plumes from chemicals (pesticide, fertilisers); likewise, mass conversion of natural
landscapes has also taken place over centuries through communal manual effort
(e.g. rice terraces in southern Asia), with probably similar impacts on biodiversity as
in industrial agriculture but without the pollution plumes. Pastoralism, as identified
under Grasslands, can be positive or negative for biodiversity, depending on management and governance systems that work with or against natural rhythms (drought
cycles, seasons, annual fire regimes etc.).
Organic farming is an alternative to industrial agriculture, including a more
moderate use of resources and less dramatic impacts on the environment. Currently,
this kind of agriculture is one of the largest growing economic sectors. However,
organic farming normally requires more space to produce the same proportion of
agricultural outputs as industrial agriculture. Furthermore, definitions, legislation,
and especially certification, is often not clear and therefore often misused by large
producers and retailers. As a result, organic farming (crops and livestock) in modern
agriculture is still not as cost-efficient as industrial agriculture to make it economically or environmentally attractive, especially if more natural lands are converted
and thus biodiversity impacted further.
The problem of shifting cultivation is the increasing influence of growing tribes
also in regions which have been untouched or only little used until today.
A comprehensive goal should be to (1) reduce the global range of arable land, and
(2) to reduce the amount of problematic effects on biodiversity and ecological
conditions inside and outside of agricultural areas. This might realistically only be
possible in a world with a declining human population. As this is not the case, quality
should take priority over quantity. If ecological knowledge and the idea of species
conservation could be increasingly implemented in what has been called best
practice agriculture, then the living conditions for wildlife can be enhanced.
Wastage of agricultural products (up to 75%) is a major indicator of inefficiency
in the agricultural sector and among consumers, often driven by globalisation and
current national and international agreements. Improved agreements domestically
can encourage a more efficient supply chain, resulting in less demand on arable land.
Scaling down productions to serve local markets may increase efficiency in transportation, decrease production demands, decrease waste and decrease environmental
impact.
5.2.9 Urban, Artificial and Horticultural Ecosystems
Due to the heterogeneity and diversity of habitat types and abiotic conditions, the
urban species diversity of certain groups of organisms may be higher than in
comparable, surrounding rural areas of the same size.
Thanks to horticulture, the greening of roofs and walls, and species conservation
programmes, cities and urban areas can play an important role for wildlife and the
survival of rare species inside and around urban regions.
Land Use Change and the Future of Biodiversity
479
landscapes has also taken place over centuries through communal manual effort
(e.g. rice terraces in southern Asia), with probably similar impacts on biodiversity as
in industrial agriculture but without the pollution plumes. Pastoralism, as identified
under Grasslands, can be positive or negative for biodiversity, depending on management and governance systems that work with or against natural rhythms (drought
cycles, seasons, annual fire regimes etc.).
Organic farming is an alternative to industrial agriculture, including a more
moderate use of resources and less dramatic impacts on the environment. Currently,
this kind of agriculture is one of the largest growing economic sectors. However,
organic farming normally requires more space to produce the same proportion of
agricultural outputs as industrial agriculture. Furthermore, definitions, legislation,
and especially certification, is often not clear and therefore often misused by large
producers and retailers. As a result, organic farming (crops and livestock) in modern
agriculture is still not as cost-efficient as industrial agriculture to make it economically or environmentally attractive, especially if more natural lands are converted
and thus biodiversity impacted further.
The problem of shifting cultivation is the increasing influence of growing tribes
also in regions which have been untouched or only little used until today.
A comprehensive goal should be to (1) reduce the global range of arable land, and
(2) to reduce the amount of problematic effects on biodiversity and ecological
conditions inside and outside of agricultural areas. This might realistically only be
possible in a world with a declining human population. As this is not the case, quality
should take priority over quantity. If ecological knowledge and the idea of species
conservation could be increasingly implemented in what has been called best
practice agriculture, then the living conditions for wildlife can be enhanced.
Wastage of agricultural products (up to 75%) is a major indicator of inefficiency
in the agricultural sector and among consumers, often driven by globalisation and
current national and international agreements. Improved agreements domestically
can encourage a more efficient supply chain, resulting in less demand on arable land.
Scaling down productions to serve local markets may increase efficiency in transportation, decrease production demands, decrease waste and decrease environmental
impact.
5.2.9 Urban, Artificial and Horticultural Ecosystems
Due to the heterogeneity and diversity of habitat types and abiotic conditions, the
urban species diversity of certain groups of organisms may be higher than in
comparable, surrounding rural areas of the same size.
Thanks to horticulture, the greening of roofs and walls, and species conservation
programmes, cities and urban areas can play an important role for wildlife and the
survival of rare species inside and around urban regions.
Land Use Change and the Future of Biodiversity
479