Agricultural Biodiversity
The Wildlife Society defines biodiversity as "the richness, abundance, and variability of plant and animal species and communities, and the ecological processes that link them with one another and with soil, air, and water." Many of our industrialized farming operations have emphasized monoculture approaches for intensive, high-yield production, and have not taken full advantage of enhancing or incorporating more biodiversity on the farm. And although approximately 7,000 plant species have been cultivated and collected for food by humans since agriculture began more than 12,000 years ago, 90% of our food today comes from only about 15 plant and 8 animal species.
Incorporating biodiversity on your farm may include increasing the variety of genes, species, ecosystems, and ecological processes. Small farmers are taking the lead in incorporating more agricultural and wildlife biodiversity into their farming practices through integrated pest management, whole farm planning, and multiple-use management. By finding ways of incorporating more biodiversity on their farm, many farmers are realizing increased agricultural productivity, while at the same time reducing the financial liability of relying on a single crop or service for income.
Agro-forestry, integrated farming, and sustainable agricultural system planning can all improve wildlife biodiversity and reduce financial liabilities associated with a single crop or service operation, by providing an increased variety of organisms that we can use for commerce or subsistence, different kinds of recreational opportunities, and improved ecological services such as the cleaning of air and water. Below are several links to help you explore the benefits of wildlife biodiversity on your farm.
UF/IFAS Sites
- Agro-ecosystem Indicators of Sustainability as Affected by Cattle Density in Ranch Management Systems
- County Extension Offices in Florida
UF/IFAS Publications
- Agroforestry: Options for Landowners
- Alternative Opportunities for Small Farms: Catfish Production Review
- Biodiversity
- Economic Impacts of Florida’s Agricultural and Natural Resource Industries
- Establishing and Maintaining Wildlife Food Sources
- Fee Fishing in Florida
- Forest Terminology for Multiple Use Management
- Integrated Timber, Forage, and Livestock Production: Benefits of Silvopasture
- Providing Wildlife Cover
- Recreational Options for Your Forestland
- What is a Natural Resource Management Plan?
- Where Does a Forest Landowner Find Forestry Help?
State & Federal Agencies
- Agriculture Network Information Center
- Alternative Farming Information Systems Center--National Agricultural Library/USDA
- Are You Ready? Is Entrepreneurship for You?--U.S Small Business Administration
- Consumer’s Guide to Commercial Liability Insurance--Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance (pdf)
- How to Conduct Research On Your Farm or Ranch--SARE (pdf)
- Internal Revenue Service
- Making the Transition to Sustainable Agriculture--USDA (pdf)
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
- 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation--U.S. Census Bureau (pdf)
Other University Sites
- Agro-ecology in Action: Principles and Strategies for Designing Sustainable Farming Systems--University of California, Berkeley
- Non-consumptive Uses of Recreational Lands
- Planning Agroforestry Practices--University of Nebraska-Lincoln (pdf)
- Principles of Agricultural Sustainability--UMass Extension
- Sustainable Agriculture: Balancing Profits and Human and Natural Resources--University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Working Trees for Wildlife (pdf)
Organizations & Associations
- Association for Temperate Agroforestry
- Biological Diversity in Food and Agriculture--The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- Developing a Wildlife Enterprise: Is It for You?--National Learning Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners
- Introduction to Agricultural Biodiversity--The Convention on Biological Diversity
Related Links
- Return to Wildlife & Hunting
UF/IFAS Sites
UF/IFAS Publications
- Economic Value of Wildlife
- Environmental Volunteer Programs
- Habitat Restoration
- Landscaping for Wildlife
- Management and Conservation of Wildlife
- Observing and Monitoring Wildlife
- Water for Wildlife
- Wildlife and Agriculture
- Wildlife and Hunting as Alternative Farm Enterprises
- Wildlife by Species
- Wildlife Education
- Wildlife Forages for North Florida: Cool Season Food Plots
- Supplemental Feeding and Food Plots for Bobwhite Quail
- A Walk on the Wild Side: 2006-2007 Cool Season Forage Recommendations for Wildlife Food Plots in North Florida
- Wildlife Topics
State & Federal Agencies
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
- Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (Florida FWC)
- National Wildlife Research Center
- Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Other University Sites
Organizations & Associations
- Florida Audubon Society
- Master Wildlifer
- National Audubon Society
- National Wildlife Federation
- The Nature Conservancy
- Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
- Project WILD
- Quality Deer Management Association
- Sierra Club
- Society for Conservation Biology
- United States World Wildlife Fund
- The Wildlife Society
- The Wildlife Society: Florida Chapter
- The World Conservation Union
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- National Wild Turkey Federation
