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Matrix row |
Prioritized issues/activities |
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1. Data/information systems |
Inventory of databases – characterizing these for agricultural biodiversity and ensuring linkages by function – on e.g. Agricultural practices and local knowledge systems; Land use maps; Types of farming systems; Agricultural Biodiversity status (in order to monitor change, systems under threat, disaster preparedness, etc.)
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2. Identification and characterization |
Research and identification of key environmental functions and processes for each agroecosystem.
Identifying key species in specific habitats
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3. Indicator development, monitoring and assessment
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Identifying key biodiversity/environmental indicators for specific environmental functions and for functional agricultural biodiversity
Long-term monitoring of agricultural impacts, especially for environments under greatest threat, using indicators identified
Monitoring the influence of local systems and local technology/knowledge and of consumer preferences on efforts to enhance agricultural biodiversity
Indicators to include critical economic, ecological, and social (including demographic) factors; focus on environmental functions of agroecosystems that enable positive impacts; focus on critical factors that reveal interactions between soil, plant insect, trees, etc., biodiversity functions and food production; consider scalability
Development of effective processes for monitoring and assessment: fully involving local people/farmers (using participatory methods); including multiple levels of analysis (regional to local, remote sensing to farmer scouting) and key indicators of sustainability; undertake comparative and intersectoral analyses (both short-term and long-term assessments) of different interventions to understand impacts
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental accounting for agricultural practices both at farm level and landscape level
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4. Identification and development of methods and approaches |
Need for a broad global study on the role of functional agricultural biodiversity in intensive farming systems, based on concrete pilot projects in various farming systems
Understanding and developing methods for using functional agricultural biodiversity
Review and develop current research programmes to identify knowledge gaps (e.g. knowledge of local farming systems, forces behind changes, etc.)
Identify opportunities for exploiting market forces
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5. Identification and development of best practices & technologies |
Increasing the focus on relationship between soil fertility and agricultural biodiversity, especially of soil biota
Understanding the relationship between agricultural biodiversity and integrated farming systems
Developing the role of local technologies in integrated pest management systems and the protection of predators, soil biota and other species e.g. fish
Develop new technologies e.g. GIS/RS/farmer problems
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6. Capacity building/training
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Training in using GIS: Remote sensing and analysis of the information for wider dissemination
Participatory "hands-on" and integrated training and non-formal multidisciplinary education processes
Farmer-to-farmer (and south-south) exchange of information on alternatives that work
Farmer field schools for developing local capacities of farmers as a means of building on traditional local knowledge about agricultural biodiversity
Participatory breeding
Training of trainers and other relevant stakeholders, including managers
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7. Education/awareness
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Information has to be made accessible to all user groups including the wider public, in local languages
Need to demonstrate and prove importance/value of agricultural biodiversity, agroecosystems/landscapes and the environmental aspects of agriculture
Extension service to promote agricultural biodiversity-friendly techniques
Communication, training and information campaigns to raise awareness among policy-makers, politicians, professionals, producers, opinion formers, the public (consumers) and school children, of the benefits of conserving and sustainably using agricultural biodiversity and agroecosystems, and the threats to these
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8. Networks and partnerships (farmers; communities; private & public sectors)
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Networking and coordination among key stakeholders at all levels
Integration of stakeholders to share knowledge of information on agricultural biodiversity
Networking, coordination and information exchange among lawyers and agriculture/environmental policy-makers on regulations and laws concerning IPRs, Biosafety, Farmers’ Rights etc.; Sharing experiences about policies and incentives that work
Empowerment of farmers, inter alia through local fora based on a collegial relationship between farmers, scientists and extension workers
Community-sponsored production (consumers – producers cooperation) and local seed security through e.g. exchange of genetic material
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9. Support to national strategies, programmes, action plans |
Integration of agricultural and environmental policies and linking agricultural biodiversity with biodiversity planning
Involve local people in policy design
Develop policy-making capacities to link agriculture and environment interests (such as measures to internalise environmental costs)
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10. Legislation, codes of conduct and policy development
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Integrate agricultural biodiversity issues within the framework of agriculture planning to assist in creation of appropriate policies/markets/strategies; NB Land tenure, Privatisation
Full cost pricing through internalization of positive/negative externalities in investments, income, prices
Positive and negative incentives through credit, taxation and subsidy
Certification/eco-labelling of agricultural products produced in agricultural biodiversity-friendly systems
Impacts of trade rules on agricultural biodiversity and environment
IPRs, Farmers’ Rights, Biosafety, Biotechnology/Genetically Modified Organisms etc.
Development of existing and new Codes of Conduct
Development of Gender sensitive policies
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