Nature's Matrix: Linking Agriculture, Conservation and Food SovereigntyLandscapes are frequently seen as fragments of natural habitat surrounded by a 'sea' of agriculture. But recent ecological theory shows that the nature of these fragments is not nearly as important for conservation as is the nature of the matrix of agriculture that surrounds them. Local extinctions from conservation fragments are inevitable and must be balanced by migrations if massive extinction is to be avoided. High migration rates only occur in what the authors refer to as 'high quality' matrices, which are created by alternative agroecological techniques, as opposed to the industrial monocultural model of agriculture. The authors argue that the only way to promote such high quality matrices is to work with rural social movements. Their ideas are at odds with the major trends of some of the large conservation organizations that emphasize targeted land purchases of protected areas. They argue that recent advances in ecological research make such a general approach anachronistic and call, rather, for solidarity with the small farmers around the world who are currently struggling to attain food sovereignty.Nature's Matrix proposes a radically new approach to the conservation of biodiversity based on recent advances in the science of ecology plus political realities, particularly in the world's tropical regions. |
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agricultural intensification agricultural matrix agricultural system agro-ecological agro-ecosystem Amazon ants aquatic areas associated biodiversity basic beetle biodiversity biodiversity conservation biological birds Brazil Brazilian cabruca cacao cent century Chapter chemical coffee plantations Conservation Biology conservationists countries crops cultural deforestation disease diversity ecological economic ecosystems effect environment environmental European example extinction rates extractive reserves fallow farm Figure fish food sovereignty forest fragments global Green Revolution high-quality matrix highland guan human important increase indigenous industrial agriculture insects islands land reform landless Latin America livelihood maize major markets matrix metapopulation Mexico migration monoculture natural habitat neo-liberal nutrients organic agriculture organic farming patches pattern Perfecto pesticides pests plants policies political polyculture poor population potential problem production programme promote protected region rice fields rural scale insects settlers shade coffee social movements species studies sustainable trade traditional tropical Vandermeer variety vegetation