Agrobiodiversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biodiversity as the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. Our world's wide variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms and the genetic diversities within each species; the varieties of patterns they form in ecosystems; and the valuable products, services, and opportunities they provide are increasingly threatened by human exploitation. The CBD calls on all countries to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity in collaboration with local actors, such as farmers, because they take most of the actions that affect biodiversity.

Agriculture greatly affects biodiversity. Much of the world's farmlands are cultivated by small-landholding farmers in the developing countries, and the practices of these farmers affect biodiversity in a large part of the world. On the one ...