Relating land-use intensity and biodiversity at the regional scale

Changes in biodiversity are often attributed to economically driven land-use changes, but the relation is not too well documented. Land-use changes involve both changes to a different function and shifts in intensity within a function. The relation between land-use changes and biodiversity changes at the meso-level. in the province of Drenthe is the object of study of the present paper. Commonly available indicators about land-use and biodiversity appear to be related to each other in complicated ways. The biodiversity parameters that react most unambiguously to changing Land-use are plant functional types. The clearest relation is found when changes to a different function occur. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.