International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released a flagship report titled “Agriculture and Conservation” which comprehensively explores the complex relationship between agriculture and conservation.
Impact of Agriculture on Biodiversity
- Negative Impacts
-
- Agriculture directly threatens 34% of species assessed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Direct threats from agriculture include conversion of natural habitats to croplands, pasturelands, plantations and irrigation.
- Indirect impacts through introduction of invasive alien species, nutrient loading, soil erosion, agrochemicals, and climate change.
- Positive Impact: About 17% of species on IUCN Red List have agriculture documented as a habitat.
Impact of Biodiversity on Agriculture
- Positive Impact: Ecosystems support agriculture through two main categories:
- Provisioningservicesi.e.productionofbiomassandgeneticmaterials,and egulating and maintenance services i.e. climate regulation, sediment retention, nutrient cycling, waterflow regulation, pollination etc.
- Negative Impact: Ecosystem disservices such as crop predation, pests and pathogens.