sally bunning land management officer land and water development division fao of the un

Sustainable Use of Agricultural Biodiversity:

An essential aspect of natural resources management in

agricultural ecosystemsSally Bunning

Land Management OfficerLand 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

ECOSYSTEMS DIVERSITY varied production systems habitats and landscapes

Human Management practices and decisions

Crop based systems: food/fibre

crops, pasture, trees (planned + harvested spp.)

Mixed systems and associated biodiversity:

soil organisms, pollinators,

predators

Livestock based systems: pasture, rangelands, cattle, small ruminants,

poultry...

GENETIC and SPECIES DIVERSITY

wild and domesticated

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

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 genes

Farmers managing species

Farmers managing ecosystems

Farmers managing …

ENHANCEMENTS

Pollinators Predatorsand Parasites Herbivores Non-crop

Vegetation Earthworms SoilMesofauna

SoilMicrofauna

PollinationGeneticintrogression

PopulationregulationBiologicalcontrol

BiomassconsumptionNutrientcycling

CompetitionAllelopathySources of naturalenemies Crop wildrelatives

Soil structureNutrientcycling

DecompositionPredationNutrient cycling

NutrientcyclingDiseasesuppression

AGROECOSYSTEMBIODIVERSITY

FUNCTIONS

COMPONENTS

From Altieri, M.A. Biodiversity and pest management Agro-ecosystems, Haworth Press, New York, 1994)

Managing Agro-ecosystem biodiversity

Intercropping Rotations No-Tillage Green manures Windbreaks

Agroforestry Cover crops Composting OM inputs

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 (pest-predator 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, globalisationThreats 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 under-utilized 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 DefinitionsSustainable 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 agro-biodiversity 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

http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/itpgr.htm

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 DevelopmentActivity 1. Surveying and Inventorying of PGRFA2. Supporting On-farm Management and Improvement of PGRFA3. Assisting Farmers in Disaster Situations to Restore Agricultural Systems4. Promoting in situ Conservation of Wild Crop Relatives and Wild Plants for Food production(Sustainable) Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources ActivityActivity 9 Expanding characterization, evaluation and core collection10 Increasing genetic enhancement and base broadening11 Promoting sustainable agriculture12Promiting under-utilized crops and species13 Supporting seed production and distribution14. developing new markets for local varieties an diversity rich productsalso 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.

Exotic genetic resources not sustainable

Indiscriminate crossbreeding

Genetic resources for future needs

Domestic Animal Genetic Resources at Risk

Include stakeholders in decision-making

Identification of sources of funding

Support breeder associations

Strengthen extension services

Desirable commitments by governmentsDesirable commitments by governments

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)

ftp://ftp.fao.org/paia/biodiversity/cgrfa2004_sideevent_en.pdf











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

http://www.fao.org/es/esa/roa

Case studies of Sustainable agriculture - enhancing agricultural biodiversity

• Increased use of mixtures (intercropping, multistorey, agro-forestry, 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 Micro-organisms

e.g. bacteria + fungi Micro & meso-fauna protozoa,

nematodes to acari & springtails

Macro-fauna e.g. ants, termites, earthworms

Soil BiodiversitySoil Biodiversity

...Roots in the soil and their interactions with species above & below

ground

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

Also reduced premature fruit drop in apple, peach, plum, and citrus.

Partap 2000bMisshapen fruit decreased by 50%

48112Strawberry

Partap, 2000a9/353524Citrus

Partap et al, 2000

11/143913Plum

Partap et al, 2000

29/234422Peach

Dulta and Verma, 1987

15/103310Apple

Reference Increase in fruit size (length/ diameter) (%)

Increase in fruit weight (%)

Increase in fruit set (%)

Crop

Results: Impact of Apis cerana pollination on fruit productivity

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

Thatching, Busia District 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

Minimizing impacts of farming practices on wild biodiversity- making best use of resources

Grass-strips between crops-Machakos District Kenya

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 ProjectPremise 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 challengeto 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

Global: Social stability Poverty Alleviation

Regional/National: Rural-urban migration (social implications) Welfare systems substitute Social capital formation Biodiversity: diverse livelihoods

Local:Social stability of rural community Rural employment Family values, gender impact.Bodiversity-coping strategies; risk mgmt

Global: Ecosystem resilienceClimate change mitigation (C, land cover)BiodiversityRegional/National: Ecosystem resilience Watershed mgmt (prevent soil erosion & off-site impacts) Water (stable regime; flood prevention) Biodiversity plant + animal genetic resources; services wild spp.+ wildlife conservationAir quality (reduce GHG)Local: Ecosystem resilience Biodiversity farmed spp., associated spp., ecosystem functions NRM- soil+ water conservation Pollution control

Global: Economic GrowthPoverty alleviationWorld Food Security

Regional/National: Access to food National security Food safety support in times of crises (remittances, migration, fiscal support, food aid)

Local:Local / household food security Biodiversity: nutrition; pest + disease control, options SustainabilityEmployment Income services

Global: Cultural DiversityIndigenous Knowledge

Regional/ National: Cultural heritage Cultural identity Perception of roles of agriculture

Local: Landscape, recreation, tourism Indigenous knowledge (disaster prevention, biodiversity, medicinal applications)Traditional technology.

FOOD SECURITY POVERTY ALLEVIATION

CULTURAL ROLEGender; Heritage; IK

SOCIAL VIABILITYEquity; Stability

ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITIES

Roles of Agriculture

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 EcotourismNutrition /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

Less labour

Less labour intensive crops Reduction in land cultivated

Reduction in crop range and variety

Loss of knowledge

Loss of genetic diversity

HIV/AIDS impact on PGR?

Environ-mental Service

providers

Natural capital & properties that ‘come with the territory’

Absence of threats

Mitigation, increase in filtering

Dynamic landscapes

Control over territory

Efforts

functions

Recognition & rewards

Water quantity, evenness of flow & quality

Biodiversity & landscape beauty

Terrestrial carbonstorage

implications


beneficiaries

Direct benefits

transaction costsOpportunity costs


providers

Natural capital & properties that ‘come with the territory’

Absence of threats

Mitigation, increase in filtering

Dynamic landscapes

Control over territory

Efforts

functions

Recognition & rewards

Water quantity, evenness of flow & quality

Biodiversity & landscape beauty

Terrestrial carbonstorage

implications


beneficiaries

Direct benefits

transaction costsOpportunity costs

Catchments: strengthen relation between ‘upland land users (as providers’ of ES) and lowland land + water users (beneficiaries)

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

BiodiversityAgricultureProductivityAdaptationMaintenance of ecosystem functions

Agriculture BiodiversityDelivery of ecosystem services

IncentivesEcological knowledge

The National Agricultural Biodiversity Programme in Lao

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME

INTEGRATED PARTICIPATORY PLANNING APPROACHES

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

CROP AND CROP

ASSOCIATED BIODIVERSITY

LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMEN

T AND MANAGEMENT

NON-TIMBER FOREST

PRODUCTS AND OTHER

TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY

SUSTAINABLE USE AND

CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC

BIODIVERSITY

HOUSEHOLD-BASED

INTEGRATED AGRICULTUR

E PRODUCTION

SYSTEMS

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 Agro-ecosystem 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

Agrobiodiversity Forestry

Food Security

• 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

Guiding principles of Kenya strategic integrated

programme

AGBD Programme framework and linkages

Local community action in Lake Zone

district - fishing communities

Local community action in Dryland

district -agropastoral communities

Training institutes - information and communication

Integrated land use, resources and

agrobiodiversity assessment

Policy dialogue- mainstreaming AGBD, enabling environment

Harmonisation AGBD, FS, FO

Specific studies

Specific databases

Case studies

and policy briefs

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

2

Identifying and adapting agro-biodiversity 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

1

Link with drylands Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia

Link across Lake Victoria basin

FFSResource management

systems,land & water,

Diversification- species, habitat management

Soil health, pollination, aquaculture + fishery

LInKS

1a)Targets farmer groups, extension/facilitators

PRA and AGBD study

Identify issues for FFS

Curriculum development

FFS Conduct and evaluation

Documenting process and lessons

• 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.)

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

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.)

Identified General topics for FFS process

• 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

1.b) Targets extension and technical staff

seed fair Kenya

FFS in 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 institutionsTargets: 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 diversityAssessing the links between seed systems and farm level use of crops and varieties and their implications for welfare and diversityCase 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

thank you for your attention

Farmers’ studying ecology and biodiversity, Farmer Field School approaches