CEESP members to present workshop at the International Society
of Ethnobiology Congress Exploring the linkages between
biodiversity, rural food systems and institutions within diverse
landscapes. Panels & Side Event Although much work focuses on
agricultural systems within conventional food security research
the role of biodiversity in supporting sustainable food systems
has been neglected. In many rural areas biodiversity at the
species level contributes to rural food systems in the form of
food products; these food products are components of local trade
and extra-local trade networks. Biodiversity, at the level of
land/seascapes, also contributes to rural food systems.
Landscape patchiness provides a range of ecosystem services from
watershed protection to species that may only be used at certain
times (seasons / hunger periods) or for specific reasons
(medicines, housing materials). Such multifunctional landscapes
also enhance genetic diversity by providing habitats for “wild”
relatives of domesticated spe