Comments on: Ecosystem Services and Agricultural Lands https://rose.geog.mcgill.ca/wordpress/?p=803 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:48:35 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.10 By: Jones https://rose.geog.mcgill.ca/wordpress/?p=803&cpage=1#comment-50845 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:48:35 +0000 http://rose.geog.mcgill.ca/wordpress/?p=803#comment-50845 In this post I tried to take a realistic outlook on current and projected land-use patterns. I too wish for a number of changes that would lead to more sustainable, less-consumptive practices. Current projections, however, place the human population around 9 billion in the next few decades, and indicate that a number of developing nations are on the cusp of being fully developed, with all the cars and toys that we enjoy. With the rise in biofuels, also, intense competition is going to occur over current, and potential, agricultural land. To cut our losses and compromise might be the most rational path forward. It might prove quite prudent to manage lands to provide a host of ecosystem services.
Regarding Parasite Kid’s recommendations, I agree that these measures should, and probably will be implemented in the near future, but only when it becomes economically beneficial for stakeholders to do so. Traditionally, producers have been able to afford to waste, but as population pressures increase along with competition for productive land, waste will no longer be an option. It will soon be in producers’ economic interests to be sustainable.

]]> By: parasite kid https://rose.geog.mcgill.ca/wordpress/?p=803&cpage=1#comment-50519 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:54:35 +0000 http://rose.geog.mcgill.ca/wordpress/?p=803#comment-50519 t it also serving to reinforce the idea that the value of the environment is in its worth to humans? Perhaps this can lessen the impact of our growing numbers but if all environmental movements head this direction I am afraid that the shift in mentality that is necessary for real change won’t happen. In relation to food security...What about reducing the waste associated with our current agricultural production? What about creating a more effective distribution system? How much of an impact could this make on improving food security?]]> While I agree that we will not be able to stop land domestication in its tracks, I wonder whether playing the “cost/benefit” game with nature is really the best path forward. Of course it speaks to the current culture of consumption, but isn’t it also serving to reinforce the idea that the value of the environment is in its worth to humans? Perhaps this can lessen the impact of our growing numbers but if all environmental movements head this direction I am afraid that the shift in mentality that is necessary for real change won’t happen.

In relation to food security…What about reducing the waste associated with our current agricultural production? What about creating a more effective distribution system? How much of an impact could this make on improving food security?

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