Reframing the Food–Biodiversity Challenge. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fischer, Joern; Abson, David J.; Bergsten, Arvid; French Collier, Neil; Dorresteijn, Ine; Hanspach, Jan; Hylander, Kristoffer; Schultner, Jannik; Senbeta, Feyera
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 32:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 335
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.02.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : Given the serious limitations of production-oriented frameworks, we offer here a new conceptual framework for how to analyze the nexus of food security and biodiversity conservation. We introduce four archetypes of social-ecological system states corresponding to win–win (e.g., agroecology), win–lose (e.g., intensive agriculture), lose–win (e.g., fortress conservation), and lose–lose (e.g., degraded landscapes) outcomes for food security and biodiversity conservation. Each archetype is shaped by characteristic external drivers, exhibits characteristic internal social-ecological features, and has characteristic feedbacks that maintain it. This framework shifts the emphasis from focusing on production only to considering social-ecological dynamics, and enables comparison among landscapes. Moreover, examining drivers and feedbacks facilitates the analysis of possible transitions between system states (e.g., from a lose–lose outcome to a more preferred outcome). Trends: Food security and biodiversity conservation are interrelated challenges. Their integration cannot be achieved by focusing only on food production. We propose a social-ecological framework that integrates food security and biodiversity conservation.