extensive trans-boundary game reserves that balance conservation, tourism and
benefits to local people.
In contrast to most perceptions of “tropical islands”, arid islands often host some
of the most intriguing and vulnerable biodiversity on earth. The Galapagos, Cape
Verde islands and Socotra are just some examples of arid or semi-arid islands with
unique and aridity-adapted endemism.
Erosion has a negative connotation, while sedimentation has a positive connotation; however, both are opposite ends of the same geomorphological processes.
Many eroding landscapes—such as coastal cliffs—represent habitats with a rich and
unique biodiversity. Many endemic vascular plants, but also certain groups of
animals, are concentrated on sparsely vegetated, steep slopes.
Fortunately, most arid habitats can be conserved without much human interference, provided the original landscape is not much impacted. Restoration of degraded
landscapes—such as areas that have become desertified—are much more difficult
and usually require interventions beyond the fiscal means of individual communities
or landowners. In such instances, national or even multi-national interventions are
necessary, if embedded cultural beliefs and practices as well as immediate-benefits
thinking from landowners can be overcome.
5.2.8 Arable Lands
Agriculture can be subdivided into the organisation and use of arable land; cultivation of permanent crops; the use of grassland as pasture or meadow; and others
(e.g. production of biofuel).
One of the key factors that will impact biodiversity into the future is how arable
land will be used or misused. Much of the world’s food security is currently met
through highly mechanised, industrial agriculture on large farm estates with high use
of chemicals. At the same time, much of the world is fed through subsistence
cropping via manual labour, on small agricultural lots that pass down through
generations or which are communally owned and allocated through traditional
authority structures. In regions that lack arable land, or in which the climate does
not support crop activities, pastoralism is the dominant form of agriculture and food
security. Battery-farmed livestock is common in developed countries in which space
for free-roaming livestock is limited due to demand for products and due to other
competing land uses. A much smaller component to the total production is shifting
agriculture in wooded habitats that sees rotational or migrating cultivation of small
areas by local communities for their own needs. Biofuel production has replaced
food production in many regions, increasing food insecurity locally given that
valuable arable land (including virgin land) is transformed for no real agricultural
value other than feeding the energy sector.
All of these agricultural activities have impacts on biodiversity, both temporally
and spatially. Mass conversion of natural landscapes and accompanied mass-loss of
biodiversity has occurred through industrial agriculture (e.g. North America,
Europe), with accompanying impacts beyond the areas of cultivation from pollution
478
C. Hobohm et al.
benefits to local people.
In contrast to most perceptions of “tropical islands”, arid islands often host some
of the most intriguing and vulnerable biodiversity on earth. The Galapagos, Cape
Verde islands and Socotra are just some examples of arid or semi-arid islands with
unique and aridity-adapted endemism.
Erosion has a negative connotation, while sedimentation has a positive connotation; however, both are opposite ends of the same geomorphological processes.
Many eroding landscapes—such as coastal cliffs—represent habitats with a rich and
unique biodiversity. Many endemic vascular plants, but also certain groups of
animals, are concentrated on sparsely vegetated, steep slopes.
Fortunately, most arid habitats can be conserved without much human interference, provided the original landscape is not much impacted. Restoration of degraded
landscapes—such as areas that have become desertified—are much more difficult
and usually require interventions beyond the fiscal means of individual communities
or landowners. In such instances, national or even multi-national interventions are
necessary, if embedded cultural beliefs and practices as well as immediate-benefits
thinking from landowners can be overcome.
5.2.8 Arable Lands
Agriculture can be subdivided into the organisation and use of arable land; cultivation of permanent crops; the use of grassland as pasture or meadow; and others
(e.g. production of biofuel).
One of the key factors that will impact biodiversity into the future is how arable
land will be used or misused. Much of the world’s food security is currently met
through highly mechanised, industrial agriculture on large farm estates with high use
of chemicals. At the same time, much of the world is fed through subsistence
cropping via manual labour, on small agricultural lots that pass down through
generations or which are communally owned and allocated through traditional
authority structures. In regions that lack arable land, or in which the climate does
not support crop activities, pastoralism is the dominant form of agriculture and food
security. Battery-farmed livestock is common in developed countries in which space
for free-roaming livestock is limited due to demand for products and due to other
competing land uses. A much smaller component to the total production is shifting
agriculture in wooded habitats that sees rotational or migrating cultivation of small
areas by local communities for their own needs. Biofuel production has replaced
food production in many regions, increasing food insecurity locally given that
valuable arable land (including virgin land) is transformed for no real agricultural
value other than feeding the energy sector.
All of these agricultural activities have impacts on biodiversity, both temporally
and spatially. Mass conversion of natural landscapes and accompanied mass-loss of
biodiversity has occurred through industrial agriculture (e.g. North America,
Europe), with accompanying impacts beyond the areas of cultivation from pollution
478
C. Hobohm et al.