Agrobiodiversity

Management
Course Code: ECO 412
Credit: (1+1)=2
By: Ram Kumar Shrestha
 Biodiversity
Biodiversity: W.G. Rosen in 1985
Variation in the forms of life Genetic/Species/Ecosystem

BIODIVERSITY refers to the variety of life, and includes all living

things (plants, animals and micro-organisms) and their unique
characteristics.

Spatial /Temporal basis (climatic and edalphic factors)

Natural selection puts in pressure on each individual.
 Biodiversity higher in equatorial reason  because of high
Primary productivity, faster life cycle, climatic suitability
 Since the human evolution, loss of biodiversity has been seen quit
rapid
Creatures on earth
Size of each
organism is
scaled to its
number of
species.
What Is Biodiversity?/components

It can mean the variety of habitats,

living communities and ecological
processes in an ecosystem.

It can mean the diversity of genetic

characteristics within a species.

It can mean the variety of species

in a given area.
Genetic diversity with in a crop
 Human population in biodiversity hot spots

Cincotta, R.P., J. Wisnewski and R. Engelman. 1999. Human population in the

biodiversity hotspots, Nature, 404: 990-992
Biodiversity hot spots
Challenges for sustainable
development
Four of major global challenges identified by the
UN are:

Energy crisis
Climate change
Food insecurity
Loss of biodiversity
 Today’s mass extinction
Currently Earth is undergoing its sixth mass extinction—
because of us.

Humans have increased the extinction rate by a factor of

1,000.

> 1,100 species are known to have gone extinct in the

past 400 years.

The Red List, from the World Conservation Union, lists

species that today are facing high risks of extinction.
Causes of species extinction
Primary causes spell “HIPPO”:
• Habitat alteration
• Invasive species
• Pollution
• Population growth
• Overexploitation
International biodiversity scenarios
2010-2020: Decade of Biodiversity
2010: International Year of Biodiversity

2011: International Year of Forests

We do not inherit earth from our ancestors, we have

just borrowed it from our children –
Native American Proverb
 Farmers managing
genes

Farmers
managing
species

Farmers
managing
ecosystems
 History
3.5 billion years of evolution
Domestication:10,000 years ago, fire-stick farming.
Dogs and ships are thought to be domesticated first
among other animals.
9500 BCE that the eight so-called founder crops of
agriculture appear: first emmer and einkorn wheat, then
hulled barley, peas, lentils, bitter vetch, chick peas and
flax.
 Agrobiodiversity
Subset of biodiversity that directly or indirectly engaged in the
key functions of agricultural ecosystem.
Agricultural biodiversity is indeed fundamental for resilience and
adaptation to change.
Includes:.
 The diversity of genetic resources (varieties, breeds,
species, whether cultivated, reared or wild) used directly or
indirectly for food and agriculture;
 The diversity of species that support production (soil
biota, pollinators, predators, etc.) and those in the wider
environment that support agroecosystems (agricultural,
pastoral, forest and aquatic)
 The diversity of the agroecosystems themselves.
 Agrobiodiversity
The variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms

that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture,

including crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries. It comprises the

diversity of genetic resources (varieties, breeds) and species used for

food, fodder, fibre, fuel and pharmaceuticals. It also includes the

diversity of non-harvested species that support production (soil

micro-organisms, predators, pollinators), and those in the wider

environment that support agro-ecosystems (agricultural, pastoral,

FAO, 1999
forest and aquatic) as well as the diversity of the agro-ecosystems.
 Importance of AB
 Ensure the production of Goods (food, fibre,
fuel, fodder, medicine)
 Maintain other ecosystem services
 Allow adaptation to changing conditions -
including climate change
 Sustain rural peoples' livelihoods
 Features of AB
Human interference and management
Introduction of novel material
Economic consideration
 Industrial agriculture, reduced diversity (crop
diversity is now held ex-situ)
 Ecosystem Services inTraditional Diversified
Agroecosystems
Water Pest Pollination
Nutrient Climate
Soils control
cycling

Domestic
Crop animals
genetic and
species
AGRICULTURE
diversity Meat, grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, fibers,
fuels
Healthy ecosystems
Farmscapes, recreation, biodiversity

Provisioning services Regulating services

Supporting services Cultural services
Ecosystem Services in Industrial Agriculture: Diversified
Agroecosystems
Water
Ground- Pest Pollinatio
Fertilizers Nutrient water Climate Pesticide Honey
Soils control n bees
cycling pumping s

Commercial Mechanization
varieties in
Domestic
Crop Feed lots
animals
monoculture
genetic and
species
AGRICULTURE
diversity Meat, grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, fibers,
fuels
Healthyeutrophication,
EXTERNALITIES: ecosystems pollution; salinization; soil erosion and
compaction, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, human health issues
Farmscapes, recreation, biodiversity
Monoculture landscapes

Provisioning services Regulating services

Supporting services Cultural services
 Gene centre of crops (centre of diversity)
 (1) Mexico-
Guatemala, (2)
Peru-Ecuador-
Bolivia, (2A)
Southern Chile,
(2B) Southern
Brazil, (3)
Mediterranean, (4)
Middle East, (5)
Ethiopia, (6)
Central Asia, (7)
Indo-Burma, (7A)
Siam-Malaya-Java,
(8) China.
  
Centre of origin of crop

Chinese center: Buckwheat, velvet bean

Indian center: 1) Indo-malayan center 2) Hindustan
center of origin
 Central Asiatic center : Chickpea Mug bean, Flax
Near eastern center: Lentil, Rye
 Mediterranean center: Drum wheat, Pea, Lupine
 South American center: Common bean, starchy Maize
Mexican center: Maize, Lima Bean
Abyssinian Center: Perl millet, Cowpea
  
Centre of origin of crop and animal diversity
 Research and development in ABD

Participatory research approach: community based

participatory research (CBPR)
 Novel marketing approach in Agrobiodiversity
conservation.
 Diversification of home garden
Cross breeding of local varieties

Cultivation, commercialization and consumption

should also assure conservation of our biological
resources