THE STAKES IN BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION

In their diversity, living organisms and communities evolve in connect ion with their environment, which hey contribute in return to shape an d regularize. Like the other species, indeed more than them, manking m akes use of biodiversity to survive. Traditional agriculture emphasize s this effort: it has globally increased both agricultural species div ersity and agricultural production, while managing environment. The fr agility of this balance has become obvious in the 20th century, as a r esult of mankind's scientific, technical, economic and demographic exp ansion. Biodiversity must be watched over and protected, as a now enda ngered natural resource: to secure long-term food safety and quality, sustainable land rise End management, and lastly environment quality. One must point out the responsibility of several groups : consumers, t o maintain the diversity of agricultural species; citizens, to direct economic development so as to protect the diversity of wild organisms; research people, to build up a culture of biodiversity, basis of a go od policy in this essential field where farmers play a prominent part.