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BC THE ORGANIC WAY by Marya Skrypiczajko
There is no question the biodiversity of Earth is in decline. Environmentalists and nature-lovers everywhere recognize the urgent need to reverse this trend. Defined as the variety and complexity of life on Earth or within a given habitat at the gene, species and eco-system level, biodiversity is crucial on socio-cultural and economic levels, as well as environmental.
Unfortunately, government policy worldwide has not addressed the preservation of biological diversity in the most efficient manner. Initiatives to maintain biodiversity have focused on establishing protected areas, yet these areas cover a much smaller percentage of the Earth than do agricultural areas – 10 percent versus almost 40 percent. Given that so much of the Earth is used for agricultural purposes, a large percentage of species must come into contact with these areas, and thus agricultural land management has a great effect on the preservation or destruction of biodiversity.
Since WW II, the use of chemicals in agriculture and the move from mixed farming to monoculture have had a negative impact on biodiversity. In Europe, a study by BirdLife International linked population declines of over a third of species to changes in this sort of land use.
But it does not have to be this way; proper planning can reconcile human activities with the goals of biodiversity. On an agricultural level, the stewardship of biodiversity naturally falls to the organic farmers whose holistic farming practices embrace biodiversity for both philosophical and practical reasons.
The relationship between organic farmers and biodiversity is symbiotic; organic farmers both use and preserve biodiversity by understanding the natural capacity of plants, animals and the landscape. Many farmers will leave some of their land wild to preserve the indigenous forest, wetlands or grasslands which in turn provide food and habitat to diverse species that are beneficial to adjacent farmland as predators of pests or plant pollinators.
Thus, instead of applying chemical insecticides that kill all species rather than simply the few they are intended to eradicate, the arthropods, insects, birds and reptiles living nearby can feed on plant pests. As well, organic farmers may grow diverse plants, sometimes in specific combinations, to keep certain pests at bay.
Of course, some pests still do make it onto the crops and organic farmers then use natural processes, such as picking potato bugs off plants by hand, to take care of these problems. Similarly, organic farmers do not spray herbicides allowing weeds to grow and flower, thus inviting pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and beetles, into the garden. Unwanted weeds are then pulled by hand. This reliance on natural control methods maintains biodiversity at the same time as not allowing pest species resistant to the chemical sprays to flourish.
Organic farmers also work to create healthy soil by mixing in compost, animal and green manure, by regularly aerating the soil and by crop rotation. This process develops soil that naturally deters disease and pests and that is structurally stronger to prevent erosion. As well, they plant seeds adapted to the local climate and resistant to local diseases.
Studies have shown that compared with conventional farms, organic farms have more diverse and greater numbers of wildlife species. They have five times as many wild plants and 57 percent more species, 25 percent more birds, up to five times as many spiders and insects, and a much greater variety of planted crops.
Considering the successes of biodiversity within organic farming and the cost-effectiveness of it in maintaining biological diversity, the link should be reflected in government policy worldwide.
Unfortunately, agriculture and environmental preservation are usually considered separately at government levels. Very few governments promote organic agriculture and fewer still tie it to biodiversity. Some European countries are exceptions; in Sweden biodiversity is a certification requirement for organic farms, in England organic farmers receive financial credits for maintaining wild hedgerows, and in Italy biodiversity in agricultural tourism businesses is rewarded with tax breaks.
Governments could also provide farmers with monetary compensation for the loss of production area due to maintaining wild areas of land, they could fund educational programs on the ecological services nature provides, and they could promote the role of organic farming in the preservation of biodiversity to a larger audience.
Finally, they should not leave the onus on organic farmers alone. These policies should also apply to all landowners, conventional farmers, factories, office buildings, hotels, resorts, fishery waters, forestry lands and municipal parks.
Ultimately, the diversity of the landscape and wildlife benefits us on many levels. The beauty and integrity of the planet is maintained, the agricultural economy is more stable in times of natural crises, and the appeal of the natural landscape provides greater tourism appeal, thus benefiting local economies.
Marya Skrypiczajko is the author of BC the Organic Way – Where to Find Organic Food in British Columbia
www.bctheorganicway.com
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