In Burundi, the agricultural sector employs 93% of the active Burundian population, provides 95% of the food supply, 90% of jobs and more than 90% of foreign exchange earnings. However, intensive agriculture, which relies on irrigation, the use of fertilizers, the protection of plants through the use of pesticides or the introduction of new crop varieties and cropping systems can have an impact on biodiversity and therefore on nutrition. In addition, in some highly populated regions, the soils do not suffer any rest with the intensive use of mineral fertilizers in addition to the lack of protection systems, which is the cause of erosion, thus causing floods in the lowlands and the pollution of waterways. In all regions, we are witnessing cultural clearings that cause the deforestation of several areas of forest ecosystems. The logical consequence is the disappearance of species, goods and ecosystem services. This state of affairs is such that MINGARIE must take measures to protect the environment and fight against the degradation of biodiversity; because nutrition and biodiversity are linked in many ways. It is in this context that the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2013-2020) provides for the integration of biodiversity in the agricultural and livestock sector. For this reason, this department wishes to integrate activities related to the conservation of agrobiodiversity and wild biodiversity into its policies, strategies, plans, plans, programs and projects. The objective is to contribute to sustainable development that ensures a better compromise between the agricultural and pastoral species that populations need and the sustainable management of natural ecosystems and wildlife species.

This MINAGRIE Sectoral Biodiversity Integration Plan was developed as part of the project to Revise the National Strategy and Action Plan on Biodiversity and Development of the 5th Country Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity under the funding of GEF/UNEP. Developed by a resource person from the same ministry, this Sectoral Integration Plan is also the result of a sectoral consultation workshop that took place from February 28 to March 1, 2013, which brought together representatives of this same ministry to give their contributions. It is built around the following main points:

• Agrobiodiversity in Burundi;
• Involvement of the agricultural sector in the management of biodiversity;
• Degradation of biodiversity linked to the agricultural and livestock sector;
• Constraints to the conservation of biodiversity;
• Strategic plan for the integration of biodiversity in MINAGRIE.