Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Biodiversity-Conscious Farming: A Case of Stork-Friendly Farming in Japan

Abstract

Although agriculture can contribute to ecosystem services, it can also be a source of disservices, including loss of biodiversity and emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants. In this study, we evaluate the biodiversity-conscious farming method in terms of the impact on global warming by using the life cycle assessment (LCA) taking stork-friendly farming in Japan as a case of farming method. The results show that efforts for biodiversity conservation and countermeasures against global warming may be in a trade-off relationship. The results suggest that expansion of the farming scale and switch from low-agrichemical to agrichemical-free farming may be two possible paths towards a lower carbon dioxide emission than the current level.