Integrated biodiversity management in paddy fields: shift of paradigm from IPM toward IBM

Kiritani, K.

The insect fauna in paddy fields is composed of resident, migratory and aquatic species each corresponding to the continuous cropping of rice in the same field, harvesting rice as an annual crop, and originating from still water habitats in wetlands. Although IPM is becoming popular in the control of rice pests, those 'minor' insects and aquatic insects that have no direct economic impact on rice production have received little attention. Consequently, some of them are in danger of extinction requiring conservation. A new concept, 'Integrated biodiversity management (IBM)', is proposed under which IPM and conservation are reconciled and made compatible with each other. As an operational concept in agroecology, premises for implementing IBM are suggested.