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23 The importance of agriculture in preserving biodiversity* Francisco Moreira 1,2 Ângela Lomba 1 1  CIBIO/InBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto 2  CEABN/InBIO – Centre for Applied Ecology “Prof. Baeta Neves”, The School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon 1. Agriculture and biodiversity: the “good” and the “bad” Generally, the impact of farming on biodiversity fun- damentally depends on the degree of intensification of the agricultural practices. At one end of the scale, highly intensive agriculture, with high nutrient and chemical inputs, heavy livestock density and large crop fields, is associated with low levels of diversity, common species and habi- tats of no conservation value. At the other end, more exten- sive farming practices with low livestock density and low nutrient and fertiliser inputs can lead to the creation of landscape mosaics associ- ated with rare habitats and species of conservation value. Curiously, there is a paradox at this end of the scale, where one might expect higher levels of bio- diversity in the absence of farming. However, some species and habitats are dependent on the distur- bance that only farming brings, which means they could disappear if it is abandoned (which could be seen as an extreme result of extensification). In sum, both intensification and abandonment of farming can result in a loss of biodiversity. One of the most paradigmatic examples of the negative impact of agricultural intensification is the declining popula- tion trend of farmlands birds (e.g. Donald et al . 2001). However, many studies pro- vide evidence of substantial negative impacts on other groups of fauna and flora (e.g. Stoate, 2001). There are also studies showing biodiversity loss as a result of agricultural abandonment. In an overall analysis of the response of European Mediterranean vertebrates to agricultural abandonment, Moreira & Russo (2007) suggest that the loss of diversity of vertebrates associated with farming areas will not be offset by the potential increase in species associ- * Editor’s note: Originally published in CULTIVAR issue 8 – Biodiversity, June 2017, p.39, as “A importância da agricultura na preservação da biodiversidade”: https://www.gpp.pt/images/GPP/O_que_disponibilizamos/Publicacoes/CULTIVAR_8/E-book/CULTIVAR_8_Biodiversidade/40/ In sum, both intensification and abandonment of farming can result in a loss of biodiversity. One of the most paradigmatic examples of the negative impact of agricultural intensification is the…