Benefits of biodiversity conservation to agriculture and rural livelihoods

Abstract

Well-managed protected areas (PAs) can halt habitat loss, and most countries have made commitments to expand their PA systems. Yet critics argue that even existing PAs deprive countries of needed agricultural lands and, given increased global agricultural demand, such expansion is unacceptable. This paper explores these issues at successive scales - from global to local. First, we examine potential conflicts between agriculture and PA expansion in forested regions using global-scale data. Second, we investigate the value of ecosystem services that support agriculture (e.g. erosion control, soil formation, pollination, biological control, and production of non-timber forest products) to regions identified as global priorities for biodiversity conservation, and spatially quantify the value of ecosystem services to agriculture. Third, we move to regional and national scales, examining how loss of forest services can reduce agricultural production, potentially compromising livelihoods. Finally, we examine ways to integrate agriculture and biodiversity conservation for sustainable landscapes and livelihoods. Across all scales, research demonstrates that in most places, it is both possible and desirable to expand the area for biodiversity conservation, thereby protecting ecosystem services that are vital to sustainable agricultural production and local livelihoods.