New Data On
Farmland’s Multiple Benefits
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is pleased to announce
what is believed to be the first-ever Ecosystem Services Database, which is now
available at http://apps.cdfa.ca.gov/EcosystemServices
Ecosystem Services are defined as the multiple benefits we gain from
farming and ranching, including crop and livestock production. Many of these
benefits extend into environmental stewardship and conservation. For example,
the maintenance of wildlife habitats, biodiversity enhancements on working
lands, renewable energy use and production, increased nutrient cycling and
storage, soil enrichment, water conservation, and support for pollinating
insects are some of the benefits. A more comprehensive list of ecosystem
service benefits in agriculture can be found at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/EnvironmentalStewardship/EcosystemServices.html
“California’s working farms and ranches are an
important part of our natural landscape,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The
commitment to ecosystem services demonstrates clearly that beyond the
productivity of fields and pastures, resource management decisions by farmers
and ranchers provide us with wildlife and pollinator habitat, contribute to
clean water and air, provide recreational and tourism connections, and much
more.”
The database contains nearly 400 farms and ranches. It
is intended to easily communicate to a broad audience the multiple benefits
provided by agriculture in California. The database can be queried by key word,
county, crop type, and type of ecosystem service. An interactive map allows
users to view where the services are taking place.
The purpose of the database is twofold. It helps the department discuss the
multiple benefits provided by California agriculture, and it assists growers,
ranchers, and stakeholders who want to learn more about ecosystem services.
Labels: 400 farms in data base, benefits of agriculture, CDFA ecosystem services database