Agriculture and biodiversity are deeply interconnected, each influencing the productivity, resilience, and health of the other. Sustainable food and agricultural systems support thriving ecosystems, while intact natural landscapes enhance farm productivity and climate resilience. However, this interdependence is increasingly threatened by unsustainable agricultural and livestock practices, which IUCN’s Vision 2045 identifies as major global drivers of biodiversity loss.
To address these challenges, IUCN’s project “Accelerating the Global Transition to Sustainable Agriculture,” supported by the IKEA Foundation, seeks to harmonize agricultural production with ecological conservation. Using the Common Ground Dialogues approach, the initiative brings together diverse stakeholders—including farmers, forest managers, researchers, women’s groups, private sector actors, and policymakers—to co-design solutions that balance food production needs with biodiversity protection.
India presents a particularly complex context for this work due to its ecological diversity, high population density, and strong reliance on land-based livelihoods. Agriculture is a primary source of income for many, necessitating intensive use of land and water, while conservation priorities aim to safeguard forests, wildlife, and ecosystem services. This overlap often generates competing demands, highlighting the need for integrated approaches that address both food security and ecological preservation.
A background study by IUCN India examined agricultural activity around high-biodiversity areas between 1995 and 2022, revealing varied trends in cropland change. On average, cropland within 10 km of Protected Areas declined by 5.7%, even as populations increased by 28%. While some areas, such as Senchal and Bondla, experienced cropland reduction, others, including Mehao and the Valley of Flowers, saw expansion. These findings underscore the importance of landscape-specific strategies that consider local pressures and context-specific drivers of biodiversity loss.
The study also emphasizes the need for cross-sectoral coordination between agriculture, forestry, climate, and conservation sectors. Effective governance, shared planning, and multi-stakeholder cooperation are crucial to addressing land-use challenges at the interface of food production and biodiversity protection.
The Common Ground Dialogue held in New Delhi on 20 August 2025 exemplifies the initiative’s collaborative approach, enabling stakeholders to align technical insights, institutional roles, and policy opportunities. This dialogue laid the foundation for a future-oriented action agenda to advance sustainable agriculture in India and the broader Asia region.
Key insights from the dialogue highlight the importance of empowering communities and strengthening food security. Farmer-led and locally grounded initiatives, supported by institutions such as Gram Sabhas and Mahila Sabhas, can integrate agroforestry and climate-adaptive practices to link conservation with improved rural livelihoods.
Another critical focus is the realignment of policy, finance, and incentives toward diversified, climate-smart, and regenerative agricultural systems. Expanding eco-sensitive zones and embedding Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) can promote biodiversity-friendly practices while advancing global targets such as 30×30 and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Emerging solutions include zero-tillage and mulching for soil and water efficiency, climate-resilient rice varieties, weather-indexed insurance connecting risk reduction with ecosystems, and IoT-enabled precision irrigation systems.
Looking ahead, IUCN plans to strengthen collaboration among governments, producers, companies, financial institutions, civil society, and academia to accelerate the shift toward sustainable agricultural landscapes. By advancing the Common Ground approach and producing evidence-based policy guidance and technical tools, IUCN aims to create scalable, integrated, and resilient solutions aligned with its Programme 2026–2029 and Vision 2045 objectives.
