Ecoagriculture: Integrating Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation –

A Landscape Perspective

Sara J. ScherrPresident, Ecoagriculture Partners

Biodiversity Conservation in Agriculture Symposium Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

May 31, 2006

Carbon sequestration and storage

Soil formation and fertility

Decomposition of wastes Landscape beauty

Wild species & habitat protectionPlant pollination

Watershed protection and regulation

Managing and Conserving Biodiversity: Our ‘Natural Infrastructure’

Importance of Agricultural Landscapesfor Biodiversity Conservation

Population in Global Biodiversity Hotspots

Population in Global Biodiversity Hotspots

Our Vision Dominance of Agricultural Land Use in Major Habitat Types

Our VisionImportance of Biodiversity for Agricultural Communities

• Direct consumption of wild foods, medicines and fuel (and “safety net”)

• Farm inputs: wild spp as fodder, fertilizer, packaging, fencing

• Income from sale of wildlife, ecosystem services

• Crop/stock genetic diversity

• Local ecosystem services: water, pollination, soil fertility, pest & disease control, nutrient cycling

• Agriculture is a key element of rural food security and poverty reduction (UN Millennium Project)

• Agricultural product demand is growing: 50-100%+ LDC food demand by 2030

• Ecological degradation threatens agricultural productivity, livelihoods, health and assets of the poor (Millennium Assessment)

Future Trends in Agricultural Landscapes:The Urgency of Integrated Action

Our Vision

Agricultural Lands and Habitat

Example of the Challenge: Lake Victoria Basin, E. Africa

Producers in, around & linking PA’s Agricultural regions that are key providers of for biodiversity and ecosystem services Degraded areas where ecosystem restoration is essential for both biodiversity & production Agriculture in and around urban areas

Strategic Partnerships Required Between Conservationists and Farm Communities

Agricultural landscapes where farms and natural areas are managed to enhance rural livelihoods and sustainable agricultural production (of crops, livestock, fish and forest), while conserving or restoring ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Our Vision Ecoagriculture

Putting food security at the heart of conservation; Putting conservation at the heart of food security…

Motivations of Farmers and Communities Who Engage in Ecoagriculture

1) Reduce production costs, raise or stabilize yields, improve quality

2) Conserve biodiversity critical to their own livelihoods

3) Access product markets seeking biodiversity-friendly sources

4) Earn payments for ecosystem services

5) Comply with env. regulations

6) Protect rights to farm/herd/harvest wild products in PA’s

7) To reduce conflicts with other groups in the landscape

8) Protect important cultural, spiritual or aesthetic values

Developing and Managing anEcoagriculture Landscape

Our Vision Inter-Dependence of Agriculture, Ecosystems and Livelihoods

Conservation of biodiversity and

ecosystem services

Some ecosystem processes and functions help to maintain wild biodiversity.

Wild biodiversity

Some ecosystem processes and functions benefit humans directly;. These are ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services

Beneficial services within landscape, such as:

• Pollination• Pest control• Soil fertility• Water quality

Beneficial services outside landscape, such as:

• Carbon sequestration• Flood protection• Habitat for valued species

Sustainable agricultural production

Ecosystem process & function, such as:

• Primary production• Decomposition• Nutrient cycling• Gene flow & evolutionary processes• Hydrology

Community and household-level benefits such as:• Protection of natural capital• Wild foods, fuel, medicines• Compensation payments for ecosystem services

Sustainable livelihoods

Nesting sites: undisturbed areas Protective cover: diverse perennial cover Adequate, clean water: few pollutants, source flow/recharge, water access Access to territory: functional corridors All-season food access: diverse food sources Predator-prey balance: diversity, protection Interdependent species: patches of natural vegetation, avoid unnecessary disturbance

How can agricultural landscapes provide these features, while increasing production?

What Wild Species Need in AgriculturalLandscapes

Science Supporting Ecoagriculture

• Scientific advances in agroecology, wildlife biology, molecular biology, genetics, hydrology

• New research techniques (e.g., remote sensing, systems modeling, biochemical markers)

• New tools for ecosystem and landscape analysis • Improved methods for on-farm and landscape-

scale action research• New tools to assist multi-stakeholder diagnosis,

negotiation, planning and assessment

Maintain natural vegetation with adequate patch size and connectivity (depends on sinks, ecological traps, location, configuration, edge effects, boundary zones, ecological compatibility of production areas) Protect natural fragments that serve as critical habitat on/off farm from anthropic disturbance Retain tree cover on farms for connectivity Harvest wild products from natural habitats using low-impact, sustainable methods Ensure farmers and communities benefit from stewardship of conserved areas

Emerging Principles 1: Terrestrial Habitats

Maintain or restore native vegetation buffers (in US- width of 25 meters for nutrient and pollutant removal; 30 m for microclimate regulation and sediment removal; 50 m for detrital input and bank stabilization; over 100 m for wildlife habitat functions)

Protect wetlands and maintain critical function zone in natural vegetation (In US- at least 10% of watershed and 6% of any sub-watershed)

Re-establish hydrological connectivity & natural patterns of aquatic ecosystems (incl. flooding) Protect watersheds with spatial configuration of perennial natural, planted vegetation Maintain continuous year-round soil cover to enhance rainfall infiltration

Emerging Principles 2: Freshwater Habitats

Reduce agricultural pollution Manage pests, diseases, nutrients using ecological principles Minimize run-off of toxic chemicals, nutrients and wastes

Ecologically manage soil,water,natural vegetation Maintain biologically healthy soils, and year-round soil cover Time operations to minimize disturbance to wild species Manage irrigation systems to save water for wildlife

Use crop mixtures and configurations that mimic the structure and function of natural habitats

Ensure diverse crop mix at a landscape scale Ensure diverse mix of varieties/breeds at a landscape scale Use mix of annual and perennial crops that mimic natural vegetation Maintain diverse land use mosaic

Improve productivity to free other areas of the farm or landscape for nature protection

Emerging Principles 3: Ecologically Compatible Agricultural Production – Intensification without Simplification

Emerging Principles 4: Achieving Positive Synergies for Agricultural Production

• Increase input efficiency• Enhance biological and

ecological synergies• Improve spatial

organization of land use• Manage wild species to

benefit farming • Economies of scale through collective action• Substitute natural capital for financial capital

Building on Traditional Production Systems:Multi-Species Agroforests in Indonesia

Benefits:- 70-90% of species of natural forests- 4 million ha in Indonesia- Many commercial spp- Mosaic with rice- $2 billion value of rubber agroforests alone

Building on Industrial Production Systems:Biodiversity and Wine Initiative, S. Africa

Benefits:- No loss of habitat- Ecologically compatible practices- Reduced cash costs- Link to market brands and agri-tourism

Institutional Challenges to Implement Ecoagriculture

• Collective action within communities• Multi-stakeholder landscape forums• Cross-sectoral knowledge-sharing and research• Marketing chains for biodiverse products• Institutions developed for PES• Coordinated agriculture-conservation policy• Supportive tenure systems for farmland and PAs

Building EcoagricultureCommunities of Practice

1) Understand How Ecoagriculture Works

Document Cases of Ecoagriculture Monitor Ecoagriculture LandscapesMobilize Ecoagriculture Research

2) Promote Learning AmongEcoagriculture Innovators

Community Ecoagriculture Knowledge ServiceEcoagriculture Leadership CourseEcoagriculture Working Groups

3) Promote Policies and Markets that Support Ecoagriculture

Int’l and National Policies Incorporate Ecoagriculture (incl. MDGs, MEAs)

Product Market Innovations

Payments for Ecosystem Services in Ecoagriculture Landscapes

Thank you!For more information…..

www.ecoagriculture.org