Biodiversity and landscape structure: Challenges for insect management strategies in lychee orchards in the mountains of Northern Thailand

Abstract

© 2007, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Agriculture is the most important of human economic activities. It differs from most other industries in that it is a biological process: the primary products are organic and the resource base is the physical environment including soil, water and solar energy. However, it must always be remembered that other biological components are present in the environment besides the crop plant. A variety of organisms including other plants, animals and microorganisms, representing what is referred to as “biodiversity”, are part of the complex agro-ecosystem. What is the relevance of this biodiversity and what are the ways of dealing with it? In the context of agricultural production, global environmental change and the protection of natural resources, several aspects need to be considered.