The geographical landscape forms as a result of interactions between agricultural activities and the natural setting in that area, known as the agricultural landscape. And, the existence of different animal and plant species in a specific landscape forms regional biodiversity in that area.
In this article, we will analyze the problems that exist in modern agriculture. That have led to climate change and the loss of biodiversity and will also suggest measures for climate change mitigation and conservation of regional biodiversity in an agricultural landscape.
Introduction
Agriculture is a cultural achievement that has fostered the development of human civilizations. However, removing forests and groves to make more farmland has a significant impact on the regional biodiversity in a habitat. Due to modern agriculture practices, many vulnerable species of animals and plants have either disappeared or are on the verge of extinction.
Agricultural Role in Climate Change :
Besides its contribution to biodiversity loss, agriculture has other detrimental effects on the environment. Currently, agriculture is the second-largest contributor to climate change in the world. It is a major source of climate change because, at every stage of farming, hazardous greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.
These gases include methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O)—powerful greenhouse gases—that produce the greenhouse effect and cause global warming. Also, the growing use of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture is badly affecting the nature and environment around us.
Analysis of regional biodiversity
As discussed earlier, regional biodiversity refers to the variety of life found in a particular region or landscape on Earth. However, a detailed regional biodiversity analysis in an agricultural landscape is important to encounter the problems that exist in it. In various research and studies, it is found that the variety of all living species on our planet is declining at an alarming rate. The reasons for this loss of biodiversity include climate change, increased agricultural activities, urbanization, chemical and biochemical pollution, poaching, and many more.
The following are the main reasons for the loss of regional biodiversity in an agricultural landscape:
Agricultural intensification and expansion – One of the leading causes of agricultural biodiversity loss is an increase in agriculture production to meet rising crop demand.
Deforestation – The removal of forests and strands of trees from a region to convert it to farmland can directly result in biodiversity loss in that region.
Climate change – A region’s climate has an impact on its air, water, land, and biological beings. And climate change can be directly responsible for the biodiversity loss of a region.
Overexploitation of agricultural land – The excessive use of farmland to produce more crops can greatly affect the soil biodiversity of that region. It leads to the extinction of major microorganisms present in the soil.
Measures for Biodiversity conservation to mitigate climate change
The following are some measures to stop climate change and biodiversity loss in an agricultural region:
Adopt sustainable farming methods – Sustainable farming methods like crop rotation, organic farming, agroforestry, soil enrichment, and biodynamic farming should be implemented to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change.
Restore ecosystems – Restoration of natural and semi-natural ecosystems such as forests, peatlands, prairie strips, mangroves, and other non-crop areas is a highly efficient strategy to minimize biodiversity losses in agricultural industries and regions.
Protect and nurture local habitats – The best way to conserve the biodiversity and ecosystem of an agricultural region is by protecting and nurturing its local habitat. It is also best to grow plants and vegetables that are local to the agricultural landscape.
Use agriculture analytics – In this era of data analytics, farmers can rely on agricultural analytics to extract useful insights like the health of crops, crop yields, rainfall patterns, fertilizer requirements, and more. These analytics can help farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices.
Educate and inform people of the benefits of biodiversity conservation – Biodiversity conservation is a collaborative act which requires societal efforts toward its conservation and management. Educating and enlightening people about the significance of biodiversity conservation raises public awareness about this issue.
Conclusion : By implementing sustainable agriculture practices, we can conserve our regional biodiversity and protect our environment.
