Data from: Avian phylogenetic and functional diversity are better conserved by land-sparing than land-sharing farming in lowland tropical forests

The transformation of natural habitats for farming is a major driver of
tropical biodiversity loss. To mitigate impacts, two alternatives are
promoted: intensifying agriculture to offset protected areas (land
sparing) or integrating wildlife-friendly habitats within farmland (land
sharing). In the montane and dry tropics, phylogenetic and functional
diversity, which underpin evolutionary values and the provision of
ecosystem functioning and services, are best protected by land sparing. A
key question is how these components of biodiversity are best conserved in
the more stable environments of lowland moist tropical forests. Focusing
on cattle farming within the Colombian Amazon, we sampled how the
occupancy of 280 bird species varies between forest and pasture spanning
gradients of wildlife-friendly features. We then simulated scenarios of
land-sparing and land-sharing farming to predict impacts on phylogenetic
and functional diversity metrics. Predicted metrics differed marginally
between forest and pasture. However, community assembly varied
significantly. Wildlife-friendly pastures were inadequate for most
forest-dependent species, while phylogenetic and functional diversity
indices showed minimal variation across gradients of wildlife-friendly
features. Land sparing consistently retained higher levels of Faith’s
phylogenetic diversity (~30%), functional richness (~20%), and
evolutionarily distinct lineages (~40%) than land sharing, and did so
across a range of landscape sizes. Securing forest protection through
land-sparing practices remains superior for conserving overall community
phylogenetic and functional diversity than land sharing. Synthesis and
applications: To minimise the loss of avian phylogenetic diversity and
functional traits from farming in the Amazon, it is imperative to protect
large blocks of undisturbed and regenerating forests. The intensification
required within existing farmlands to make space for spared lands whilst
meeting agricultural demand needs to be sustainable, avoiding long-term
negative impacts on soil quality and other ecosystem services. Policies
need to secure the delivery of both actions simultaneously.