Biodiversity and the Ecosystem Approach in
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Satellite event on the occasion of the
Ninth Regular Session of the Commission
on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Rome 12-13 October 2002

PROCEEDINGS

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

ISBN 92-5-104917-3

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© FAO 2003


Contents

FOREWORD

SUMMARY REPORT

1.BIODIVERSITY AND PERFORMANCE OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS IN COMMUNAL AND COMMERCIAL FARMING SYSTEMS IN SOUTH AFRICA

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

Physiography

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS

Diversity/environment relationships

Species diversity

Functional types

Species’ composition

Exotic species

Land cover

Production

DISCUSSION

REFERENCES

2 BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT IN WEST AFRICAN PASTORAL AND AGRO-PASTORAL SYSTEMS

DIVERSITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIAN RISK-PRONE SYSTEMS

THE SITE

DIVERSITY IN THE RANGELAND-BASED LIVESTOCK SYSTEM

Livestock management on rangeland and cropland

Composition of herding units

Model calculation of mobility

Rangeland biodiversity

Characteristics and use of woody vegetation

THE FARMING SYSTEM

Soil diversity management

Biodiversity management on cropland: species, varieties and planting patterns

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

3.TRADITIONAL USE AND AVAILABILITY OF AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY IN RICE-BASED ECOSYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION

The great lake ecosystem

Ricefield fisheries in Cambodia

THE STUDY

Scope of the study

Limitations of the study

Methods used

Participatory Rural Appraisal

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION

LITERATURE

ANNEXES

4. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

INTRODUCTION

TRADITIONAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED MANAGEMENT

Nayakrishi Andolon:a community-based system of organic farming, Bangladesh

Ladang cultivation of organic spices in Sumatra, Indonesia

Organic coffee production and biodiversity management, Chiapas, Mexico

IN SITU CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF CENTRES OF DIVERSITY

Organic farming for the Mayas’ chocolate, Tabasco, Mexico

Organic and naturally coloured cotton, Peru

RESCUE OF TRADITIONAL AND UNDER-UTILIZED SPECIES AND VARIETIES FOR QUALITY DIETS AND CULINARY TRADITIONS

Organic quinoa from the Cotahuasi river basin, La Unión, Peru

Slow Food and the Ark of Taste: the case of Saraceno grain and Zolfino bean, Italy

Recovery of local varieties of rice through organic methods, Indonesia

Protected Geographical Indication and organic production norms for the Garfagnana spelt, Italy10

SELECTION OF BIODIVERSITY ADAPTED TO LOCAL ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND RESISTANT TO DISEASE

Selection of quality wheat varieties for organic agriculture on sandy soils, Germany

Maremmana cattle with the organic rearing approach in marshy areas, Italy

Rearing native chickens through organic agriculture, South Africa

Restoring drylands with permaculture, Bahia, Brazil

ALTERNATIVE BREEDING CRITERIA AND PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH

In situ restoration of local varieties through organic agriculture, Andalucia, Spain

Changes in plant breeding of pumpkins as response to socio-economic limitations, Cuba

Network of biodynamic seed production and plant breeding, Germany

CONCLUSIONS

5.EFFECTIVENESS OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

INTRODUCTION

Why should we conserve biodiversity?

What, exactly, should we be conserving?

How should we conserve biodiversity?

SPECIES-BASED CONSERVATION

Threatened species

Ecologically important species

Species useful to humans

Species with non-use values

AREA-BASED CONSERVATION

ECOSYSTEM APPROACHES

Major constraints on the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to conserve existing biological diversity

Increasing the effectiveness of conservation

CREATING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

Engaging with the biodiversity- related conventions

Achieving internal coherence

Moving away from the centrality of projects

External communications

IMPROVING THE PRACTICE OF CONSERVATION ON THE GROUND

Clarify objectives

Set targets

Identify impediments

Develop an active management plan aimed at reaching desired targets

Adaptive management

Stakeholder involvement

Establish monitoring protcols and regimes

Reporting and documentation

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

REFERENCES

6.CONSERVATION AND USE OF MAHOGANY IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN MEXICO

INTRODUCTION

ECOLOGICAL ZONES AND MAHOGANY DISTRIBUTION

Ecological zones

Natural distribution of mahogany

State of mahogany natural populations

FREQUENCY AND ABUNDANCE OF SPECIES IN TROPICAL REGION STANDS

Tree species

Mahogany trees

Genetic diversity and conservation of resources

Population variability

Genetic resources conservation

Management and use of mahogany populations

Silvicultural aspects

Sustainable management perspectives

CULTIVATION PROBLEMS

Role of forest plantations in conservation

Initiatives to regulate the use and conservation of mahogany

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

7. IMPACT OF CULTIVATION AND GATHERING OF MEDICINAL PLANTS ON BIODIVERSITY: GLOBAL TRENDS AND ISSUES

INTRODUCTION

CBD and the ecosystem approach

Concept of sustainability

SOME FIGURES TO START WITH…

How many MAP are used world-wide?

How many MAP species are traded?

How many MAP are threatened world-wide?

How many MAP are under cultivation?

WILD OR CULTIVATED: WHAT DOES THE MARKET WANT?

WILD OR CULTIVATED: WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED?

WILD OR CULTIVATED: WHAT DO THE SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS REQUIRE?

Health care needs

Income generation

Small-scale cultivation and home gardens

Large-scale cultivation

CHALLENGES OF HARVESTING SUSTAINABLY FROM THE WILD

Lack of information on the wild resource

Problems of open access

Lack of legislative and policy support for wild harvesting schemes

FUTURE TRENDS AND SOLUTIONS

Most MAP species will continue to be harvested wild

Need for implementation of management plans

Eco-labelling and certification

RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX 1

APPENDIX 2

APPENDIX 3

APPENDIX 4

8. IMPACT OF CULTIVATION AND GATHERING OF MEDICINAL PLANTS ON BIODIVERSITY: CASE STUDIES FROM INDIA

INTRODUCTION

Indian biodiversity

Medicinal plants

CASE STUDY: MARADAVALLY STATE FOREST

Profile

Principal observations

Socio-economic conditions

Medicinal plant wealth

CASE STUDY: DEVARAYANADURGA

Profile

Principal observations

Socio-economic conditions

Medicinal plant wealth

HABIT-WISE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDY AREAS

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

Causal factors

COMPLEXITY OF COLLECTION

Destructive harvesting

Lack of awareness

Inefficiency of handling

Lack of traceability and certification

Transparency and accountability

IMPACT ON ECO- AND AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystem impact

Agro-ecosystem impact

IMPACT ON PROVIDERS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

Primary health care

Cultural impact

Growth of urban demand

Distribution of benefits

CULTIVATION AND CONSERVATION

Cultivation initiatives on private land

Conservation efforts in forest lands

SWOT ANALYSIS OF COLLECTION AND CULTIVATION

SOLUTION STRATEGIES

A coherent plan

INTERMEDIATE DEVELOPMENT VEHICLES

LONG-TERM RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

9. SOIL BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE AND PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURE: LESSONS FROM CASE STUDIES

SOIL BIOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE AND PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURE

International recognition

Lessons from case studies

INTRODUCTION

CASE 1: Successful farmer-to-farmer promotion of sustainable crop and soil management practices in the central highlands of Mexico

CASE 2: Managing termites and organic resources to improve soil productivity in the Sahel

CASE 3: Restoring soil fertility and enhancing productivity in Indian tea plantations with earthworms and organic fertilizers

CASE 4: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the common bean

CASE 5: No-tillage agriculture in Southern Brazil benefits soil macrofauna and their role in soil function

CASE 6: Management practices to improve soil health and reduce the effects of detrimental soil biota associated with yield decline of sugarcane in Queensland, Australia

SUMMARY GUIDE TO CASE STUDIES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SOIL BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

10. CASH CROP FARMING IN THE HIMALAYAS:THE IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATOR MANAGEMENT AND MANAGED POLLINATION

ABSTRACT

CASH CROPS FARMING IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION

THE ROLE OF POLLINATION IN IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

INADEQUATE POLLINATION AS A FACTOR AFFECTING CROP PRODUCTIVITY

POLLINATOR DIVERSITY AND ITS ROLE IN ENHANCING CROP PRODUCTIVITY

THE ISSUE OF DECLINING POLLINATOR POPULATIONS

IMPACT OF DECLINE IN POLLINATOR POPULATION AND DIVERSITY

THE IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATOR MANAGEMENT FOR CASH CROP POLLINATION IN THE HIMALAYAS

MANAGED POLLINATION AS A SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM OF CASH CROP POLLINATION

HONEYBEES AS THE MOST EFFICIENT AND MANAGEABLE POLLINATORS

Experimental research on the impact of honeybee pollination on crop productivity in the Himalayan Region

The significance of honeybee diversity for pollination

Managed pollination through using honeybees for apple pollination in the Himalayan Region: A case study from Himachal Pradesh, India

HAND-POLLINATION (USING HUMANS AS POLLINATORS): A CASE STUDY FROM MAOXIAN VALLEY, CHINA

CHALLENGES IN MANAGED CROP POLLINATION

Awareness raising

Including pollination as a technological input to agricultural development packages

Influencing thinking about bees and beekeeping

Strengthening research and development institutions

Human resources development and capacity building

CROP POLLINATION INVESTMENT PROSPECTS

GENDER CONCERNS IN POLLINATOR MANAGEMENT AND MANAGED POLLINATION

REFERENCES

11. ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION OF THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

An ecosystem approach

Balancing theory and data

FAO’s efforts to mainstream biodiversity

Partnerships

FIVE CASE STUDIES

CS-1 Uganda: poverty eradication in the Iganga district

CS-2. Honduras: mountain areas South of Lempira

CS-3. Thailand: organic and fair-trade rice project

CS-4. Western Iran: sustainable livelihoods project

CS-5. India: Tribal farmers and hunter gatherers in the tropical deciduous areas of Tamil Nadu

THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH AND LESSONS LEARNED IN THE CASE STUDIES

Focus on the functional relationships and processes within ecosystems

Enhance benefit-sharing

Use adaptive management practices

Carry out management actions at the scale appropriate for the issue being addressed, with decentralization to the lowest level, as appropriate

Ensure inter-sectoral cooperation

REFERENCES

ANNEX 1

12.GLOBALLY IMPORTANT INGENIOUS AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION

Heritage for the future

The GIAHS programme: concept and goals

Economic viability

GIAHS CASE STUDIES

Traditional oasis in south Tunisia. An efficient agro-ecosystem generating biodiversity

Rice–fish farming systems in Asia. Integrated agro-ecosystems with complex species interactions

Agrarian system of the Wayana in French Guyana. Cultivated area and surrounding forest as a single agro-ecosystem

Maasai pastoralism: the cultural–ecological strategies of a people in a high-risk environment

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT

Programme management

System and site selection