Ecological sensitivity within human realities concept for improved functional biodiversity outcomes in agricultural systems and landscapes

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural landscapes seek to improve environmental, societal and economic outcomes locally and internationally. They depend on functionally biodiverse agricultural systems, i.e., systems that include diversity in plants and/or crops and maintain productive function. These systems are variably defined and are not adequately or consistently represented or ensured across agricultural landscapes. The variability results in inconsistent productive function, and minimally biodiverse agricultural systems and landscapes that degrade the environment, preventing consistent increases in functional biodiverse systems across farming landscapes and impeding long-term societal and economic benefit. The article answers the question: how can the Ecological Sensitivity within Human Realities (ESHR) concept improve consistent and more thorough increases in functional biodiversity outcomes from human natural environment interactions as a conceptual explanation. The ESHR concept for functional biodiversity is introduced and explained using an integrated narrative literature review. Motivation to develop and present the ESHR is an observed and identified need to emphasize the human influence on functional biodiversity outcomes and encourage sensitivity of human interactions with the natural environment through more detailed considerations that might better ensure consistent outcomes. Existing and commonly used concepts that seek to improve biodiversity in agricultural systems are compared to the ESHR to demonstrate novelty. New understandings of ecological and human conditions in coffee farming landscapes are not introduced, instead, the concept substantiates (1) functionally biodiverse agricultural systems rely on consistently functional ecological interactions and processes for all system and landscape complexities by structure, heterogeneity, and interactions, between and across systems; (2) human interactions are influenced by variability in the human condition across individuals and societal groups, referred to as human realities. When compared to the selection of existing concepts of similar intentions it demonstrates to combine strengths of different concepts with improved opportunity for contextual adaptations. Comparatively consistent, comprehensive considerations and functional biodiversity outcomes are encouraged and expected with the use of the ESHR. Recommendations for future use and research are provided.