ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY

Briefing and Book Launch

18 May

Defending Agricultural Biodiversity

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Agricultural biodiversity is central to both environment and development.

• Agriculture is the largest user of biodiversity
• Farmers are the main ecosystem managers
• Agricultural biodiversity provides:

• sustainable production of food,
• biological support to production, and
• ecosystem services

The Agricultural Biodiversity Programme of Work must be farmer-centred if it is to be effective. It must stress and promote:

• Farmers’ guardian role in conservation and sustainable use
• Empowerment of farmers
• Counteracting the spread of unsustainable agriculture and use of unsustainable and potentially unsafe technologies - especially GURTs
• Farmer-driven research and development

The CBD must actively collaborate with farming communities and their institutions as principal partners.

Specific textual changes have been proposed by NGOs in the GBF15 report, covering the need for additional clauses in each of the four elements of the proposed programme of work, each addressing the need for farmer-centred approaches and practices. There is a need to ensure that reports to COP 6 cover work on all these elements and demonstrate the way in which the Convention is really reflecting the demands, aspirations and needs of farmers and reporting that meaningful incentives are being provided to them to enable them to continue their role in managing agricultural biodiversity on which universal food security depends.

Many specific details are included in the landmark Decision III/11 on Agricultural Biodiversity that cover not only the Programme of Work but also, a description of the problems and possibilities of different agricultural systems and the need to mitigate the negative impacts of industrial agriculture on agricultural biodiversity, the relationship with WTO, and encouragement to the FAO to complete the negotiations on the International Undertaking.

The International Undertaking (IU) is being renegotiated by countries through the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. But, given the distinctive nature, origin and problems of PGRFA and the farmers’ knowledge embodied in these, the IU will need to provide a framework which simultaneously permits free access and exchange, through a multilateral system of access to the resources, provide benefits related to end use i.e. food security and implement internationally recognised Farmers’ Rights.

The COP Decision should ensure a pro-farmer IU is submitted to the next COP as a legally binding instrument.

This COP should ensure that its decisions relating to Agricultural Biodiversity in other areas are consistent and coherent and linked through specific references in the Decision on Agricultural Biodiversity.

The CBD has a real challenge before it. How can it support farmers’ efforts to Sustain Life on Earth: to maintain the functions and integrity of Agro-ecosystems through the sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity? A good Decision on Agricultural Biodiversity that loses none of the gains made in previous Decisions and adds a farmer-centred focus to the CBD’s work, will be a good step forward.

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SHINGAIRAI MAPUNDU, Zimbabwean farmer

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Shingairai Mapundu speaks out against Terminator Technologies

"We understand that we might get seeds which have been changed so that we won't be able to plant them again. We want to make sure this does not happen. We want to make sure that our seeds will be able to grow for the next harvest. I have seen developments with chemicals like this before that have gone wrong and I do not trust them."

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LUCY MATHENGE, ITDG researcher on agricultural biodiversity conservation

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STRATEGIES FOR ON FARM AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION BY THARAKA COMMUNITY, KENYA: key points from presentation to lunch time briefing

Summary

• Cultivated crops are taken as the most important diversity
• Farmer's greatest need is to have access to more varieties but not to replace existing varieties
• It is difficult for complete seed loss to take place
• Diversity for cultivated crops and farming systems has increased over time while most other types of diversity have decreased-pasture land, wild plants and animals etc Strategies
• Selecting seed in shamba before crop harvest to secure high quality seed and planting them early
• Keeping enough seed to last for over 3 years
• Protecting and caring for useful wild plants from burning when opening up new land and in slash and burn system
• Seed bulking of all seed at hand
• Plowing and adding mulch/manure to fertilize soils
• Giving seed to neighbours for preservation
• Mixed seed and intercropping to be sure of a crop harvest-good soils
• Planting seed during harvesting-good soils
• Planting two seasonal crop for mulch-medium soils
• Planting when the rain set-poor soils
• Farmers' knowledge of sustainable use of diversity in dry land ecosystems needs to be fully supported at national, regional and international level

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ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY: BOOK LAUNCHES

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Book launch in room 8 UNEP, 18 May 2000

Encouraging Diversity: the conservation and development of planr genetic resources. Conny Almekinders and Walter de Boef (eds). IT Publications

Monica Opole, CIKSAP, launches Encouraging Diversity

Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity. Darrell Posey. IT Publications / UNEP

Link to UNEP pages announcing Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversityhttp://www.unep.org/Biodiversity/

Speakers included Klaus Topfer, UNEP Executive Secretary; Mark Chakrabarty, UNEP Task Management; Ruth Liloqula, Soloman Islands delegate and contributor to the volume on cultural values; and Mark Collins, Director of UNEP-WCMC.

Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity: A Complementary Contribution to the Global Biodiversity Assessment, edited by Darrell A. Posey, was launched by UNEP and Intermediate Technology Publications.

Weaving together philosophical, historical, legal, scientific and personal viewpoints, this book gives a rich sample of the vast web which makes up our cultural, spiritual and social diversity. The volume highlights the key role of cultural and spiritual values in the appreciation and preservation of all life, arguing that these values give us a true reflection of worth.

The volume also directly addresses two CBD Articles: Art.8(j) on the respect, preservation and maintenance of the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for in situ conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; and Art.15 on access to genetic resources and national authority.

Chapters cover topics such as the complex issue of indigenous people, holistic health practices where environment and diet are integrated into indigenous and medical health systems, and the importance of effective intellectual property rights and territorial and land rights to enhance and maintain local control. For a copy, contact Intermediate Technology Publications.

Link to ENB pages covering 23 May launch by UNEP of Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversityhttp://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cop5/23may.html

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GROUND UP: PELUM JOURNAL

PELUM Executive launches New Journal, accompanied by Ngugi Mutura, SACDEP Manager and PELUM Board Member

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