Agricultural Intensification in Developing Countries: Fresh Biodiversity Concerns

Building on from my previous post, here is a short 2-minute video that helps to contextualise a key issue stemming from agricultural revolutions in developing countries. In this example from Kerala in India, modern farming techniques of increased fertiliser and pesticide use in conjunction with agricultural expansion is causing severe damage to a valuable habitat rich in biodiversity.

70% of this wild habitat has been destroyed, with much of it replaced by cropland used to grow tea, which requires intensive management. This agricultural intensification and marketisation in developing countries is one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity if not controlled and managed through governance and policy.