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The Non-Sustainability of Monocultures & From Bio-imperialism to Bio-democracy. By: Martin Matthew Zais. The Non-Sustainability of Monocultures. Monocultures dominate and will eventually strangle themselves ‘scientific forestry is harmful Undermines diversity and local knowledge
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The Non-Sustainability of Monocultures &From Bio-imperialism to Bio-democracy By: Martin Matthew Zais
Monocultures dominate and will eventually strangle themselves • ‘scientific forestry is harmful • Undermines diversity and local knowledge • ‘Sustainable’ yields are harmful • Create uniformity and collapse • Focused on economics of a forest • Normal forests have become abnormal Monocultures
Uniform forests are harmful to natures processes • Drying of soil, erosion of the soil and rapid regressions Natural Processes
Selective cutting sounds like a good idea. • Logging operations must also build infrastructure which destroys forests. • In some logged forests only 33% of the trees remain unharmed. • Sustainable yields are in direct conflict with biological productivity • Forests afforestation rates have dropped 40% Selective Cutting
They are exclusively planted – Corn of trees • Increased cash flow • Deplete natural ecosystems • Local cultures revolt • Peasants pulled millions of eucalyptus seedlings and replanted tamarind and mango seeds Eucalyptus
Native crops are well adapted • New pests do not come in with the plants • New superbugs/weeds • High yield require lots of water. • Inputs are sold like NPK Agricultural Globalism
Shifting away from economics would help humans • Inconsistent with equity and justice • Reduces/minimizes the value of traditional knowledge • Disregards nature Democratizing Knowledge
What bio-imperialism leads to 1.) ecological instability 2.) external control 3.) efficiency in one dimensional framework • Need to change monetary and harmful policies. Change will start at the large scale • Need to shift incentives from economic to democracy Ecology, equity and efficiency
Gene rich Global South has given away biodiversity only to have it sold back to themselves. • Genes/property vs coevolution/relationships • Bio democracy acknowledges the intrinsic value of all life forms. • Need to protect property rights Who controls biodiversity?