Transition of Ecosystem Services Based on Urban Agro Ecology

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are “the direct and indirect contributions of nature to human wellbeing” (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) 2010). Urban agro ecology has direct impacts on ecosystem services, environmental sustainability, food security and socio economic development in urban and peri-urban areas. The impact of urban agro ecology in the ecosystem services in urban environment, economic viability and productivity has been given little attention by organizations and institutions than the peri-urban commercial farms. Agro ecological techniques can improve yields and increase productivity while improving the supply of critical natural resources and environmental services (Pretty et al. 2006).

To enhance this situation, it is recommended to provide more extension, education, training and support for the agro economic services. The urban economies benefit from urban agro ecology if local governments develop institutions with a policy framework to provide agro ecological services, promote sustainable urban development and urban food security aimed to enable urban agro ecological participants to unlock supporting financial and technical services.

The analysis of agro ecology theory and practice may contribute to the discussion to pursue to the institutionalization of agro ecological development based on a farm system with investments and services supported by networking interactions between the state, society and inclusive participatory organizations. A multilevel methodology to analyze the impact of agro ecological practices on environmental services flows and processes to assess the feasibility of the agro ecological transition.