Download Biodiversity - Convention on Biological Diversity

Sustainable Use of
Agricultural Biodiversity:
An essential aspect of natural
resources management in
agricultural ecosystems
Sally Bunning
Land Management Officer
Land and Water Development Division
FAO of the UN
What is agricultural biodiversity?
It includes all components of biological diversity of
relevance to food and agriculture:
the variety and variability of
plants, animals and micro-organisms
at genetic, species and ecosystem level
which are necessary to sustain
key functions in the agro-ecosystem,
its structures and processes.
Local knowledge and cultural diversity can be
considered an essential part of agrobiodiversity as it is
the human activity of agriculture which conserves this
biodiversity.
Importance (value) of biodiversity in
agricultural ecosystems
In agricultural systems biodiversity is important
1. for the production of food, fibre, fuel, fodder...(goods)
2. to conserve the ecological foundations to sustain life
(life support function)
3. to allow adaptation to changing situations
4. and to sustain rural peoples’ livelihoods (sustainable
agriculture – food security, income, employment,...)
Specificity: it has been developed through human
intervention over generations and it requires human
management to sustain it.
Agricultural Biodiversity is complex
Human Management practices and decisions
GENETIC and SPECIES
DIVERSITY
wild and domesticated
Crop based
systems:
food/fibre
crops, pasture,
trees (planned +
harvested spp.)
Mixed systems
and associated
biodiversity:
soil organisms,
pollinators,
predators
CULTURAL
DIVERSITY
Livestock based
systems: pasture,
rangelands, cattle,
small ruminants,
poultry...
ECOSYSTEMS DIVERSITY
varied production systems
habitats and landscapes
Case studies and
experiences to be
shared among
countries and
farming systems
Need to address all components of
agrobiodiversity
• Habitat diversity (mosaic of land uses varies with soil and terrain,
hedges, borders, trees in the landscape; farm type)
• Inter-species diversity (plant, animal and microbial)
• Inter-species diversity (very important for agrobiodiversity) genetic
resources, unique traits –resistance to drought, cold, disease, etc,
rooting, aspect, taste, storage, etc.
• Harvested species and Associated species (pollinators,
beneficial/harmful predators, soil organisms – health/ disease,…)
• as well as Cultural diversity (type of farmer and farm; regulations;
common property resources/ownership)
• and to understand implication of agrobiodiversity on ecosystem
functions/processes and the services provided
(see adapted Table by J. Paruel, Environmental controls and effect
of land use on ecosystem functioning in temperate Argentina)
Farmers managing …
Farmers managing genes
Farmers
managing
species
Farmers
managing
ecosystems
Managing Agro-ecosystem biodiversity
COMPONENTS
Predators
and Parasites
Pollinators
Herbivores
Non-crop
Vegetation
Earthworms
Soil
Mesofauna
Soil
Microfauna
AGROECOSYSTEM
BIODIVERSITY
FUNCTIONS
Pollination
Genetic
introgression
Population
regulation
Biological
control
Biomass
consumption
Nutrient
cycling
ENHANCEMENTS
Intercropping
Rotations
Agroforestry
Competition
Allelopathy
Sources of natural
enemies Crop wild
relatives
No-Tillage
Cover crops
Soil structure
Nutrient
cycling
Decomposition
Predation
Nutrient cycling
Nutrient
cycling
Disease
suppression
Green manures Windbreaks
Composting
OM inputs
From Altieri, M.A. Biodiversity and pest management Agro-ecosystems, Haworth Press, New York, 1994)
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: FUNCTIONS (biodiversity related examples)
Food production The portion of gross primary production extractable as raw food. or
for processing for food (Game, crops, nuts, fruits by hunting, gathering,
subsistence or commercial farming)
Raw materials The portion of gross primary production extractable as raw material
(Production of wood, energy/fuel, fodder, ..)
Genetic resources Sources of unique biological materials and products. (Plant
varieties, animal races, medicinal extracts, products for materials science,
genes for resistance to plant pathogens/crop pests, ornamental species, pets,
Climate and Gas Regulation: of global temperature, precipitation, other biologically
mediated climatic processes at global/local levels (GHG); of atmospheric chemical
composition (CO2/O2 balance, C sequestration, CO3 for UVB protection)
Resilience/Disturbance Regulation: ecosystem response to environmental fluctuation,
mainly controlled by vegetation structure (storm protection, flood control,
drought recovery, other aspects of habitat response).
Water Regulation and Supply: of hydrological flow/regimes; water retention,
storage, provisioning in the watershed: (Infiltration, soil water retention
determined by vegetation cover/structure; water supply in aquifers, surface
water bodies; availability for consumption, irrigated agriculture, industry, transport)
Erosion control and Sediment retention: prevent loss of soil by wind, rain impact,
runoff; storage of silt in ecosystem, in lakes and wetlands.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: FUNCTIONS (biodiversity related examples) 2
Soil formation Processes of weathering of rock; soil build up (Accumulation of
organic material
Nutrient cycling: storage, cycling, processing, input of nutrients (N fixation, nutrient
cycles - N,P et al, breakdown of organic materials to soil OM- humus)
Waste Detoxification recovery of mobile nutrients, removal /break down of excess or
toxic nutrients/ compounds, pollutions control (detoxification by soil organisms).
Pollination Movement of floral gametes. (Supply of pollinators for the reproduction
of plant populations- insects, bats, birds)
Biological control Trophic (food web) dynamic regulations of populations (pestpredator interactions e.g. IPM, control of disease transmissions)
Refugia habitat for local/ transient populations (Nurseries, habitat for migratory
species, for locally harvested species, over wintering grounds
Recreation Providing opportunities (eco-tourism, outdoor recreational activities –
hunting, fishing, birdwatching)
Cultural Providing opportunities for non-commercial uses (Aesthetic, artistic,
educational, spiritual, and/or scientific values of ecosystems).
Understanding Human Pressures on and
threats to agricultural biodiversity
Increasing pressure on species and their environments:
•
Population growth and poverty (increasing demand)
•
Overexploitation, mismanagement
•
Expansion into wetlands and fragile areas
•
Intensification and Specialisation of agriculture – market forces
•
Pollution
•
Urbanisation, changing consumption patterns, globalisation
Threats and risks
•
loss of plant and animal species
•
loss of plant varieties and animal races/breeds (loss of unique traits)
•
also loss of essential natural processes
–
–
•
pollination by insects, birds, bats etc.
regeneration of soils by micro-organisms
also reduced resilience.
Need to increase resilience of agriculture and human capacity to
adapt (to harsh periods, drought, climate change, pests, diseases)
by maintaining a wide array of life forms with unique traits
(e.g. trees that survive drought or cattle that reproduce in harsh conditions).
Wide range of case studies illustrate
Sustainable Use of agrobiodiversity
• Integrated agro-ecological approaches : IPM, soil biological
management
• Community-based adaptive management – animal and plant
genetic resources, diverse farming systems
• Local knowledge systems
– multiple uses of species (diet, nutrition, medicines; gender differentiated
knowledge of agrobiodiversity
– community perspectives/strategies in managing crop and livestock and
associated biodiversity; coping strategies for HIV/AIDS, climate change)
• Ecosystem approach: address all components, systems
functioning and services and human management (cf. EA
principles)
• Strengthening viability of farm-livelihood systems with underutilized and under-valued biodiversity (opportunities; options)
– grasslands (grazing species preference, productivity; deep roots-below
ground biomass)
– mountains (adaptation to altitude, cold; disease resilience, etc.)
– marketing (diverse products, niche markets, organic agriculture, etc.
– recognition of positive externalities (valuing ecological services
provided by biodiversity associated with agricultural systems)
Need to use common Agricultural Definitions
Sustainable agriculture is ecologically sound, environmentally sustainable,
economically viable, socially just and culturally appropriate … is based
on a holistic scientific approach and productive over the long term.
Farm System : the farm household, its resources, and the resource flows and
interactions at this individual farm level
Farming System: a population of individual farm systems that have broadly
similar resource bases, enterprise patterns, household livelihoods and
constraints
Sustainable agricultural systems provide a range of goods (food, fuel, fibre,
materials, etc.) and services (also considered as positive externalities)
Need to select indicators for monitoring sustainability:
• soil (sustained health + productivity, prevent soil erosion, minimise off-site
impacts, ... );
• water (water retention, maintain water regime, flood protection, etc);
• vegetation (protective land cover, structure, biomass, C sequestration)
• biodiversity (resilience, adaptability, opportunities) conservation of wildlife
and wild species; agricultural biodiversity: genetic resources inter- and
intra- species, farmed and associated species, ecosystem functions,
•
•
air quality (minimise greenhouse gas emissions)
rural amenities (e.g. landscape, tourism).
Major Farming Systems: Sub-Saharan Africa
Common classes,
characterisation and
terminology
Need to build on ongoing global agrobiodiversity fora/intergovernmental processes
•
CBD Programme of Work on Agricultural Biodiversity: 4 components on
Assessment, Adaptive Management, Capacity Building, Mainstreaming)
– International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil
Biodiversity
– International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of
Pollinators
•
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
FAO IT-PGRFA
•
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Sec. hosted by FAO
•
FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture CGRFA
•
FAO Committee on Agriculture COAG
These have resulted in:
• Assessment, Monitoring and Priority Actions: GPA-PGR, SOWAGR, Good
Practices: SLM, Conservation agriculture, IPM, ....
• Guidelines: PGR, AGR, Pollinators, soil biodiversity, ecosystem approach,
farmer rights,
• Panel of Experts… etc.
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic
resources for Food and Agriculture (IT)
• This legally binding instrument is crucial for
sustainable agriculture. It provides a framework
for national, regional and international efforts to
conserve and sustainably use plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture - and for
sharing the benefits equitably, in harmony with
the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• IT-PGRFA was adopted by the 31st session of
the FAO Conference (Resolution 3/2001)
• It entered into force on 29 June 2004.
http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/itpgr.htm
Global Plan of Action for the Conservation
and Sustainable Use of PGRFA
Priority Activity Areas
In Situ Conservation and Development
Activity 1. Surveying and Inventorying of PGRFA
2. Supporting On-farm Management and Improvement of PGRFA
3. Assisting Farmers in Disaster Situations to Restore Agricultural Systems
4. Promoting in situ Conservation of Wild Crop Relatives and Wild Plants
for Food production
(Sustainable) Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources Activity
Activity 9 Expanding characterization, evaluation and core collection
10 Increasing genetic enhancement and base broadening
11 Promoting sustainable agriculture
12Promiting under-utilized crops and species
13 Supporting seed production and distribution
14. developing new markets for local varieties an diversity rich products
also
Ex situ conservation.....
Capacity building and Institutions.....
Global Strategy for the Management of
Farm Animal Genetic Resources
• FAO is coordinating its development to guide international action for the
sustainable use, development and conservation of domestic animal
diversity
• supported by the Inter-governmental Technical Working Group on
Animal Genetic Resources
• An essential element is the first State of the world's animal genetic
resources - a comprehensive overview of farm animal biodiversity;
country-driven process (as agreed by CGRFA-8 in 1999).
• First stage of reporting completed >170 Country Reports, reports by
International organizations on relevant activities see DAD-IS.
• CGRFA-10 decided that the 1st Report, including the Report on
Strategic Priorities for Action should be finalized at the First
International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources in
2007, hosted by the Government of Switzerland in 2007 in Interlaken
• Draft Report on Strategic Priorities for Action was reviewed by
electronic Regional Consultations.
Domestic Animal Genetic Resources at Risk
 Exotic genetic resources not sustainable
 Indiscriminate crossbreeding
 Genetic resources for future needs
Desirable commitments by governments
Include stakeholders in decision-making
Identification of sources of funding
Support breeder associations
Strengthen extension services
FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)
• The CGRFA deals with policy, sectorial and cross sectorial matters
related to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources for
food and agriculture.
• It develops and monitors
– the Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic
Resources and
– the Global System for Plant Genetic Resources – for food and
agriculture.
• It has been addressing genetic resources in a stepwise manner
(plant genetic resources  animal …..) but has agreed on the
need for an ecosystem approach
• Hence the side event on its 20th anniversary (CGRFA 10):
Mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity for food security (8-10
November 2004) and resulting in the publication on Biodiversity
and the Ecosystem Approach (See website)
Options for technical support to countries in
enhancing sustainable use of AGBIO
• Enhance biodiversity through
–
–
–
–
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable pastoralism
Sustainable intensification (enhance productivity and function)
livelihoods’ diversification
• Managing seed systems to promote the sustainable
utilization of crop genetic resources
• Economic analysis: marketing, addressing and
valuing the multiple roles of agriculture (See
www.fao.org/es/esa/roa) and externalities
• Integrate into poverty alleviation strategies
Case studies of Sustainable agriculture enhancing agricultural biodiversity
• Increased use of mixtures (intercropping, multistorey, agroforestry, crop-livestock systems)
• Access to a wide range of good quality genetic material (plant
and animal)
– Promote production of local germplasm and commercialization
– Promote decentralized and participatory breeding
• Improve use of genetic diversity as part of IPM strategies
• Monitor and identify underutilized species, support needs
• Develop sustainable management practices and post-harvest
and marketing methods;
• Stimulate demand for diverse local products (niche markets,
labelling, registration)
• Review and promote policies for development and use e.g.
biodiversity conseravtion and coping with climate change
Soil biodiversity and its management
Managing termites and organic mulch
for soil productivity by researchers in
Burkina Faso:
Surface mulch applied to crusted soils
was used to stimulate termite feeding
and burrowing. This lead to improved
soil structures, better aggregate
formation, and enhanced soil function.
Mixing and burrowing of termites can
be stimulated by applying organic
mulch and their feeding can promote
soil regenerative activities
From Microorganisms
e.g. bacteria + fungi
...Roots in the soil and
their interactions with
species above & below
ground
Soil Biodiversity
Micro & meso-fauna
protozoa,
nematodes to
acari & springtails
Macro-fauna e.g. ants,
termites, earthworms
Managing Pollinators
Management
practice:
In Himachal Pradesh
in Northwest Indian
Himalayas farmers
are using colonies of
honeybees – Apis
cerana and Apis
mellifera for
pollination of apple
crop.
 An organized system of
hiring and renting bee
colonies for pollination
exists
Results: Impact of Apis cerana pollination on
fruit productivity
Crop
Increase
in fruit
set (%)
Increase in Increase in fruit
fruit
size (length/
weight (%) diameter) (%)
Reference
Apple
10
33
15/10
Dulta and
Verma, 1987
Peach
22
44
29/23
Partap et al,
2000
Plum
13
39
11/14
Partap et al,
2000
Citrus
24
35
9/35
Partap, 2000a
Strawberry
112
48
Misshapen fruit
decreased by
50%
Partap 2000b
Also reduced premature fruit drop in apple, peach, plum, and citrus.
Targeting farmers: Increasing Farmer Access
to Germplasm and Information
• Information, and seed
exchange between
farmers slow
• Access to research
generated germplasm poor
• Participatory breeding with
farmers’ organizations
• Joint activities for
improved information
sharing
• Test new options for seed
dissemination
Case studies/opportunities for Sustainable
pastoralism
• Controlled burning by pastoralists can improve forage quality and
diversification of vegetation structure and species composition
(trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals)
• Livestock grazing and crop-livestock integration can improve
nutrient cycling and make better use of fragile resources/
ecosystems
• Livestock wildlife interaction: management of animal movements,
stocking rates, control of incompatible cultivation by farmers;
herders protect grazing wildlife from predators
• Settled herders creates long-lasting nutrient hotspots (kraals;
fields)
• Intensification and fragmentation of rangelands seems to cause a
LOSS in livestock production (may need to rethink ranching,
sedentarisation)
Challenges - control of livestock numbers: use of common property
resources; prestige, savings, security, culture Improvement of
pasture and rangelands
Minimizing impacts of farming practices on wild
biodiversity- making best use of resources
Thatching,
Busia
District
Grass-strips between cropsMachakos District Kenya
Gramminae Conservation through
Sustainable management and Use
Practices are part of the wider
agricultural system. This takes two main
forms:
• on-farm
-strips of uncultivated land, ‘hedgerows’
of grass and bush, fallow land, fenced
graminae-rich plots…
• off-farm
- management of community grazing
lands, seasonal wetlands, rocky
outcrops and hillsides, sacred sites…
- controlled burning
• traditional uses and skills
Case studies/Opportunities for Sustainable
intensification
Sustainable management practices: controlled burning and grazing, woodlots for
energy and timber, field borders/hedges, crop-livestock-forestry interactions are key to
maintaining diverse habitats and landscapes that support biodiversity
Human management of ecosystems may increase species diversity
– semiarid savannas: managed pasture, control invasive forest and shrub
species, harvesting, gathering and planting
– diversified agro-silvo-pastoral systems
– multi-layer farming systems: trees, perennials- banana, coffee, annuals)
Planned settlements/roads: reduces lands with potential, avoid biodiversity
hotspots, environmentally-friendly (green belt, trees, etc.)
Protected areas, buffer zones, specific action to safeguard those groups and
species that are more sensitive to human use than others, to allow hunting and
gathering and in situ conservation of landraces/farmers varieties/breeds
Land use planning by communities and sub-catchments to promote biodiversity.
Vary land use type with soil type, terrain, microclimate, access to water. Patchwork of
settlements, cropland, pasture, forestland, and protected areas.
Regulations : stocking density, seasonality, quotas, user groups, etc.
Sustainability - adaptation to change and
enhancing systems’ resilience
• Supporting the ability of farmers to remain agile
in responding to new challenges, by adapting
their production system
• Resilience or adaptive capacity are properties
of the actors and the system in which they
function
• Resilience may indicate a return to the status
quo. Agility/adaptability refers to continuously
moving targets/changing situations
• Need to sustain use and sustain adaptive
capacity to increase probability of meeting future
needs
FAO: Roles of Agriculture Project
Premise 1: Agriculture provides multiple non-commodity outputs that are
not valued by market transactions  may be under-produced relative to
what society desires.
Premise 2: As income rises (socio-economic/agricultural development), the
economic importance of the commodity outputs of agriculture decreases
in relative terms, and willingness to pay for its other roles increases
Policy challenge
to Address Externalities (costs or benefits not valued in the market and
not adequately taken into account by actor/decision maker)
to Safeguard Common Resources/Public Goods (rules of access and
use; mechanisms for collective action to prevent degradation, under /
over use)
to Integrate natural resources management /ecosystem approach
(resources, and their products, are interlinked, management /policy
measures for one resource/sector affects the others
to Create resource/ecosystem friendly markets that generate growth
and promote sustainable use/management of resources and
ecosystems.
Studies conducted in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Morocco
Roles of Agriculture
ENVIRONMENTAL
EXTERNALITIES
Global:
 Ecosystem resilience
Climate change mitigation
(C, land cover)
Biodiversity
Regional/National:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Watershed mgmt
(prevent soil erosion & offsite impacts)
 Water (stable regime;
flood prevention)
 Biodiversity
 plant + animal genetic
resources; services
 wild spp.+ wildlife
conservation
Air quality (reduce GHG)
Local:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Biodiversity
 farmed spp., associated
spp., ecosystem functions
 NRM- soil+ water
conservation
 Pollution control
SOCIAL VIABILITY
Equity; Stability
Global:
Social stability
Poverty Alleviation
FOOD SECURITY
CULTURAL ROLE
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Gender; Heritage; IK
Global:
Economic Growth
Poverty alleviation
World Food Security
Global:
Cultural Diversity
Indigenous Knowledge
Regional/National:
 Rural-urban
migration (social
implications)
 Welfare systems
substitute
 Social capital
formation
Biodiversity: diverse
livelihoods
Regional/National:
 Access to food
 National security
 Food safety
 support in times of
crises (remittances,
migration, fiscal support,
food aid)
Regional/ National:
 Cultural heritage
 Cultural identity
 Perception of roles
of agriculture
Local:
Social stability of rural
community
 Rural employment
 Family values, gender
impact.
Bodiversity-coping
strategies; risk mgmt
Local:
Local / household food
security
 Biodiversity: nutrition; pest
+ disease control, options
 Sustainability
Employment
 Income  services
Local:
 Landscape,
recreation, tourism
 Indigenous knowledge
(disaster prevention,
biodiversity, medicinal
applications)
Traditional technology.
Targeting Communities livelihoods and
nutrition through local agrobiodiversity
Market opportunities
• Premium price for local products
• Increased productivity of landraces (improved seed quality; crop
rotations; water harvesting
• Add-value products (fruit and milk processing)
• Production of herbs, medicinal plants, honey (bee keeping)
• Handicrafts and Ecotourism
Nutrition /dietary diversity and opportunities
• Dietary energy supply can be satisfied without diversity but
micro-nutrient supply cannot (e.g. essential fatty acids;
amino acids)
• Wild and domesticated species and intra-species diversity
play key roles in global food security
• Different species/varieties have very different nutrient
contents
Understanding impacts/implications of
HIV/AIDS on agro-biodiversity
HIV/AIDS impact on PGR?
Less labour
Reduction in land
cultivated
Reduction in crop
range and variety
Loss of genetic diversity
Loss of knowledge
Less labour intensive crops
Catchments: strengthen relation between ‘upland land users (as
providers’ of ES) and lowland land + water users (beneficiaries)
implications
Natural capital &
properties that
‘come with the
Dynamic
territory’
landscapes
Biodiversity &
landscape beauty
Water quantity,
evenness of flow
& quality
Terrestrial carbon
Absence Mitigation, Direct storage
of threats increase in
benefits
filtering
Efforts
Control over territory
Opportunity costs
Environmental
Service
providers
functions
Environmental
Service
beneficiaries
Recognition & rewards
transaction costs
Mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable
agriculture and food security
Programmes, Institutions and Capacity Building
•
Multi-sectoral approaches: agricultural, environmental, land, water,
community development, planning and finance (coordination;
committees).
•
Mainstreaming in national programmes (poverty alleviation, gender)
•
Land use planning at community and watershed levels (landscape;
habitat dimensions)
•
Supporting on farm management
•
Networks : e.g. plant genetic resources, research + development
•
Participatory assessment, monitoring and early warning systems
•
Information systems (threatened resources, threats etc)
•
Training and education: curricula, adult education, extension, gender
•
Raising awareness of importance (value) - public, private sector decision
makers (local media, schools, etc)
Agriculture-environment collaboration –
identify synergy, mutual benefits
BiodiversityAgriculture
Productivity
Adaptation
Maintenance of ecosystem functions
Agriculture Biodiversity
Delivery of ecosystem services
Incentives
Ecological knowledge
The National Agricultural Biodiversity
Programme in Lao
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME
CROP AND
CROP
ASSOCIATED
BIODIVERSITY
LIVESTOCK
DEVELOPMENT
AND
MANAGEMENT
NON-TIMBER
FOREST
PRODUCTS AND
OTHER
TERRESTRIAL
BIODIVERSITY
SUSTAINABLE
USE AND
CONSERVATION
OF AQUATIC
BIODIVERSITY
HOUSEHOLDBASED
INTEGRATED
AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTION
SYSTEMS
INTEGRATED PARTICIPATORY PLANNING APPROACHES
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
FAO Agro-biodiversity Publications
You are invited to look at display copies of
• Biodiversity Awareness Folder (series of flyers/fact sheets e.g.
Why is Biodiversity Important for the Maintenance of Agroecosystem Functions?
• Publication Biodiversity and the Ecosystem Approach in
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2003, case studies
developed with partners
htttp://www.fao.org/biodiversity_en.asp
• Powerpoint presentations prepared forCGRFA-10 Side
event Case studies of Mainstreaming agrobiodiversity for
food security (November 2004)
• distributed Publications: Valuing crop biodiversity and
Beyond the Gene Horizon (prepoared with IPGRI, now
Bioversity)
http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/doc_en.asp
Overview of the FAO - Government of
Kenya Agrobiodiversity Programme
FAO–Netherlands Partnership Programme
(FNPP II - 2005 – 2007)
Collaboration for policy and strategic support
for sustainable ecosystems, rural livelihoods
and food security
Food Security
Agrobiodiversity
Forestry
Guiding principles of Kenya
strategic integrated programme
• People centred (gender
equity)
• Inter-sectoral approach/
process
• Strengthening existing
programme activities
• Policy impact in short/
medium term
• Ecosystem approach
• Opportunity for
establishing synergies
• Integrating water
AGBD Programme framework and linkages
Policy dialogue- mainstreaming
AGBD, enabling environment
Harmonisation AGBD, FS, FO
Integrated land use,
resources and
agrobiodiversity
assessment
Specific
studies
Local community
action in Lake Zone
district - fishing
communities
Training institutes information and
communication
Case
studies
and policy
briefs
Specific
databases
Local community
action in Dryland
district agropastoral
communities
AGBD Issues respond to needs identified
Habitat management
(beaches, user rights, pollination)
Integrated resources management
(agro-ecological approaches; river basin management, soil, water,
biological resources)
Alternative livelihoods
(fishing communities)
Invasiveness
(e.g. Prosopis – other woody species. learning from fisheries)
Responding to HIV/AIDS
(labour saving CA approaches, nutrition, fisher-trader links)
Drought resilience
(local varieties/species, runoof management
Markets - Seeds Networks
(prices, organisation, farming as a business)
Agrobiodiversity Programme: Local level –
FFS in diverse farming systems/AEZ
Identifying and adapting agrobiodiversity management
options + opportunities
1) Mwingi district, semi-arid
agro-pastoral  drought
resilient, mixed systems
2. Bondo district, Sub-humid
Lake Zone sustainable,
productive aquatic and
terrestrial systems
3. Coastal zone: INRA pilot
Link with drylands
Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia
1
2
Link across Lake
Victoria basin
1a)Targets farmer groups, extension/facilitators
PRA and AGBD study
Identify issues for FFS
Curriculum development
FFS Conduct and evaluation
Documenting process and
lessons
FFS
Resource management
systems,
land & water,
Diversification- species,
habitat management
Soil health, pollination,
aquaculture + fishery
LInKS
Identified General topics for FFS process
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Community resources management + impacts (species, habitats, etc.)
Changing customs and innovations (practices, by-laws, diet, recipes..)
Local conservation strategies; individual and communal
Effects of markets and market development
Ecological services e.g. pollination, beekeeping; soil health, water
Impact of cash crops (on systems, income, environment, security..)
IPM, safe use and beneficial insect species
Links with other actors (nutrition, health, business management etc.)
Drought resilient agropastoral
systems
• Genebank of local varieties
• Communal seed systems (storage)
• Effects of commercialised crops
• Drought resistant crops: sorghum
varieties; green gram; pigeon pea
• Resilient, productive systems (water
harvesting etc.)
Farming, fish farming and fisheries in
Lake Victoria basin
• Local vegetables (income, nutrition, ..)
• Alien species
• 2 fisheries scenarios: river (aquaculture)
and lake (catch)
• Upstream agric. and non-agricultural
practices affecting aquatic area
• Changes in aquatic area (not only fish)
• Conservation and use – e.g. products of
wild harvested spp.such as Papyrus
1.b) Targets extension and technical staff
•
•
•
•
•
•
Curriculum development – integrate AGBD in training
Training materials/ short courses
Livelihood approaches- HIV/AIDS, gender, nutrition
Exchange between extension and training
Workshops with colleges
Development of Case studies and Policy briefs
FFS in Kenya
seed fair Kenya
AGBD 2: Improving access to information &
knowledge
2.a Integrated natural resources assessment
INRA (builds on forest resources assessment)
- Assess available information and needs
(status and trends - land use, habitat/species)
- Develop and pilot inter-sectoral methodology
(AGBD, land use, land, water, other natural
resources, ecosystem)
- Identify indicator and tools (field survey,
transects, RRA-questionnaire)
- Capacity building (Participatory mapping and
assessment; RS, sampling,
- Compatible data, database development and
analysis)
- Targets technical capacity & informed
decision making by policy makers/resource
manager
Improving access to information & knowledge
(cont.)
2.b) Information systems on alien species in fisheries and
forestry
2c) Information on plant genetic resources for food an
agriculture
– Assess status of genetic resources with FFS
– Train people to collect and analyse data
– Improve the quality of information about PGRFA status and
dynamics
– Contribute to reporting commitment to State of World report on
PGRFA
– link with over 26 key PGR institutions
Targets: technical + extension level (Partners: Genebank, IPGRI..)
2d) Research on Managing Seed Systems to promote
the sustainable utilization of crop genetic resources:
Two focus areas
1. Using markets to promote sustainable use of CGR
How to manage seed systems to promote sustainable
agriculture, improved farm welfare and in situ conservation
of important crop genetic diversity. Methodology development
– Case studies: Mali, Kenya, India, Mexico, Bolivia
2. Economic analysis of seed system impacts on farm
welfare and on farm diversity
Assessing the links between seed systems and farm level
use of crops and varieties and their implications for welfare
and diversity
Case studies: Ethiopia (Sorghum, Wheat); Mozambique (cowpea)
India (Pearl Millet) Mexico (Maize) in partnership with IPGRI,
ICRISAT, IFPRI, and CIMMYT
Encourage partnerships for institutional
capacity building & integrated NR management.
Multiple Partners are identified for synergy and collaboration
• Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock
• Departments: Resource survey and remote sensing; Fisheries
and forestry
• Ministry of Environment and Education
• technical bodies KARI, KEFRI, ICRAF,ITDG, JKU, ICRISAT,
ILRI, KEMFRI...
• Community level: District, FFS, Extension,
• Universities (Egerton, Moi, Jomo Kenyatta)
• Training colleges- teacher training, agriculture and forestry
• Partner organisations: ICRISAT, Bioversity, ITDG, CIKSAP,
etc.
Work together to achieve happy healthy
farmers and ecosystems
Smallholders access market prices
from rural info kiosks, c/o Pride africa,
IDRC
Farmers’ studying ecology and
biodiversity, Farmer Field
School approaches
thank you for your
attention
Case studies of Sustainable agriculture enhancing agricultural biodiversity
• Increased use of mixtures (intercropping, multistorey, agroforestry, crop-livestock systems)
• Access to a wide range of good quality genetic material (plant
and animal)
– Promote production of local germplasm and commercialization
– Promote decentralized and participatory breeding
• Improve use of genetic diversity as part of IPM strategies
• Monitor and identify underutilized species, support needs
• Develop sustainable management practices and post-harvest
and marketing methods;
• Stimulate demand for diverse local products (niche markets,
labelling, registration)
• Review and promote policies for development and use e.g.
biodiversity conseravtion and coping with climate change
Soil biodiversity and its management
Managing termites and organic mulch
for soil productivity by researchers in
Burkina Faso:
Surface mulch applied to crusted soils
was used to stimulate termite feeding
and burrowing. This lead to improved
soil structures, better aggregate
formation, and enhanced soil function.
Mixing and burrowing of termites can
be stimulated by applying organic
mulch and their feeding can promote
soil regenerative activities
From Microorganisms
e.g. bacteria + fungi
...Roots in the soil and
their interactions with
species above & below
ground
Soil Biodiversity
Micro & meso-fauna
protozoa,
nematodes to
acari & springtails
Macro-fauna e.g. ants,
termites, earthworms
Managing Pollinators
Management
practice:
In Himachal Pradesh
in Northwest Indian
Himalayas farmers
are using colonies of
honeybees – Apis
cerana and Apis
mellifera for
pollination of apple
crop.
 An organized system of
hiring and renting bee
colonies for pollination
exists
Results: Impact of Apis cerana pollination on
fruit productivity
Crop
Increase
in fruit
set (%)
Increase in Increase in fruit
fruit
size (length/
weight (%) diameter) (%)
Reference
Apple
10
33
15/10
Dulta and
Verma, 1987
Peach
22
44
29/23
Partap et al,
2000
Plum
13
39
11/14
Partap et al,
2000
Citrus
24
35
9/35
Partap, 2000a
Strawberry
112
48
Misshapen fruit
decreased by
50%
Partap 2000b
Also reduced premature fruit drop in apple, peach, plum, and citrus.
Targeting farmers: Increasing Farmer Access
to Germplasm and Information
• Information, and seed
exchange between
farmers slow
• Access to research
generated germplasm poor
• Participatory breeding with
farmers’ organizations
• Joint activities for
improved information
sharing
• Test new options for seed
dissemination
Case studies/opportunities for Sustainable
pastoralism
• Controlled burning by pastoralists can improve forage quality and
diversification of vegetation structure and species composition
(trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals)
• Livestock grazing and crop-livestock integration can improve
nutrient cycling and make better use of fragile resources/
ecosystems
• Livestock wildlife interaction: management of animal movements,
stocking rates, control of incompatible cultivation by farmers;
herders protect grazing wildlife from predators
• Settled herders creates long-lasting nutrient hotspots (kraals;
fields)
• Intensification and fragmentation of rangelands seems to cause a
LOSS in livestock production (may need to rethink ranching,
sedentarisation)
Challenges - control of livestock numbers: use of common property
resources; prestige, savings, security, culture Improvement of
pasture and rangelands
Minimizing impacts of farming practices on wild
biodiversity- making best use of resources
Thatching,
Busia
District
Grass-strips between cropsMachakos District Kenya
Gramminae Conservation through
Sustainable management and Use
Practices are part of the wider
agricultural system. This takes two main
forms:
• on-farm
-strips of uncultivated land, ‘hedgerows’
of grass and bush, fallow land, fenced
graminae-rich plots…
• off-farm
- management of community grazing
lands, seasonal wetlands, rocky
outcrops and hillsides, sacred sites…
- controlled burning
• traditional uses and skills
Case studies/Opportunities for Sustainable
intensification
Sustainable management practices: controlled burning and grazing, woodlots for
energy and timber, field borders/hedges, crop-livestock-forestry interactions are key to
maintaining diverse habitats and landscapes that support biodiversity
Human management of ecosystems may increase species diversity
– semiarid savannas: managed pasture, control invasive forest and shrub
species, harvesting, gathering and planting
– diversified agro-silvo-pastoral systems
– multi-layer farming systems: trees, perennials- banana, coffee, annuals)
Planned settlements/roads: reduces lands with potential, avoid biodiversity
hotspots, environmentally-friendly (green belt, trees, etc.)
Protected areas, buffer zones, specific action to safeguard those groups and
species that are more sensitive to human use than others, to allow hunting and
gathering and in situ conservation of landraces/farmers varieties/breeds
Land use planning by communities and sub-catchments to promote biodiversity.
Vary land use type with soil type, terrain, microclimate, access to water. Patchwork of
settlements, cropland, pasture, forestland, and protected areas.
Regulations : stocking density, seasonality, quotas, user groups, etc.
Sustainability - adaptation to change and
enhancing systems’ resilience
• Supporting the ability of farmers to remain agile
in responding to new challenges, by adapting
their production system
• Resilience or adaptive capacity are properties
of the actors and the system in which they
function
• Resilience may indicate a return to the status
quo. Agility/adaptability refers to continuously
moving targets/changing situations
• Need to sustain use and sustain adaptive
capacity to increase probability of meeting future
needs
FAO Roles of Agriculture Project
Premise 1: Agriculture provides multiple non-commodity outputs that are
not valued by market transactions  may be under-produced relative to
what society desires.
Premise 2: As income rises (socio-economic/agricultural development), the
economic importance of the commodity outputs of agriculture decreases
in relative terms, and willingness to pay for its other roles increases
Policy challenge
to Address Externalities (costs or benefits not valued in the market and
not adequately taken into account by actor/decision maker)
to Safeguard Common Resources/Public Goods (rules of access and
use; mechanisms for collective action to prevent degradation, under /
over use)
to Integrate natural resources management /ecosystem approach
(resources, and their products, are interlinked, management /policy
measures for one resource/sector affects the others
to Create resource/ecosystem friendly markets that generate growth
and promote sustainable use/management of resources and
ecosystems.
Studies conducted in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Morocco
Roles of Agriculture
ENVIRONMENTAL
EXTERNALITIES
Global:
 Ecosystem resilience
Climate change mitigation
(C, land cover)
Biodiversity
Regional/National:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Watershed mgmt
(prevent soil erosion & offsite impacts)
 Water (stable regime;
flood prevention)
 Biodiversity
 plant + animal genetic
resources; services
 wild spp.+ wildlife
conservation
Air quality (reduce GHG)
Local:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Biodiversity
 farmed spp., associated
spp., ecosystem functions
 NRM- soil+ water
conservation
 Pollution control
SOCIAL VIABILITY
Equity; Stability
Global:
Social stability
Poverty Alleviation
FOOD SECURITY
CULTURAL ROLE
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Gender; Heritage; IK
Global:
Economic Growth
Poverty alleviation
World Food Security
Global:
Cultural Diversity
Indigenous Knowledge
Regional/National:
 Rural-urban
migration (social
implications)
 Welfare systems
substitute
 Social capital
formation
Biodiversity: diverse
livelihoods
Regional/National:
 Access to food
 National security
 Food safety
 support in times of
crises (remittances,
migration, fiscal support,
food aid)
Regional/ National:
 Cultural heritage
 Cultural identity
 Perception of roles
of agriculture
Local:
Social stability of rural
community
 Rural employment
 Family values, gender
impact.
Bodiversity-coping
strategies; risk mgmt
Local:
Local / household food
security
 Biodiversity: nutrition; pest
+ disease control, options
 Sustainability
Employment
 Income  services
Local:
 Landscape,
recreation, tourism
 Indigenous knowledge
(disaster prevention,
biodiversity, medicinal
applications)
Traditional technology.
Targeting Communities livelihoods and
nutrition through local agrobiodiversity
Market opportunities
• Premium price for local products
• Increased productivity of landraces (improved seed quality; crop
rotations; water harvesting
• Add-value products (fruit and milk processing)
• Production of herbs, medicinal plants, honey (bee keeping)
• Handicrafts and Ecotourism
Nutrition /dietary diversity and opportunities
• Dietary energy supply can be satisfied without diversity but
micro-nutrient supply cannot (e.g. essential fatty acids;
amino acids)
• Wild and domesticated species and intra-species diversity
play key roles in global food security
• Different species/varieties have very different nutrient
contents
Understanding impacts/implications of
HIV/AIDS on agro-biodiversity
HIV/AIDS impact on PGR?
Less labour
Reduction in land
cultivated
Reduction in crop
range and variety
Loss of genetic diversity
Loss of knowledge
Less labour intensive crops
Catchments: support linkages/relation between ‘upland land users
(providers’ of ES) and lowland land + water users (beneficiaries)
land
users
biodiversity and
landscape beauty
environmental
service
providers
water quantity,
quality and flow
land management
reduce threats –
SWC, IPM etc
terrestrial C storage
dynamic landscape
change in space and time
natural capital and
properties- territory
environmental
service
beneficiaries
water users
Mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable
agriculture and food security
Programmes, Institutions and Capacity Building
•
Multi-sectoral approaches: agricultural, environmental, land, water,
community development, planning and finance (coordination;
committees).
•
Mainstreaming in national programmes (poverty alleviation, gender)
•
Land use planning at community and watershed levels (landscape;
habitat dimensions)
•
Supporting on farm management
•
Networks : e.g. plant genetic resources, research + development
•
Participatory assessment, monitoring and early warning systems
•
Information systems (threatened resources, threats etc)
•
Training and education: curricula, adult education, extension, gender
•
Raising awareness of importance (value) - public, private sector decision
makers (local media, schools, etc)
Agriculture-environment collaboration –
identify synergy, mutual benefits
BiodiversityAgriculture
Productivity
Adaptation
Maintenance of ecosystem functions
Agriculture Biodiversity
Delivery of ecosystem services
Incentives
Ecological knowledge
The National Agricultural Biodiversity
Programme in Lao
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME
CROP AND
CROP
ASSOCIATED
BIODIVERSITY
LIVESTOCK
DEVELOPMENT
AND
MANAGEMENT
NON-TIMBER
FOREST
PRODUCTS AND
OTHER
TERRESTRIAL
BIODIVERSITY
SUSTAINABLE
USE AND
CONSERVATION
OF AQUATIC
BIODIVERSITY
HOUSEHOLDBASED
INTEGRATED
AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTION
SYSTEMS
INTEGRATED PARTICIPATORY PLANNING APPROACHES
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
FAO Agro-biodiversity Publications
• Biodiversity Awareness Folder (series of flyers/fact sheets e.g.
Why is Biodiversity Important for the Maintenance of Agroecosystem Functions?
• Publication Biodiversity and the Ecosystem Approach in
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2003, case studies
developed with partners
htttp://www.fao.org/biodiversity_en.asp
• Powerpoint presentations prepared forCGRFA-10 Side
event Case studies of Mainstreaming agrobiodiversity for
food security (November 2004)
• distributed Publications: Valuing crop biodiversity and
Beyond the Gene Horizon (prepoared with IPGRI, now
Bioversity)
http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/doc_en.asp
http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/doc_en.asp