Why should farmers and rural communities be interested in ecoagriculture approaches, and what incentives exist for them to implement these approaches?
Farming communities play a vital role as stewards of their ecosystems and biodiversity. Their dependence on their land and natural resources necessitates a conservation ethic. Agricultural productivity critically depends upon a range of ecosystem services. Wild species often also play an important role in providing livestock fodder, fuel, veterinary medicines, soil nutrient supplements and construction materials to farmers, as well constituting an essential element of cultural, religious, and spiritual practices. The dominance of agriculture in global land use requires that ecoagriculture approaches be fostered by rural producers and their communities on a globally significant scale. To do this, farmers need to be able to conserve biodiversity more consistently in ways that benefit their livelihoods. Experiences from around the world suggest that there are a number of incentives to encourage and enable farmers and their communities to preserve or transition towards ecoagriculture lands
