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The Non-Sustainability of Monocultures: From Bio-imperialism to Bio-democracy

This article explores the detrimental effects of monocultures on biodiversity and local ecosystems, highlighting that practices like scientific forestry harm natural processes and reduce long-term productivity. It critiques the focus on economic outputs that lead to ecological instability, while advocating for a shift towards bio-democracy, which respects the intrinsic value of diverse life forms. The paper argues that the current framework of bio-imperialism needs to prioritize equity, environmental sustainability, and the protection of local knowledge to foster genuine ecological harmony.

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The Non-Sustainability of Monocultures: From Bio-imperialism to Bio-democracy

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  1. The Non-Sustainability of Monocultures &From Bio-imperialism to Bio-democracy By: Martin Matthew Zais

  2. The Non-Sustainability of Monocultures

  3. 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

  4. Uniform forests are harmful to natures processes • Drying of soil, erosion of the soil and rapid regressions Natural Processes

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Shifting away from economics would help humans • Inconsistent with equity and justice • Reduces/minimizes the value of traditional knowledge • Disregards nature Democratizing Knowledge

  9. From Bio-imperialism to Bio-democracy

  10. 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

  11. 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?

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