RJCYNTPZ

3305

13 avril 2021 15:57

13 avril 2021 15:57

Farmers and forest dwellers are the main users and managers of the earth’s natural resources.Land management, including its domesticated and wild biodiversity, relies on agriculturalactivities that build self-regenerating food systems. The sustainable management of farms andthe appropriate agricultural and environmental policies have a great responsibility withregards to the linkages between agriculture and nature conservation.Meeting food needs while protecting the natural heritage is a challenge shared by all countriesof the planet. Organic agriculture can meet this challenge head-on by:promoting market-based incentives that compensate farmers for their stewardship efforts,thus maintaining their economic viability;replacing polluting agricultural practices with approaches that can reverse the dramatictrends in biodiversity loss;thriving on community participation in land conservation. Organic agriculture has demonstrated its ability to not only produce commodities but also to“produce” biodiversity at all levels. However, it is logical to assume that in wild areas,organic agriculture is a disturbance to natural habitats by the very fact of human intervention.In any case, it offers an important step towards a solution to many of the threats thatconventional agriculture has on biodiversity. Organic agriculture should be considered simplyas the most appropriate starting point from which additional conservation needs, where theyexist, can be built. Its widespread expansion would be a cost-efficient policy option forbiodiversity.Research and development is necessary to better understand the complex ecological processesas well as the management capacity of farmers. If organic agriculture is given theconsideration it merits, it has the potential to transform agriculture as the main tool for natureconservation. Reconciling biodiversity conservation and food production depends upon asocietal commitment to supporting organic agriculture.

None

• AB - Spécifique
• FREDO durabilité
• FREDO environnement
• GEO Europe
• GEO Italie
• GEO Turquie
• biodiversity
• biodiversité

38

2003

1 janvier 2003