Ecoagriculture

by McNeely, Jeffrey A.; Scherr, Sara J.

• ISBN13: 9781559636452
• ISBN10: 1559636459
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

Although food-production systems for the world's rural poor typically have had devastating effects on the planet's wealth of genes, species, and ecosystems, that need not be the case in the future. In Ecoagriculture, two of the world's leading experts on conservation and development examine the idea that agricultural landscapes can be designed more creatively to take the needs of human populations into account while also protecting, or even enhancing, biodiversity. They present a thorough overview of the innovative concept of "ecoagriculture" - the management of landscapes for both the production of food and the conservation of wild biodiversity. The book:examines the global impact of agriculture on wild biodiversitydescribes the challenge of reconciling biodiversity conservation and agricultural goalsoutlines and discusses the ecoagriculture approachpresents diverse case studies that illustrate key strategiesexplores how policies, markets, and institutions can be re-shaped to support ecoagricultureWhile focusing on tropical regions of the developing world -- where increased agricultural productivity is most vital for food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development, and where so much of the world's wild biodiversity is threatened -- it also draws on lessons learned in developed countries. Dozens of examples from around the world present proven strategies for small-scale, low-income farmers involved in commercial production.Ecoagricultureexplores new approaches to agricultural production that complement natural environments, enhance ecosystem function, and improve rural livelihoods. It features a wealth of real-world case studies that demonstrate the applicability of the ideas discussed and how the principles can be applied, and is an important new work for policymakers, students, researchers, and anyone concerned with conserving biodiversity while sustaining human populations.

Table of Contents

List of Cases, Maps, Figures, Tables, and Boxes
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Acronyms
The Challenge: Agricultural Intensification, Rural Poverty, and Biodiversity	p. 1
Introduction	p. 3
Wild Biodiversity under Threat	p. 9
Agriculture and Human Welfare	p. 31
Agriculture and Wild Biodiversity	p. 51
The Opportunity: Integrating Biodiversity Conservation in Agricultural Development	p. 87
Ecoagriculture: Genesis of the Approach	p. 89
Making Space for Wildlife in Agricultural Landscapes	p. 115
Enhancing the Habitat Value of Productive Farmlands	p. 149
Coexisting with Wild Biodiversity in Ecoagriculture Systems	p. 191
Policy Responses	p. 199
Policies to Promote Ecoagriculture	p. 201
Market Incentives for Ecoagriculture	p. 217
Institutions to Support Ecoagriculture	p. 231
Bringing Ecoagriculture into the Mainstream	p. 249
Glossary	p. 267
References	p. 281
About the Authors	p. 317
Index	p. 319
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.