Developing Indicators of Agricultural Practices’ Effects on Biodiversity in Livestock Farming Systems

The INDIBIO project (2011–2013) aimed to create indicators for ordinary biodiversity—common species and landscapes that sustain ecosystem services—in herbivore livestock systems. Conducted in Lorraine/Champagne-Ardenne, Basse-Normandie, and Auvergne, the study selected farms along two axes: intensity of permanent grassland management and extent of agro-ecological infrastructures (AEIs). Statistical analyses revealed that species richness of plants and animals depends both on farming practices and landscape structure, with factors varying by region. A predictive model for biodiversity is proposed with caution for extrapolation, and a three-scale BioTEX assessment framework was developed to guide biodiversity-friendly practices.