Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 1.1.
What is biodiversity? And why is it important for farmers?
Biodiversity can be defined in many different ways. In fact, the scientific literature
contains almost 100 different definitions. 3 Put simply, biodiversity is the variety of life
on earth. This means that biodiversity encompasses not only the number of species
in the environment but also the genetic variability characterising each species. Many
definitions of biodiversity also include: (1) the variability in patterns of species
throughout landscapes; and (2) the ecological processes, such as seed dispersal,
pollination and nutrient cycling, that underpin how well ecosystems function.
The supply and quality of many of these resources depend
on maintaining key ecosystem functions or processes such
as pest control, seed dispersal, pollination, the
decomposition of waste, and nutrient and water cycling. 5
Without biodiversity these essential ecological processes are
either severely impaired or do not happen. These essential processes also function
more effectively when many different species are present and interacting with each
other, thereby reducing the risk of these processes failing entirely if one or more
individual species declines or becomes extinct. In this sense a diversity of biota acts
as a kind of environmental insurance policy (see Figure 1.2). 6, 7 Good
environmental management is therefore intimately linked to the maintenance of
productive and profitable ecosystems and the maintenance of biodiversity (see
Box 1.2).
The maintenance of
biodiversity is critical for
productive and profitable
farms
Financial benefits
There are compelling financial reasons why the conservation of biodiversity on
farms is important. On a global basis, it has been estimated that the environment
returns more than $US33 trillion in goods and services to society each year - about
1.8 times global GDP. 11 Similarly, investment in intact ecosystems has been found
to have a cost-benefit ratio of 1:100, meaning that for every $1 invested in an intact
ecosystem, benefits worth $100 are reaped over time. The rivers, wetlands and
floodplains of the Murray-Darling Basin are estimated to provide $A187 billion in
ecosystem services annually.
At a farm, catchment, state and federal level, governments are recognising the
importance of maintaining biodiversity. Increasingly, financial incentive schemes
are being developed to assist landholders to conserve biodiversity on their land.
Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) run incentive schemes for farmers
across Australia. The BushTender program in Victoria is an example at the state
government level. The Box-Gum Grassy Woodland Stewardship Program 12 is an
equivalent national scheme. These schemes pay landholders to manage parts of
their properties to achieve better conservation outcomes including improving the
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