Biodiversity - ISSN 1488-8386 a subscription based quarterly journal

CONTRIBUTIONS (review of first three issues):
The first issue of Biodiversity was published in January 2000, the second in May, and the third in August. The final issue in the first volume will be published in November and is well under way. To the present time, Biodiversity has contributed information in the following areas: agricultural practices in relation to the integrity of biodiversity and environment; efforts in conservation of forest ecosystems, and understanding of selected life forms regarding their life history, state of being, and their functions, usefulness as food or medicinal sources (Coffee, Pineapple, Seahorses, Spiders, Whale Shark, Hamilton's Frog...):

 1. January 2000 - Biodiversity 1(1): In developing and developed countries, small-scale farmers and peasants have fed much of the world for numberless centuries. They have used traditional varieties which undergo continuing selection and are adapted to the type of land and local climate, soils, drought cycles, etc. The diversity of these varieties helps protect them against diseases and pests. They are free to replant their own seeds and exchange them with their neighbours without charge. This system is sustainable - or they would not be there. They used local organic fertilizers and biological approaches to pest control. So the off-site impact of this kind of farming on human and wildlife health was minimal. This is not to paint a picture of a dream-like perfection. There were problems, but these could often be met by due attention of working together with their neighbours and their governments and their agencies.

These farmers are now being squeezed off the land by powerful economic forces in favour of industrial style farming. Crops are now patented or consist of hybrid varieties so that the resultant seeds cannot be replanted. The varieties have costly fertilizer inputs beyond the reach of most small farmers. Pesticides either have to be sprayed on them (and they may be genetically adapted to a single pesticide brand) or are built into them. The varieties are used over large areas of landscapes. This means that this paradigm is not sustainable in the long run, is harmful to human and wildlife health, is costly, and is not affordable by the small-scale farmer. Moreover, the seeds and pesticides are the purview of transnational corporations, meaning profit is siphoned out of the country. Next>>>