for various provincial government departments.
• In collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Carleton University and University of Guelph, we have launched a scientific research project on insect pollinator habitat in Norfolk County, Ontario, with a goal of informing farmers about what habitats are most important for supporting wild pollinators.
• We have initiated a farmland bird conservation project, which is designed to work collaboratively with farmers to support habitat for threatened species of grassland birds.
• We continue to be a strong voice for native grassland conservation in Canada and across North America.

Conserving Grassland Birds

ABOUT: More than 60 per cent of grassland birds have experienced significant decline since the 1970s. In Quebec, about 15 species of farmland birds are now considered at risk. The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is working collaboratively with beef, lamb, and hay producers to develop best practices to support these grassland birds, many of which nest on the ground, such as Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark.

Agricultural producers using best practices on the land are key to promoting the recovery of grassland bird populations and their habitats. In addition, many pollinating insects will also benefit from this strategy, which encourages farmers to delay haying to give the grassland bird populations the best chance of survival. Other options include practicing rotational grazing, creating refuge plots in less productive pasture sections or installing a flushing bar during mowing operations to reduce bird mortality.

GOAL: To help recover declining populations of grassland birds on farms producing hay.

HISTORY: With the support of Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Fondation de la faune du Quebec, CWF launched a pilot project in June of 2019 in the Outaouais region of Quebec. This two- year project may lay the groundwork for producers in other areas of the country to apply good conservation practices which increase biodiversity and sustainability. As part of the pilot project, each participant receives a landowner guidebook with recommendations tailored to the individual farm operation that are developed collaboratively with CWF staff and the landowner. This collaborative approach includes 20 Outaouais beef, lamb, and hay producers. We thank each producer for their partnership on this project.

FUTURE: CWF is gathering information about how voluntary and low-cost best practices could be applied to increase the quality of grassland bird habitat. Food consumers are increasingly willing to buy meat products that come from producers who respect the protection of the environment. Cattle producers adopting these best practices may see greater market opportunities while conserving wildlife habitat. While there are many challenges and opportunities in this niche market, pasturelands and hayfields are home to millions of grassland birds that nest only in these environments. For hundreds of years, farmers have provided grassland birds with important habitat and these birds have provided the service of consuming crop pests. This is a partnership we would like to see continue in perpetuity. Market forces have been going against beef producers in particular. Without viable markets, many of them may switch to producing annual crops. This scenario would cause a drastic reduction in grassland bird populations. CWF is working to ensure sustainability for producers and for grassland birds.

HISTORY: With the support of Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Fondation de la faune du Quebec, CWF launched a pilot project in June of 2019 in the Outaouais region of Quebec. This two- year project may lay the groundwork for producers in other areas of the country to apply good conservation practices which increase biodiversity and sustainability. As part of the pilot project, each participant receives a landowner guidebook with recommendations tailored to the individual farm operation that are developed collaboratively with CWF staff and the landowner. This collaborative approach includes 20 Outaouais beef, lamb, and hay producers. We thank each producer for their partnership on this project.

FUTURE: CWF is gathering information about how voluntary and low-cost best practices could be applied to increase the quality of grassland bird habitat. The information we receive may help develop a standard for a bird-friendly beef label or contribute a unique component to an already existing label. Food consumers are increasingly willing to buy meat products that come from producers who respect the protection of the environment. Cattle producers adopting these best practices may see greater market opportunities while conserving wildlife habitat. While there are many challenges and opportunities in this niche market, pasturelands and hayfields are home to millions of grassland birds that nest only in these environments. For hundreds of years, farmers have provided grassland birds with important habitat and these birds have provided the service of consuming crop pests. This is a partnership we would like to see continue in perpetuity. Market forces have been going against beef producers in particular. Without viable markets, many of them may switch to producing annual crops. This scenario would cause a drastic reduction in grassland bird populations. CWF is working to ensure sustainability for producers and for grassland birds.

Garden for Wildlife

As Canada grows, so too do our cities and communities. Unfortunately, in many cases housing growth to accommodate human populations has resulted in a decline in housing space for some very important neighbours: Canada’s wildlife populations. There are ways you can help. Creating habitat for wildlife is a sure way to give Canadian species a solid foothold into our neighborhoods, schoolyards and communities.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Papilio polyxenes

COSEWIC status: Not Listed

The upper sides of its wings are black, with rows of yellow spots along the edges of its hindwings and forewings. Two distinct swallowtails extend from its hindwings. It also has a blue band of spots and reddish-orange eyespots on its hindwings.

HABITAT: Open areas, including fields, parks and meadows.

RANGE: Ontario and Quebec.

Program Lead

Carolyn Callaghan, PhD

CWF Senior Conservation Biologist, Terrestrial Wildlife

Carolyn Callaghan is a member of the National Environmental Farm Plan Committee, designed to develop and propose a National Environmental Farm Plan for Canada (currently each province has its own Environmental farm Plan and there is no consistent approach).

“Canadian farmers have an important role to play in conserving our wildlife. CWF’s approach is to work collaboratively with farmers and the agricultural industry to ensure that the ecological services offered by habitats and wildlife will continue to benefit both farmers and all Canadians into the future.”