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Multi-functional landscapes from the grassroots? The role of rural producer movements

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Abstract

Around the world, agricultural landscapes are increasingly seen as “multi-functional” spaces, expected to deliver food supplies while improving rural livelihoods and protecting and restoring healthy ecosystems. To support this array of functions and benefits, governments and civil society in many regions are now promoting integrated farm- and landscape-scale management strategies, in lieu of fragmented management strategies. While rural producers are fundamental to achieving multi-functional landscapes, they are frequently viewed as targets of, or barriers to, landscape-oriented initiatives, rather than as leading agents of change. In reality, however, rural producers in many areas have embraced elements of multi-functional land management. In this paper, we explore the role and recent evolution of producer movements in influencing multi-functional farm and landscape management. We explore these roles through six case studies, including a land reform movement in Brazil, indigenous territorial development in Bolivia, conservation agriculture associations in Canada, environmental cooperatives in the Netherlands, indigenous and biocultural heritage associations in Peru, and Landcare groups in the Philippines. These experiences suggest that producer movements are playing pivotal roles in supporting landscape multi-functionality, not only through agroecological farming practices but also through off-farm efforts to conserve ecosystems and support multi-stakeholder landscape planning. On the other hand, interests of producer movements are not always fully aligned with multi-functional landscape management approaches. The contribution of producer movements to multi-functional landscapes depends on these movements including farm and landscape stewardship in their values and goals, and having the political support and capacity to engage meaningfully in multi-stakeholder processes.

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Abbreviations

ANAPQUI:

Asociación Nacional de Productores de Quinua, The National Quinoa Producers’ Association

ATO:

Alternative trade organization

BMP:

Best management practice

CCA:

Community Conserved Area

CIP:

International Potato Center

COCAMP:

Cooperativa dos Assentados da Reforma Agraria do Pontal, Agrarian Reform Settlers’ Cooperative in the Pontal

CSFSP:

Canada–Saskatchewan Farmer Stewardship Program

ICRAF:

World Agroforestry Center

IFOAM:

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

IPE:

Institute of Ecological Research

MST:

Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, Rural Landless Workers’ Movement

NFW:

Northern Friesian Woodlands Agricultural Cooperative

NGO:

Non-government organization

NVS:

Natural vegetative strips

PFRA:

Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act

PROQUINAT:

Natural Quinoa Production Standard

SSCA:

Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association

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Acknowledgments

We thank KC Alvey for her excellent research assistance. We also thank David King, Claire Rhodes and Robin Marsh for their helpful input on the manuscript. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Environment Programme. This study is a contribution of the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative (http://landscapes.ecoagriculture.org).

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Hart, A.K., McMichael, P., Milder, J.C. et al. Multi-functional landscapes from the grassroots? The role of rural producer movements. Agric Hum Values 33, 305–322 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-015-9611-1

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