Ecology
A Publication of the Ecological Society of America
January 2003
Volume 84, No. 1
Pages 272-273
BOOK REVIEWS
Partnerships
In Agriculture And Conservation
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Jackson, Dana L., and Laura L. Jackson, editors. 2002. The farm as
natural habitat: reconnecting food systems with ecosystems. Island
Press, Washington, D.C. xii + 297 p. $50.00 (cloth), ISBN: 1-55963-846-X
(acid-free paper); $25.00 (paper), ISBN: 1-55963-847-8 (acid-free paper).
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There are
many environmental problems associated with conventional agricultural
practices, including erosion, habitat loss, and pollution of water by
sediments, nutrients, and pesticides. This book challenges the common
perception that in order to feed the world, we must accept agricultural
land as an "ecological sacrifice." Jackson and Jackson acknowledge
the many challenges in managing land for both agriculture and conservation,
but also provide examples demonstrating that this can be done.
In order
to appreciate what this book has to offer, it is critical to understand
what it is not. It is not a treatise on the ills of conventional agriculture,
it does not present an ecological approach to designing agricultural
systems, nor is it meant to be a "how to" manual with the
details needed to farm sustainably. All of these topics are briefly
touched upon, and anyone interested in an introduction to these topics
should look elsewhere. The strength of this book is its well-balanced
presentation of the social and economic opportunities for achieving
a partnership between agriculture and conservation. Rather than criticizing
farmers for environmental problems associated with agriculture, it focuses
on the willingness of farmers to increase the conservation function
of their farms. The farm as natural habitat provides examples
of farms that are productive and profitable, while decreasing their
negative impacts on the environment and providing habitat for the conservation
of nature. The true value of this book is its clear demonstration that
managing land for agriculture and conservation is not always a simple
process and is not the sole responsibility of the farmer, but requires
the collaboration of a diverse group of people, including farmers, conservationists,
ecologists, policy makers, and ultimately the consumer.
The common
thread running through these chapters is the need for partnerships,
and understanding the needs and motivations in both agriculture and
conservation. The styles of the authors are as diverse as their approaches,
and undoubtedly different audiences will be inspired by some chapters,
and want to skim through others. The first part of the book focuses
on debunking the concept of "agriculture as an ecological sacrifice."
Chapter 2 provides a good review of the negative impacts of conventional
agriculture, but the other chapters in Part 1 might have been more effective
if they had used more ecological data to argue for a move away from
conventional agricultural practices. Part 2 is much stronger and focuses
on examples of farmers who have restored natural areas on their land.
It deals with issues ranging from the effectiveness of programs promoting
sustainable agriculture, to finding the common ground between conservation
and agriculture. While Part 1 debunks the idea that agricultural lands
cannot provide natural habitat, Part 2 debunks the negative stereotypes
sometimes associated with farmers. This section demonstrates that farmers
are very careful stewards of their land, and that many farmers are willing
to consider conservation practices on their farms, but need the information
and resources to do so. Chapter 8 is a particularly strong chapter,
focusing on the need for a big-picture approach to management that simultaneously
considers multiple ecological and social issues. Part 3 focuses on ecosystem
management, and provides some nice examples of the multiple benefits
of sustainable agriculture, and how agriculture can promote diversity,
rather than just minimize its negative effects on diversity. Chapter
11 is a good general review of the importance and function of diversity,
Chapters 12 and 13 are the strongest chapters in the book, and should
be required reading for every ecologist or conservationist interfacing
with land managers. Both of these chapters provide a balanced assessment
of what both conservation and agriculture need to bring to the table
in order to form an effective partnership, and provide multiple approaches
to do this. These chapters highlight some difficult choices and tradeoffs
that must be balanced to integrate agriculture and conservation. Part
4 focuses on the steps needed for agricultural restoration, stressing
partnerships among multiple parties. It is an eclectic mix of chapters
that range from very informative to poetic. Chapter 18 is a valuable
review of the consequences of current farm policy in the United States.
Despite
the mixed quality of the chapters, anyone interested in the interface
of management with science or conservation will benefit from this book,
its lessons extending well beyond farming. Its great strength is its
balanced presentation of the challenges facing the farmer and the environment,
and its message that sustainable agriculture can best be achieved with
a partnership between farmers, conservationists, and policy makers.
This book not only refutes the idea of farming as a necessary ecological
sacrifice, but also clearly demonstrates that to move beyond this view
of agriculture, conservationists and ecologists are responsible for
some of the next steps. Rather than just pointing fingers or gathering
data on the ills of agriculture, we must recognize farmers as capable
conservation partners, and address their limitations and constraints
as a science and as a society.
Valerie
T. Eviner
Institute
of Ecosystem Studies
Box AB
Millbrook, New York 12545
E-mail: evinerv@ecostudies.org
