A risk assessment framework for determining the effects of pesticides on farmland biodiversity.

Abstract

A risk assessment to determine potential effects of pesticides on wider biodiversity, including direct effects on taxa not currently covered and indirect effects on others, is currently being developed. This paper describes the framework within which the development is taking place, and the approaches which are being used. The framework includes consideration of which taxa should be conserved, the risk assessment approach, when a wider biodiversity risk assessment is needed and what risk management and/or mitigation practices might be employed to offset any risks which are identified. Two quantitative case studies will be produced to exemplify the risk assessment process.