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Biodiversity conservation and agricultural sustainability

Towards a new paradigm of 'ecoagriculture' landscapes

 

Sara J. Scherr, Jeffrey McNeely - Ecoagriculture Partners, IUCN, IUCN

 

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Abstract

The dominant late twentieth century model of land use segregated agricultural production from areas managed for biodiversity conservation. This module is no longer adequate in much of the world. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment confirmed that agriculture has dramatically increased its ecological footprint. Rural communities depend on key components of biodiversity and ecosystem services that are found in non-domestic habitats. Fortunately, agricultural landscapes can be designed and managed to host wild biodiversity ofmany types, with neutral or even positive effects on agricultural production and livelihoods. Innovative practitioners, scientists and indigenous land managers are adapting, designing and managing diverse types of ‘ecoagriculture’ landscapes to generate positive co-benefits for production, biodiversity and local people. We assess the potentials and limitations for successful conservation of biodiversity in productive agricultural landscapes, the feasibility of making such approaches financially viable, and the organizational, governance and policy frameworks needed to enable ecoagriculture planning and implementation at a globally significant scale. We conclude that effectively conserving wild biodiversity in agricultural landscapes will require increased research, policy coordination and strategic support to agricultural communities and conservationists.

 

Document Stats:

Release Date:	March 2008
File Type:	[PDF]
File Size:	674 KB
Journal:	Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B(2008) 363, 477–494