The concept of biodiversity covers specific diversity as well as genetic diversity or diversity of ecosystems. Since the beginning of the 20th century, man's activities have resulted in decreasing planet biodiversity. The arguments favoring preservation of biodiversity are many : philosophic, ethic, scientific and economic. Are agricultural activities compatible with the maintenance of biodiversity ? The ties between the two are complex. In certain cases, development of agricultural areas can actually tead to reinforcement of biodiversity. Maintaining biodiversity (the gage of a well functionning biosphere) is not incompatible with the development of performant agriculture ; but the latter must integrate progress made in the fields of biological pest control, genetics and wise fertilization. Moreover, the areas must be organized and managed in view of advances in landscape ecology, which have brought light to the importance of ecological networks and interactions between agriculturally productive areas and areas considered to form « species reservoirs ».
