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The future holds many uncertainties that could lead to conflicts over natural resources. This blog shows the ways in which a landscape approach that takes into account socio-economics and geography could lead to better management and less conflict. The ability to manage conflict, however, also depends on how reliable and legitimate stakeholders view the land […]

The introduction of non-native species can have widespread and devastating consequences, but not always. Non-native species can even benefit a landscape and those who live in it. Dr. Christian Kull puts forward a more holistic framework for evaluating smallholder tropical farms that introduce non-native species on a landscape level. Small farms that mix native and […]

Suriname is a small country in South America that has managed to preserve much of its native biodiversity and rainforest habitats. The blog examines how Suriname can both maintain its wilderness and intensify agricultural production through a landscape approach. This is made possible by the global market’s recently expanded interest in organic products and those […]

What happens when, in a particular tropical landscape, you combine human labor, introduced plants, and diverse societal histories and structures? You end up with anthropogenic or cultural landscapes – the “matrix” in current ecological jargon – such as the domesticated forests of Southeast Asia, the tree gardens of Caribbean or Pacific islands, the shambas of Africa, the rice […]

Land use diversity can support ecosystem services such as biological pest control and reduce the need for insecticides. Empirical evidence in support of this principle has been collected in North America, Europe and Australia. But very limited information is available from developing countries, where smallholder farming is predominant and local people likely need safe food […]

Important research released in recent years has highlighted numerous effects of crops being lost along the supply chain, ­ money is lost, food  supplies are lessened, and agricultural inputs such as water, energy, and labor are wasted. Yet, this partnership challenges us to zoom out to  see an even bigger picture. As postharvest losses disrupt […]