Recognising diversity in wetlands and farming systems to support sustainable agriculture and conserve wetlands

Abstract

Context: Agriculture is a main driver of decline in wetlands, but in addressing its impact the diversity in agricultural systems and their catchment interactions must be recognised. Aims: In this paper, we review the impacts of food production systems on wetlands to seek a better understanding of agriculture-wetland interactions and identify options for increasing sustainability. Methods: Eight farming-system types were defined on the basis of natural resource use and farming intensity, and their impact on different wetland types was assessed through their direct drivers of change. Indirect drivers (such as decision-making in food systems, markets and governance) were also summarised. Key results: Findings showed that most inland wetlands are influenced by farming directly, through changes in water and nutrient supply and use of pesticides, or indirectly through catchment water, sediment and nutrient pathways. Coastal wetlands are mostly influenced indirectly. Conclusions: More sustainable food production can be achieved through continued protection of wetlands, improving efficiency in agricultural resource use generally, but also through more integration within production systems (e.g. crop-livestock-fish integration) or with wetlands (integrated wetland-agriculture). Implications: More support for small-scale producers will be needed to ensure a transformation towards balancing the provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services of wetland agroecosystems within catchments.