The Relationship Between Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation Based on Evidence

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to examine the impact of organic rice farming on biodiversity conservation in Japan. First, a nationwide field survey measured the number of species or abundance of plants, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, and birds in a total of more than 1000 rice fields. The results showed that the number of species or abundance of many taxonomic groups was generally higher in organic fields compared to conventional fields. Next, a systematic review was conducted to collect national literature on the relationship between organic rice farming and biodiversity. The results identified 48 cases, which reported positive effects of organic rice farming on species richness and abundance of plants, invertebrates, and birds. These results indicate that organic farming is one of the most promising ways to enhance biodiversity in rice fields. Further research is needed to balance agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.