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Biodiversity
Biodiversity contributes in many ways to the development of human communities by providing various products (food, wood, etc.) and services (e.g. carbon fixation). In addition to the ecological benefits for the community, the economic value of biodiversity is currently being promoted. The fact that biodiversity is dwindling is acknowledged by most scientists and politicians worldwide, with human activities being singled out as the prime instigator of this decline. There has been an inevitable call for modifications in human activities, especially cropping practices.
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS OF DMCS ON BIODIVERSITY AT DIFFERENT... Featured
DMCs contribute in many ways to the sustainability of farming systems by increasing faunal and floral diversity in the soil, while not diminishing crop yields. After a few years of DMC implementation, the beneficial impacts of these systems on biodiversity may be noted at different levels—from soilborne microorganisms to forests and even natural regions.
DMCS AND SOILBORNE BIODIVERSITY Featured
Without tillage, permanent plant cover provides an excellent habitat for living soilborne organisms, thus protecting them against stress (erosion, etc.), and increasing the quantity of available organic matter. Moreover, the root systems of crop plants, cover plants and weeds generate nutrients and enable soilborne organisms to proliferate. Soil fauna can be classified in three different groups: macrofauna (size > 2 mm: insects, worms, etc.), mesofauna (0.2-2 mm: collembola, mites, etc.), microfauna (< 0.2 mm: protozoans, nematodes) and microflora (algae, fungi, bacteria, etc.). More of this fauna is found in fields managed by DMC than in those in which conventional practices are used (more species with larger populations), especially within the top 0-10 cm soil layer. The basis of the food chain is restored with this increase in biodiversity and enhancement of soil organism activities, which in turn benefit other species (birds, rodents, etc.) and the plant cover also provides them with physical protecti ...
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DMC, GENETIC DIVERSITY AND AGROBIODIVERSITY Featured
Biodiversity components associated with food and agriculture are grouped under the term ‘agrobiodiversity’ (crop plants, domestic animals, etc.). Genetic resources, a reservoir of crop plant biodiversity, decline at an alarming rate and many potentially useful genes disappear as a result of the specialization, uniformization and intensification of conventional agriculture. From a varietal standpoint, these genetic resources are better utilized by DMCs. In conventional agriculture systems, many varieties are considered to be susceptible to certain pests and are thus eliminated through selection, despite their other advantages (hardiness, low fertilizer requirements, etc.).They are actually much better protected or more tolerant under certain microenvironmental conditions created by DMCs. Many varieties are thus better adapted to DMCs and could thus be rehabilitated.Crop diversification, rather than monoculture, is promoted on DMC farms, which means that DMCs utilize and create biodiversity. Crop rotati ...
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DMC, BIODIVERSITY IN TROPICAL FORESTS AND PROTECTED ARE... Featured
Farmers in intertropical regions always practice shifting slash and burn farming in forest areas. Due to high land pressure, fallowing periods are now markedly reduced and thus not long enough to ensure forest and soil fertility restoration. This practice is also one of the main causes of deforestation in tropical regions (27% of areas deforested every year)—a major factor underlying biodiversity loss. DMCs can be implemented to combine agricultural production and soil-fertility restoration at the same site and over the same period, e.g. ‘tropical gardens’ along the eastern coast of Madagascar, where traditional annual crops, cash tree crops and diversified livestock production may be combined. Widespread adoption of DMCs would promote the settlement of farmers who practice shifting agriculture, which would in turn save tropical forests and forest biodiversity. DMCs could also likely have the same positive impact in peripheral protected areas, i.e. a key issue for landless farming communities (espec ...
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