GARDENS of BIODIVERSITY

Conservation of
genetic resources and their use in
traditional food production systems
by small farmers of
the Southern Caucasus

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FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome 2010

Abstarct

This book describes how farmers and rural people in the southern caucasus maintain biodiversity and apply the ecosystem approach in their daily lives and agricultural practices. These practices contribute to their food security and livelihoods while also maintaining local genetic resources.

This book does not claim to offer a definitive prescription for sustainable agriculture and is not an exhaustive study. It puts forth a collection of concrete examples showing how genetic resources are maintained and used by small farmers for food security in the Southern Caucasus. These examples show that the livelihoods and prospects of rural people can be improved and consolidated in a sustainable manner to face important environmental, social and economic challenges without sacrificing the prosperity of future generations. The book would like to stimulate further debate, research and policies in the hope that bridges can be built between the sustainable use of biodiversity and genetic resources, traditional practices and ways of life, and the new technologies, demands and challenges of today’s society.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD PREFACE ABOUT THIS BOOK	- 767kb
Chapter 1 AT THE CROSSROADS BETWEEN EAST AND WEST	-1.905kb
Chapter 2 IN THREE HOSPITABLES COUNTRIES	- 1.812kb
Chapter 3 AGRICULTURE AND BREEDING HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED SINCE THE NEOLITHIC	- 1.725kb
Chapter 4 COPING WITH THE RHYTHMS OF THE SEASONS	- 1.832kb
Chapter 5 A TREASURY OF GENETIC RESOUCES IS MAINTAINED IN GARDENS	- 1.849kb
Chapter 6 TO MAKE BREAD CHEESE AND WINE	- 1.598kb
Chapter 7 PASTORALISTS AND FARMERS MANAGE THE LANDSCAPES	- 2.075kb
Chapter 8 RURAL PEOPLE KNOW AND USE WILD PLANTS AND ANIMALS	- 1.927kb
Chapter 9 COMBINING BIODIVERSITY,HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND SMALLHOLDERS' DEDICATION: A PATHWAY INTO THE FUTURE	- 820kb

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ISBN 978-92-5-106613-3

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