Objectives

 

This Working Group (WG) focuses the role and contribution of weeds to conservation aspects and ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems. Without neglecting the damage caused by weeds in various ecosystems, the WG fosters discussion and research on reasons, why weeds could be tolerated or even supported by farming activities. These reasons can be:

• being endangered plant species – conservation aspects and insurance for possible use

• being the base for trophic interactions with invertebrates and vertebrates – biotic ecosystem services

• preventing water or nutrient losses – abiotic ecosystem services

• being objectives for public transfer payments to agriculture.

Species composition, population size and spatial distribution of weeds are mainly determined by agricultural activities – hence, maintaining or even enhancing weed species, communities or populations is also widely an agricultural business. Therefore, the Working Group is an agricultural platform integrating related botanical, ecological and economic expertise within and outside EWRS.