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A bird's eye view of farm size and biodiversity: The ecological legacy of the iron curtain

Author

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  • Frederik Noack
  • Ashley Larsen
  • Johannes Kamp
  • Christian Levers

Abstract

Agriculture is a major threat to global biodiversity. A common claim is that large‐scale agro‐industrial farming is mainly responsible for the biodiversity decline, while smaller family farms are more wildlife friendly. Here we leverage a natural experiment along the former inner German border to estimate the causal impact of farm size on biodiversity. We combine land cover data with bird diversity data to establish the mechanisms through which farm size affects bird diversity. Our main results show that the increase in farm size at the former inner German border reduces bird diversity by 15%. The results suggest further that the decline is the result of land cover simplification rather than land use intensification.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederik Noack & Ashley Larsen & Johannes Kamp & Christian Levers, 2022. "A bird's eye view of farm size and biodiversity: The ecological legacy of the iron curtain," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(4), pages 1460-1484, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ajagec:v:104:y:2022:i:4:p:1460-1484
    DOI: 10.1111/ajae.12274
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    Cited by:

    1. David Wuepper & Robert Finger, 2023. "Regression discontinuity designs in agricultural and environmental economics," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(1), pages 1-28.
    2. Schaub, Sergei & Pfaff, Alexander & Bonev, Petyo, 2025. "Biodiversity and the Design of Result-based Payments: Evidence from Germany," Economics Working Paper Series 2502, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science.
    3. Jänicke, Clemens & Wesemeyer, Maximilian & Chiarella, Cristina & Lakes, Tobia & Levers, Christian & Meyfroidt, Patrick & Müller, Daniel & Pratzer, Marie & Rufin, Philippe, 2024. "Can we estimate farm size from field size? An empirical investigation of the field size to farm size relationship," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 220.

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