A team of British researchers is calling for reform of Europe’s agricultural policies to give birds and wildlife a better chance of survival, warning that farming practices are causing “a second silent spring.” Thirteen bird species that live exclusively on farmland have declined by an average of 30 percent between 1968 and 1995, the team reports. It blames changes in farming methods, including increased draining of land, monoculture planting, and the use of agrochemicals. The scientists, whose work is published in the journal Nature, recommend introducing more variety into farming.
