The landscape and family farming - This issue of LEISA presents experiences that highlight the relationship between the landscape and agriculture. Landscapes are shaped by human endeavor interacting with forces of nature. This is clearly seen through the characteristics of a rural landscape: the mosaics of cultivated fields, pastures for cattle, preserved or degraded forests, water courses free or channeled, roads and human settlements built with peculiar shapes and local materials are examples of this interaction. The articles in this issue show how rural communities are acting under increasing pressure on their lands and resources. Threats from climate change and demands of commercial agriculture are eroding productive and resilient landscapes that were created over centuries.
