Balance between food production, biodiversity and ecosystem services in Brazil: a challenge and an opportunity

Abstract

MARTINELLI, L.A. & FILOSO, S. Balance between food production, biodiversity and ecosystem services in Brazil: a challenge and an opportunity. Biota Neotrop., 9(4): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v9n4/en/ abstract?point-of-view+bn00109042009.Abstract: Brazil has a unique position in the world. It is one of the few countries that can be one of the most important producers of food, fiber and biofuel and at the same time maintain its mega biodiversity endowment and vital ecosystems services properly running. This is a challenge that only can be achieved by recognizing the importance of agribusiness sector to the Brazilian economy, but also that ecosystems have limits and we should not endless expand agriculture in the name of "development". Ecosystem services have to be recognized also as a "development" to be kept for the next generations. Agriculture only exists where ecosystems are able to maintain its basic functioning. Therefore, a well preserved nature it is the most precious asset of agriculture. Keywords: agriculture, ecosystem services, food production, biodiversity, Brazil. MARTINELLI, L.A. & FILOSO, S. Produção de alimentos, biodiversidade e serviços ambientais no Brasil: desafios e oportunidades. Biota Neotrop., 9(4): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v9n4/pt/abstract?point-of-view+bn00109042009.Resumo: O Brasil encontra-se em uma posição privilegiada diante do mundo. É um dos únicos países que pode ao mesmo tempo ser um importante produtor de alimentos, fibras e biocombustíveis e manter sua mega biodiversidade relativamente intacta e serviços ambientais vitais funcionando apropriadamente. Este é um desafio enorme que pode ser obtido através do reconhecimento da importância que o setor agropecuário brasileiro tem para o país, mas ao mesmo tempo reconhecendo também que os ecossistemas têm limites naturais e não devemos expandir nossa fronteira agrícola indefinidamente em nome do "desenvolvimento". Os serviços ambientais prestados pelos ecossistemas devem ser valorizados e também reconhecidos como um tipo de "desenvolvimento" a ser mantido para as próximas gerações. A agricultura somente existe onde os ecossistemas são capazes de manter suas funções básicas de funcionamento. Portanto, o maior capital da agricultura é a natureza minimamente preservada. Palavras-chave: agricultura, serviços ambientais, produção de alimentos, biodiversidade, Brasil.

Alterations in land uses based on amendments to the Brazilian Forest Law and their influences on water quality of a watershed

“…As highlighted by Martinelli and Filoso (2009), unlike developed countries, Brazil has the possibility to develop agricultural activities by practices that are compatible with environmental sustainability. There is enough space to preserve our biological patrimony and increase food production, in opposition to the dichotomous idea of nature preservation versus food production (Martinelli et al, 2010).…”

Estimating the opportunity costs of environmental conservation in the Feijão River watershed (São Carlos-SP, Brazil)

“…However, consideration should be given to the fact that agriculture can only exist in balanced ecosystems able to provide for ecosystem services. Therefore, a well-preserved nature is the most precious asset of agriculture (Martinelli and Filoso, 2009). …”

Weakening the Brazilian legislation for forest conservation has severe impacts for ecosystem services in the Atlantic Southern Forest

“…Agriculture is a major threat to Brazil's forests but also a major driver of economic growth, which takes precedence over environmental protection and ecosystem services in national policies (Martinelli and Filoso, 2009;Martinelli et al, 2010a;Tollefson, 2010;Sparovek et al, 2011). Conservation of the Atlantic Forest -the most threatened ecosystem in Brazil -is regulated by the National Forest Act (NFA), originally promulgated in 1965, and the Atlantic Forest Law (Brasil, 2006).…”