Farming

Unsustainable agricultural practices are among the main causes of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution globally. It is thus essential to integrate environmental conservation practices in the agriculture sector when looking at pathways for a sustainable future. In this context, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) could be a critical tool for improving the status of productive landscapes.

Food is one of the basic needs for human life. At the same time, agriculture is a leading cause of biodiversity loss, driving 80% of deforestation and consuming 70% of freshwater resources globally. Conventional farming practices have further contributed to habitat degradation, soil depletion, and species loss. This report aims to provide a general overview of how the relationship between biodiversity and agriculture is assessed.

North-East Badia, Jordan, is inhabited by half a million Syrian refugees and an equal number of Jordanians, whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. Working in the agricultural sector is characterized by low wages, long hours, poor working conditions, lack of occupational health and safety, and a high incidence of child labour. In addition, Jordan faces severe water scarcity, with annual demand roughly double the available supply and weak water resource management exacerbating the problem.

Wégoubri : un bocage au Sahel, est consacré à des entretiens réalisés avec Henri Girard entre 2014 et 2016, couvrant les 30 ans de son parcours depuis son Avesnois natal, une région bocagère du nord de la France, jusqu’au développement des fermes pilotes bocagères au Burkina Faso. Ce livre permet de mieux comprendre ce vaste projet de restauration de l’environnement sahélien.

This publication is the result of the International Conference held in Frankfurt, Germany 14-16 June 2011 organized in the framework of an International UN Project funded by IFAD “Reinforcing the resilience of poor rural communities in the face of food insecurity, poverty and climate change through on-farm conservation of local agrobiodiversity”.

This report is the first one delivered under the Python Conservation Partnership. Established in November 2013, the Partnership aims to contribute to the improved sustainability of the python skin trade and to help facilitate industry-wide change. The present report provides information on how pythons are farmed in Asia, farming’s impact on local livelihoods and the relative contribution of captive python skins to the total trade.

Over the past few years, agribusiness, investment funds and government agencies have been acquiring long-term rights over large areas of land in Africa. Together with applicable national and international law, contracts define the terms of an investment project, and the way risks, costs and benefits are distributed. Who has the authority to sign the contract and through what process greatly influences the extent to which people can have their voices heard.