Functional integrity: Agricultural land with minimum level of natural habitat

Definition

Measures the proportion of semi-natural or natural habitat per km2 of cropland or rangeland. The threshold is set at 10%, based on evidence that agroecosystem services are lost below 10%. At national level, this indicator is articulated as the proportion of the country’s agricultural lands having above or below the integrity threshold.

Relevance

There is great pressure to expand agricultural area to increase food production. At the same time, there is growing concern about the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by natural habitats in agriculture. For example, fruit, vegetable, and legume production depend on pollination services and safe food production is dependent on regulations of pests and diseases provided by natural predators.