Agriculture and biodiversity: connections for sustainable development A discussion paper from the Bureau of Rural Sciences

The Australian Government acting through the Bureau of Rural Sciences has exercised due care and skill in the preparation and compilation of the information and data set out in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Bureau of Rural Sciences, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence, for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of the information or data set out in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law. Agriculture and Biodiversity iii Foreword The Council of Australian Governments signed off the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development in 1992. A key objective is to protect biological diversity and maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems. To make progress on this objective, governments have developed the National Strategy on Conservation of Biological Diversity and included components on the conservation of biodiversity in a number of national programs. However, the connections between biodiversity and ecological processes, such as the productivity and functioning of agricultural land, have received less attention. There are several major reasons for considering the connections between biodiversity and agriculture. The contribution that agriculture makes to sustainable development will be measured in part by the impacts on conservation of biodiversity. Actions to conserve native biodiversity outside reserves will both affect and be affected by agricultural land use. The organisms in both types of land use will make varying contributions to ecosystem health at landscape and regional scales. The scientific understanding of biodiversity is incomplete at several levels so it is difficult to predict the consequences of management decisions. Consequently, the understanding of biodiversity and its interactions with landscapes and industries is not well incorporated into decision-making. This discussion paper is a contribution by the Bureau of Rural Sciences to fostering a wider understanding of the scientific context of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. In plain English it presents a balanced and objective overview of this topic. Agriculture, biological diversity and their relationships are important issues for Australia Agriculture produces food by using and modifying biodiversity but may conflict with nature conservation objectives This paper aims to improve understanding of the connections between biodiversity and agriculture Biodiversity has many interpretations Scientific descriptions of biodiversity are most advanced at the gene level Agriculture, biological diversity and the relationships between them are important issues for Australia. Both agriculture and conservation of biodiversity contribute to sustainable …