Conformity between modern agriculture and biodiversity conservation

• Published in: Buletin Plasma Nutfah (Indonesia) Vol. 6; no. 2
• Main Authors: Zuraida, N. (Balai Penelitian Bioteknologi Tanaman Pangan, Bogor (Indonesia)), Sumarno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2000
• Subjects: AGRICULTURA; AGRICULTURE; BIODIVERSIDAD; BIODIVERSITY; BIODIVERSITÉ; BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES; CONSERVACIÓN DEL GERMOPLASMA; CONSERVATION DU MATÉRIEL GÉNÉTIQUE; CROPPING SYSTEMS; GENETIC VARIATION; GERMOPLASMA; GERMPLASM; GERMPLASM CONSERVATION; HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES; PROPIEDADES BIOLÓGICAS; PROPRIÉTÉ BIOLOGIQUE; SISTEMAS DE CULTIVO; SYSTÈME DE CULTURE; VARIACIÓN GENÉTICA; VARIATION GÉNÉTIQUE; VARIEDADES DE ALTO RENDIMIENTO; VARIÉTÉ À HAUT RENDEMENT
• ISSN: 1410-4377

Modern agriculture tend to form a homogenous mono species-single variety habitat in a large production area, resulting a narrow natural biodiversity. Planting single genetically homogen-homozygous variety in a large area, such as ones practiced on rice farming, had caused serious reduction on genetic diversity within the species, resulting the development of new strains of pests and diseases due to a directional selection towards more virulen ones. Single species cropping within a large area may cause species displacement reducing the population of naturally occurring species. Indigenous biota, including arthropoda, mollusca, nematoda, fungus, bacteria and other microbes may have been displaced, leaving only a few biota which are compatible to the crop species acting as pests and diseases. Reduction in biological diversity on the agricultural ecology is indeed un avoidable, however maintaining a certain degree of species variability is possible. Planting heterogeneous-non homozygous varieties, or various forms of multivarieties, blend varieties, multilines, synthetic and composite varieties, could overcome the degree of homogeneity of species and creates genetic heterogeneity, improve adaptation plasticity and genetic buffering capacity of crops to various environmental stresses. Planting multispecies within the same area in forms of mix-cropping, multi perennial plants, hedgerows or strip cropping can improve the degree of biodiversity on agricultural ecology. Germplasm preservation of agricultural species could be assured, if a National Germplasm Centre is established. In each village representing the center of crop production and should be developed a "village germplasm centre", containing germplasm of various crop species indigenous in the area. Similar centres of a larger size, should be established in each subdistrict or district and in each province, in a form of Botanical-Garden or Gene Park which have multifunctional purposes, including biodiversity conservation, plant material sources for propagation, education, recreation and environmental maintenance. Public awareness education for biodiversity conservation should be facilitated, involving school children, students, village youth organization, boys-girl scouts, women welfare-organization, farmers-groups, NGO, various social political organization and the whole of communities. Action program of Biodiversity Conservation Awareness (BCA) should be campaigned, to promote conservation of germplasm and biological diversity, entering the XXI at the pawer st century and beyond Usaha pertanian modern cenderung menuju pola satu spesies-satu varietas dalam skala hamparan luas sehingga memiskinkan keanekaragaman hayati alamiah. Penggunaan satu varietas homogen-homozigot dalam hamparan luas, seperti pada usahatani padi, memusnahkan keanekaragaman hayati di tingkat spesies itu sendiri, mengakibatkan timbulnya biotipe dan strain baru hama dan penyakit, sebagai akibat seleksi terarah ke strain yang lebih virulen. Penanaman satu spesies dalam hamparan luas mengakibatkan terjadinya pendesakan spesies, sehingga spesies asli musnah. Biota penyerta, termasuk arthropoda, mollusca, nematoda, mikroba, dan lain-lain ikut terdesak dan termusnahkan, yang tinggal hanya yang serasi dengan ekologi satu spesies tanaman yang diusahakan. Pemiskinan keanekaragaman hayati pada ekologi lahan pertanian memang tidak dapat dihindarkan, tetapi pemeliharaan keragaman hayati masih memungkinkan. Penggunaan varietas nonhomogen-nonhomozigot, penanaman multivarietas, varietas campuran, multilini, sintetik dan komposit, menghindarkan keseragaman dalam spesies dan membentuk keanekaragaman genetik, meningkatkan plastisitas dan daya sangga genetik tanaman terhadap berbagai cekaman lingkungan. Penanaman multispesies dalam hamparan secara tumpangsari, karang kitri, hedgerows, dan lain-lain menambah besarnya keragaman hayati pada ekologi pertanian. Pelestarian plasma nutfah (keanekaraman genetik dalam spesies) dapat lebih terjamin apabila dibentuk Pusat Plasma Nutfah Nasional. Pelestatian komoditas spesies yang bersangkutan. Pelestarian keragaman hayati perlu dilakukan di tingkat pedesaan, kabupaten, dan wilayah, dengan membangun Taman Botani atau Gene Park yang berfungsi sebagai sistem konservasi, rekreasi, edukasi, dan penyediaan bibit. Penyertaan masyarakat untuk melestarikan keanekaragaman hayati perlu ditumbuhkan dengan menggerakkan anak sekolah, karang taruna, pramuka, ibu-ibu PKK, kelompok tani, LSM, orsospol, dan seluruh lapisan masyarakat. Gerakan Sadar Pelestarian Keanekaragaman hayati (SPKH) perlu dicanangkan untuk menghindari kepunahan sebagian besar spesies flora, fauna, mikroba di abad XXI dan abad selanjutnya