This book is about landscapes and how humans manage them. Building on observations in relation to the loss of bio-diversity, the food crisis and the growing political unrest in rural areas the authors propose a new paradigm linking arguments from ecology, agro-ecology and grass-root movements. These linkages between the major challenges of our time do not come unexpected to those who work with the many models of alternative agriculture that are referred to, but such readers might relate to the well-presented history of agricultural development. New is the way in which the book draws on recent advances in ecological theory to show that the area between fragmented habitats is probably more important for biodiversity conservation than the habitats themselves. This matrix is to a large extent occupied by agriculture, and the way this land is farmed matters not only to food production and rural livelihoods but also to conservation. The book is therefore an important read for conservationists who are invited to adopt a landscape matrix perspective and aim for better understanding of the socio-economic and political forces that influence land use. The paradigm proposed also challenges the industrial model of intensified agriculture that is once more being widely advocated as the best way to meet the food crisis. It is therefore also a valuable read for students and teachers of agriculture who are encouraged to show solidarity with the small farmers around the world in their struggle for food sovereignty.