Horticulture

AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY:
Agricultural biodiversity is the variety and
variability of living organisms (plants, animals
and microorganisms) that are produced in
agricultural areas, contribute to agricultural
production or make use of agricultural habitats
for food or shelter [1,2]. The Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
jointly defined agric cultural biodiversity as,
biological diversity needed to ”…sustain key
functions of the agroecosystem.” [2].
Agricultural biodiversity is actively
managed. Many components would not
survive without human interference.
Indigenous knowledge and culture are
integral parts of agricultural biodiversity
management.
Many economically important farming
systems are based on non-native crop
species introduced from elsewhere (for
example maize and potatoes came to
Europe from the Americas).
Varieties within crop species and breeds
within livestock species are at least as
important as diversity between species.
Agricultural biodiversity is inherently
linked to sustainable land use and
conservation practices. Preservation
through protected areas is not sufficient to
maintain agricultural biodiversity, although
much crop diversity is being preserved in
gene banks rather than on-farm
OBJECTIVE:

This document sets objectives and targets for ten priority outcomes which the Commonwealth,
States and Territories should pursue between now and 2005. The challenges and opportunities
for biodiversity conservation are not uniform across Australia, so there will be some regional
variation in the timing of the application of these targets.

The priority actions are to:

1. protect and restore native vegetation and terrestrial ecosystems

2. protect and restore freshwater ecosystems

3. protect and restore marine and estuarine ecosystems

4. control invasive species

5. mitigate dryland salinity

6. promote ecologically sustainable grazing

7....