Traditional farming systems, a fundamental threat to perennial plant biodiversity

The potential of renewable natural resources for agriculture is very high, if proper land use systems are applied. The terms which are repeatedly used in most documents concerning Ethiopia's potential productivity include the grain basket of Africa, the water tower, with the highest livestock population, the largest bee colony, the fourth wax producing country in the world, and one of the world's top countries of biodiversity. However the real resource situation in terms of actual production, conservation and sustainability is indeed frustrating. Severe decline in production of Ethiopia's resources, and failure in sustainability is directly related to the widespread destruction of the forest resources. Forest resources that would have conserved soil and enabled surface water conservation, sustained river flows and balanced underground water. Conservation of forest vegetation will provide and sustain production of animal feed, and bee forage; control soil salinization and stabilize temperature fluctuations. Stable vegetation cover also offers the potential for agroforestry tree inter-crop practices. This is an important development and conservation strategy particularly in the face of the lack of acceptance and failures in forest development endeavours in Ethiopia. Agroforestry is a point of restart for long-term forest development for Ethiopia at this time. This paper reveals the root causes of the problems of low productivity, basing arguments on long personal experience, direct field observation, and evaluation reports. Available and relevant documents have been reviewed. The paper looks at a number of cases, comparing farming systems in similar agro-ecologies and beyond. It examines traditional systems constraints that contribute to the problem of declining productivity, which is threatening livelihoods in Ethiopia. This paper is focused to the underlying cause of reduced perennial plant diversity. It argues that diverse perennial plant genetic erosion is a determinant cause for poverty and food insecurity. It is proposed, through this examination of traditional farming systems, which production system causes the core problems. Actions and impacts are reviewed and compared from traditional farming practices. The organic nutrient recycling potential of deep-rooted diversified perennial plants is compared with mono-cropping shallow-rooted annual crops, from sustainability in production and environmental conservation perspectives. The paper concludes that deforestation and threats to biodiversity, which are linked to subsequent poverty and famine, are problems that need to be addressed with long-term solutions. As the major underlying cause is perennial plant destruction, a logical and practical solution lies in restoration of the same basic and renewable resource.