Nature's Matrix: Linking Agriculture, Conservation and Food Sovereignty
'This well written book is informed by sophisticated ecological theory applied to the complexities of modern tropical development in a dazzling critique of conventional thinking.' Susanna Hecht, Professor of Urban Planning at the University of California, Berkeley and author of Fate of the Forest 'Greens of every stripe -- agro-ecologists, conservationists, regional planners -- recognize the need for ecologically farmed areas, an empowered farm population, preserved areas in any sustainable, just and productive mosaic landscape. We all advocate this integration. This book does it.' Richard Levins, Professor of Population Sciences at Harvard University and author of The Dialectical Biologist and Biology Under the Influence 'Nature's Matrix makes the powerful case that sustainable peasant agriculture is a positive force for biodiversity conservation, contrary to a lot of misrepresentation in the literature. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the connections between food sovereignty and the environment.' Peter Rosset, author of Food Is Different and Promised Land 'As the authors demonstrate in this ground-breaking book, traditional agroecosystems not only offer promising models for other areas as they promote biodiversity, thrive without agrochemicals, and sustain year-round yields but are key for food sovereignty and the conservation of millions of wild species as they promote high quality matrices.' Miguel Altieri, Professor at the University of California, Berkeley and author of Agroecology: The Science of Sustainable Agriculture 'An excellent book, highly recommended.' Agroforestry News 'By providing analysis of how agriculture, conservation and biodiversity should be managed for the nutritional and social benefit of the majority, as well as the environmental security of the planet, Nature's Matrix offers policymakers, agronomists and ecologists much to ponder.' New Agriculturist 'An important publication that should be read by all ecologists, because the arguments are backed up with a considerable quantity of data.' Janet SprentBritish Ecological SOciety, 2010.  'Hopefully books such as these will help the change from denial to holistic thinking.' IZWA.  'This book is an important read for conservationists who are invited to adopt a landscape matrix perspective and aim for better understanding of the socio-economic and political forces that influence land use' ORC Bulletin, Dec 2010