A World without Water: Sustainable Agriculture and the Role of Wetlands Conservation in Global Food Security

چکیده مقاله

Wetlands typically offer a wide variety of benefits to society. They have played a central role in human development throughout history. These habitats contribute in diverse ways to the livelihoods of millions of people. They are often inextricably linked to agricultural production systems. In many places, growing population, in conjunction with efforts to increase food security, is escalating pressure to expand agriculture within wetlands. The environmental Impact of wetland agriculture can have profound social and economic repercussions for people dependent on ecosystem services other than those provided directly by agriculture. If wetlands are not used sustainably, the functions which support agriculture, as well as other food security and ecosystem services are undermined. Currently, the basis for making decisions on the extent to which, and how, wetlands can be sustainably used for agriculture is weak. There is a dearth of knowledge on the best agricultural practices to be applied within wetlands and a lack of understanding on how to establish appropriate management arrangements that will adequately safeguard important ecosystem services. Efforts have been made in this study to examine the role of agricultural use of wetlands in global food security. On the other hand, we also attempted to show that over-exploitation of such habitats can have destructive effects on human well-being. Hence we suggest that utilization of wetland should be performed through wise use of these habitats and sustainable agriculture in order to preserve them for future generations. Finally, we conclude that all international actors and above all contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention should fulfill their obligations under this convention to stop loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems.

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