| Previous | Return to table of contents | Search Reports | Next |
| « Back to weltagrarbericht.de | ||
Glossary | 217
earned in kind (e.g., growing food for consumption by
the same household). Cultivar A cultivated variety, a population of plants within a species of plant. Each cultivar or variety is genetically different. Deforestation The action or process of changing forest land to non-forested land uses. Degradation The result of processes that alter the ecological characteristics of terrestrial or aquatic (agro)ecosystems so that the net services that they provide are reduced. Continued degradation leads to zero or negative economic agricultural productivity. For loss of land in quantitative or qualitative ways, the term degradation is used. For water resources rendered unavailable for agricultural and non-agricultural uses, we employ the terms depletion and pollution. Soil degradation refers to the processes that reduce the capacity of the soil to support agriculture. Desertification Land degradation in drylands resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. Domesticated or Cultivated Species Species in which the evolutionary process has been influenced by humans to meet their needs. Domestication The process to accustom animals to live with people as well as to selectively cultivate plants or raise animals in order to increase their suitability and compatibility to human requirements. Driver Any natural or human-induced factor that directly or indirectly causes a change in a system. Driver, direct A driver that unequivocally influences ecosystem processes and can therefore be identified and measured to different degrees of accuracy. Driver, endogenous A driver whose magnitude can be influenced by the decision-maker. The endogenous or exogenous characteristic of a driver depends on the organizational scale. Some drivers (e.g., prices) are exogenous to a decision-maker at one level (a farmer) but endogenous at other levels (the nation-state). Driver, exogenous A driver that cannot be altered by the decision-maker. Driver, indirect A driver that operates by altering the level or rate of change of one or more direct drivers. Ecoagriculture A management approach that provides fair balance between production of food, feed, fuel, fiber, and biodiversity conservation or protection of the ecosystem. Ecological Pest Management (EPM) A strategy to manage pests that focuses on strengthening the health and resilience of the entire agro-ecosystem. EPM relies on scientific advances in the ecological and entomological fields of population dynamics, community and landscape ecology, multi-trophic interactions, and plant and habitat diversity. Economic Rate of Return The net benefits to all members of society as a percentage of cost, taking into account externalities and other market imperfections. Ecosystem A dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and their nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit. Ecosystem Approach A strategy for the integrated manage |
management
of land, water, and living resources that promotes
conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.
An ecosystem approach is based on the application of
appropriate scientific methodologies focused on levels of
biological organization, which encompass the essential
structure, processes, functions, and interactions among
organisms and their environment. It recognizes that humans,
with their cultural diversity, are an integral component
and managers of many ecosystems. |
| Previous | Return to table of contents | Search Reports | Next |
| « Back to weltagrarbericht.de | ||