Ecoagriculture : strategies to feed the world and save wild biodiversity / Jeffrey A. McNeely and Sara J. Scherr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McNeely, Jeffrey A.

Contributor:

Scherr, Sara J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Agrobiodiversity.

Agrobiodiversity conservation.

Physical Description:

xxvii, 323 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington : Island Press, [2003]

Summary:

Although food-production systems for the world's rural poor typically havehad 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 examinethe idea that agricultural landscapes can be designed more creatively to take the needs of human populations into account while also protecting, oreven 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 biodiversity, describes the challenge of reconciling biodiversity conservation and, agricultural goals, outlines and discusses the ecoagriculture approach, presents diverse case studies that illustrate key strategies, explores how policies, markets, and institutions can be re-shaped to support ecoagriculture

While focusing on tropical regions of the developing world-where increasedagricultural 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.

Ecoagriculture explores 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.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 281-315) and index.

ISBN:

1559636440

1559636459

OCLC:

49626573