Reflections on Agroecosystems and Biodiversity Conservation in Peru

Agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems are generally linked to biodiversity conservation in a complex way. In countries as culturally and biologically diverse as Peru, this is even more accentuated. Agroecosystems can, in general terms, contribute positively to the conservation of wild and cultivated biodiversity at different levels and scales. For example, agro-industrial ecosystems on the Peruvian coast have become important vehicles for conservation, restoration and connectivity. Andean communal agroecosystems are almost by definition conservation friendly. Some agro-industrial ecosystems in the Amazon have disruptive effects on local flora, forests and fauna. While public policies are needed to support and promote conservation at the national level, specific and targeted actions are also needed at the subnational level. Institutional capacities must be strengthened to create complementarity and robust mutual support between the agricultural and environmental sectors.