The socio-cultural benefits and costs of the traditional hunting of dugongsDugong dugonand green turtlesChelonia mydasin Torres Strait, Australia

AbstractSignatory states of the Convention on Biological Diversity must ‘protect and encourage the customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation or sustainable use requirements’. Thus the management of traditional hunting of wildlife must balance the sustainability of target species with the benefits of hunting to traditional communities. Conservation policies usually define the values associated with wild meats in terms of income and nutrition, neglecting a wide range of social and cultural values that are important to traditional hunting communities. We elicited the community-defined benefits and costs associated with the traditional hunting of dugongsDugong dugonand green turtlesChelonia mydasfrom communities on two islands in Torres Strait, Australia. We then used cognitive mapping and multidimensional scaling to identify separable groups of benefits (cultural services, provisioning services, and individual benefits) and demonstrate that traditional owners consider the cultural services associated with traditional hunting to be significantly more important than the provisioning services. Understanding these cultural values can inform management actions in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity. If communities are unable to hunt, important cultural benefits are foregone. Based on our results, we question the appropriateness of conservation actions focused on prohibiting hunting and providing monetary compensation for the loss of provisioning services only.

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A protocol for an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized land-use and climate scenarios

Geoscientific Model Development ◽

10.5194/gmd-11-4537-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 4537-4562 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

HyeJin Kim ◽

Isabel M. D. Rosa ◽

Rob Alkemade ◽

Paul Leadley ◽

George Hurtt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Multiple Scales ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Second Phase ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Wide Range ◽

Global Impacts

Abstract. To support the assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the IPBES Expert Group on Scenarios and Models is carrying out an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized scenarios (BES-SIM). The goals of BES-SIM are (1) to project the global impacts of land-use and climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services (i.e., nature's contributions to people) over the coming decades, compared to the 20th century, using a set of common metrics at multiple scales, and (2) to identify model uncertainties and research gaps through the comparisons of projected biodiversity and ecosystem services across models. BES-SIM uses three scenarios combining specific Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) – SSP1xRCP2.6, SSP3xRCP6.0, SSP5xRCP8.6 – to explore a wide range of land-use change and climate change futures. This paper describes the rationale for scenario selection, the process of harmonizing input data for land use, based on the second phase of the Land Use Harmonization Project (LUH2), and climate, the biodiversity and ecosystem services models used, the core simulations carried out, the harmonization of the model output metrics, and the treatment of uncertainty. The results of this collaborative modeling project will support the ongoing global assessment of IPBES, strengthen ties between IPBES and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios and modeling processes, advise the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on its development of a post-2020 strategic plans and conservation goals, and inform the development of a new generation of nature-centred scenarios.

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A protocol for an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized land-use and climate scenarios

10.5194/gmd-2018-115 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

HyeJin Kim ◽

Isabel M. D. Rosa ◽

Rob Alkemade ◽

Paul Leadley ◽

George Hurtt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Multiple Scales ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Second Phase ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Wide Range ◽

Global Impacts

Abstract. To support the assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the IPBES Expert Group on Scenarios and Models is carrying out an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized scenarios (BES-SIM). The goals of BES-SIM are (1) to project the global impacts of land use and climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services (i.e. nature’s contributions to people) over the coming decades, compared to the 20th century, using a set of common metrics at multiple scales, and (2) to identify model uncertainties and research gaps through the comparisons of projected biodiversity and ecosystem services across models. BES-SIM uses three scenarios combining specific Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) to explore a wide range of land-use change and climate change futures. This paper describes the rationale for scenarios selection, the process of harmonizing input data for land use, based on the second phase of the Land Use Harmonization Project (LUH2), and climate, the biodiversity and ecosystem service models used, the core simulations carried out, the harmonization of the model output metrics, and the treatment of uncertainty. The results of this collaborative modelling project will support the ongoing global assessment of IPBES, strengthen ties between IPBES and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios and modelling processes, advise the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on its development of a post-2020 strategic plans and conservation goals, and inform the development of a new generation of nature-centred scenarios.

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The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)’s Post-2020 target on invasive alien species – what should it include and how should it be monitored?

NeoBiota ◽

10.3897/neobiota.62.53972 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 62 ◽

pp. 99-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Franz Essl ◽

Guillaume Latombe ◽

Bernd Lenzner ◽

Shyama Pagad ◽

Hanno Seebens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Invasions ◽

Alien Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Invasive Alien Species ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Wide Range ◽

Biodiversity Policy ◽

Global Biodiversity ◽

Main Components

The year 2020 and the next few years are critical for the development of the global biodiversity policy agenda until the mid-21st century, with countries agreeing to a Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Reducing the substantial and still rising impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) on biodiversity will be essential if we are to meet the 2050 Vision where biodiversity is valued, conserved, and restored. A tentative target has been developed by the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), and formally submitted to the CBD for consideration in the discussion on the Post-2020 targets. Here, we present properties of this proposal that we regard as essential for an effective Post-2020 Framework. The target should explicitly consider the three main components of biological invasions, i.e. (i) pathways, (ii) species, and (iii) sites; the target should also be (iv) quantitative, (v) supplemented by a set of indicators that can be applied to track progress, and (vi) evaluated at medium- (2030) and long-term (2050) time horizons. We also present a proposed set of indicators to track progress. These properties and indicators are based on the increasing scientific understanding of biological invasions and effectiveness of responses. Achieving an ambitious action-oriented target so that the 2050 Vision can be achieved will require substantial effort and resources, and the cooperation of a wide range of stakeholders.

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Activities of Environmental Convention-Secretariats: Laws, Functions and Discretions

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11113116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3116

Author(s):

Volker Mauerhofer

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Future Research ◽

Multilateral Environmental Agreements ◽

Legal Norms ◽

Wild Fauna ◽

Operating Rules ◽

Wide Range ◽

Functional Areas

Multilateral Environmental Agreements—MEAs—are indispensable legal frameworks for environmental sustainability and also define the operating rules of their implementation bodies (“Secretariats”). The contribution assesses in how far the norms defining Secretariats’ functions differ and also reflect on actual functions for three MEAs, namely (1) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora-CITES (1973), (2) the Convention on Biological Diversity—CBD (1992), and (3) the Convention on Migratory Species—CMS (1979). It does so by comparative legal interpretation of the main norms of these MEAs laying down the functions of its respective Secretariats as well as an in-depth review of academic literature about these functions. The results for these three conventions divide into nine functional areas and show an unexpectedly wide range of different functions laid down in the conventions as well as extensive variety in the discretion for many of these functional areas. Some potential explanations of these formal differences are provided. The paper further finds that actually executed functions may not be fully covered by the underlying legal norms but rather by “flexible” highest governing bodies of MEAs and concludes that occasionally an unusual legislative style was chosen, and shows potential solutions and future research directions.

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Balanced harvesting in fisheries: economic considerations

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsv161 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 73 (6) ◽

pp. 1679-1689 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. Charles ◽

S. M. Garcia ◽

J. Rice

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Ecosystem Approach ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Ecosystem Structure ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Ecosystem Structure And Functioning ◽

Benefits And Costs ◽

Partial Implementation

Abstract This paper explores economic aspects of a recent proposal to shift fisheries to a “Balanced Harvesting” (BH) strategy, as a means to achieve the goal, set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and related to the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, of “conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning” within fishery ecosystems. Studies indicate that a BH strategy—broadening the range of species and sizes caught in the aquatic ecosystem, and lowering exploitation rates for some conventionally targeted species—may provide improved ecological performance relative to conventional harvesting strategies. However, the potential economic implications have received little attention to date. This paper provides a preliminary economic assessment of BH, focusing on six main themes: (i) assessing benefits and costs, (ii) factors affecting the economics of BH, (iii) economic issues in implementing the ingredients of BH, (iv) effects of incremental and/or partial implementation of BH, (v) transition options within the harvesting sector of the fishery, and (vi) distributional impacts arising across fisheries, fleet sectors, and fishing gears, and between the present and the future.

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The 2010 challenge: data availability, information needs and extraterrestrial insights

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2004.1599 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 360 (1454) ◽

pp. 221-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 142

Author(s):

Andrew Balmford ◽

Peter Crane ◽

Andy Dobson ◽

Rhys E Green ◽

Georgina M Mace

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Information Needs ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Data Availability ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Earth System ◽

Human Welfare ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Status

At the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, 190 countries endorsed a commitment to achieve, by 2010, a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national levels. A wide range of approaches is available to the monitoring of progress towards this objective. The strengths and weaknesses of many of these approaches are considered, with special attention being given to the proposed and existing indicators described in the other papers in this issue. Recommendations are made about the development of indicators. Most existing and proposed indicators use data collected for other purposes, which may be unrepresentative. In the short term, much remains to be done in expanding the databases and improving the statistical techniques that underpin these indicators to minimize potential biases. In the longer term, indicators based on unrepresentative data should be replaced with equivalents based on carefully designed sampling programmes. Many proposed and existing indicators do not connect clearly with human welfare and they are unlikely to engage the interest of governments, businesses and the public until they do so. The extent to which the indicators already proposed by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity are sufficient is explored by reference to the advice an imaginary scientific consultant from another planet might give. This exercise reveals that the range of taxa and biomes covered by existing indicators is incomplete compared with the knowledge we need to protect our interests. More fundamentally, our understanding of the mechanisms linking together the status of biodiversity, Earth system processes, human decisions and actions, and ecosystem services impacting human welfare is still too crude to allow us to infer reliably that actions taken to conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystem services are well chosen and effectively implemented. The involvement of social and Earth system scientists, as well as biologists, in collaborative research programmes to build and parameterize models of the Earth system to elucidate these mechanisms is a high priority.

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Impacts on Canadian agriculture of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps95-005 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 17-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bryan L. Harvey ◽

Brad Fraleigh

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

First Nations ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Strong Support ◽

Major Elements ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Germplasm Exchange ◽

Wide Range ◽

Conservation Of Biodiversity

Canada was among the first nations to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity. With strong support from the federal government, the Canadian delegation played a key role in its negotiation. The Convention has three major elements: (1) the conservation of biodiversity; (2) the sustainable use of biodiversity; and (3) the equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of biodiversity. Canada has developed a draft strategy to meet our obligations as a signatory nation. This strategy was developed with input from various levels of government and from a wide range of individuals and organizations. The benefits to agriculture are increased resources for the conservation of biodiversity, which is vital to this industry, and continued access to germplasm. The costs are the funds necessary to conserve, an obligation to share knowledge and benefits from genetic resources and greater regulation of germplasm exchange. Key words: Biodiversity, conservation, germplasm, convention, genetic resources

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DEFINICIONES DE ACCESO A RECURSOS GENÉTICOS EN LA LEGISLACIÓN COLOMBIANA Y SUS EFECTOS EN LA INVESTIGACION CIENTIFICA

Acta Biológica Colombiana ◽

10.15446/abc.v21n1supl.50695 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (1Supl) ◽

pp. 305-310

Author(s):

Alejandro Chaparro-Giraldo

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Second Phase ◽

Molecular Tools ◽

Research Activities ◽

Wide Range ◽

Practical Effect ◽

Administrative Penalty

La aplicación de las definiciones sobre acceso a recursos genéticos (ARG) contenidas en diversas normas legislativas nacionales o comunitarias, pueden afectar la investigación científica (no-comercial y comercial). Se definen dos momentos, entre 1995 y 2013 con la implementación de la decisión 391 de 1996, resultado de la aplicación del Convenio sobre la Biodiversidad Biológica (CDB) de 1992, y a partir de 2013 con decretos que establecen excepciones al ARG y resoluciones del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible que especifican las actividades de ARG. La visión es la de un biotecnólogo, que se concentrará en los elementos técnico-científicos de las normas. En la primera fase no se plantearon excepciones, cualquier investigación que utilizará recursos genéticos y usará herramientas convencionales o moleculares, precisaba de contrato de ARG. Los científicos ignoraron la norma, que trajo como consecuencia la ilegalidad para sus actividades, pero no tuvo efectos prácticos para la mayoría, exceptuando a la Universidad Nacional de Colombia que recibió una sanción administrativa. En la segunda fase se excluye la investigación científica no comercial en cuatro áreas (ecología, biogeografía, sistemática y evolución), y se circunscriben las actividades de ARG a herramientas moleculares. Se espera que estas precisiones resuelvan la ilegalidad de una amplia gama de actividades de la investigación científica, pero se mantiene el peso de los procesos sobre la investigación científica con fines comerciales. Abstract The application of the definitions on access to genetic resources (AGR) contained in national or Community legislation may affect the scientific research (non-commercial and commercial). Two moments are defined, between 1995 and 2013 with the implementation of Decision 391 of 1996, resulting from the application of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992, and from 2013 to today, with the decrees derogating from the ARG and resolutions of the Ministry Environment and Sustainable Development ARG that specified activities. The vision is that of a biotechnologist, which will focus on technical and scientific elements. In the first phase no exceptions are raised, any research that uses genetic resources and use conventional or molecular tools needed ARG contract. Scientists ignored the rule, which resulted in illegal to operations, but had no practical effect for most, except the National University of Colombia received an administrative penalty. In the second phase the non-commercial scientific research in four areas (ecology, biogeography, systematics and evolution) is excluded, and activities of ARG to molecular tools are limited. These details are expected to solve the illegality of a wide range of scientific research activities, but the weight of the processes of scientific research for commercial purposes is maintained.

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The endemic plants of Mozambique: diversity and conservation status

PhytoKeys ◽

10.3897/phytokeys.136.39020 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 136 ◽

pp. 45-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Iain Darbyshire ◽

Jonathan Timberlake ◽

Jo Osborne ◽

Saba Rokni ◽

Hermenegildo Matimele ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Life Forms ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Plant Family ◽

Cross Border ◽

Wide Range ◽

Endemic Genera ◽

Plant Families

An annotated checklist of the 271 strict-endemic taxa (235 species) and 387 near-endemic taxa (337 species) of vascular plants in Mozambique is provided. Together, these taxa constitute c. 9.3% of the total currently known flora of Mozambique and include five strict-endemic genera (Baptorhachis, Emicocarpus, Gyrodoma, Icuria and Micklethwaitia) and two near-endemic genera (Triceratella and Oligophyton). The mean year of first publication of these taxa is 1959, with a marked increase in description noted following the onset of the two major regional floristic programmes, the “Flora of Tropical East Africa” and “Flora Zambesiaca”, and an associated increase in botanical collecting effort. New taxa from Mozambique continue to be described at a significant rate, with 20 novelties described in 2018. Important plant families for endemic and near-endemic taxa include Fabaceae, Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae s.s. There is a high congruence between species-rich plant families and endemism with the notable exceptions of the Poaceae, which is the second-most species rich plant family, but outside of the top ten families in terms of endemism, and the Euphorbiaceae, which is the seventh-most species rich plant family, but third in terms of endemism. A wide range of life-forms are represented in the endemic and near-endemic flora, with 49% being herbaceous or having herbaceous forms and 55% being woody or having woody forms. Manica Province is by far the richest locality for near-endemic taxa, highlighting the importance of the cross-border Chimanimani-Nyanga (Manica) Highlands shared with Zimbabwe. A total of 69% of taxa can be assigned to one of four cross-border Centres of Endemism: the Rovuma Centre, the Maputaland Centre sensu lato, and the two mountain blocks, Chimanimani-Nyanga and Mulanje-Namuli-Ribaue. Approximately 50% of taxa have been assessed for their extinction risk and, of these, just over half are globally threatened (57% for strict-endemics), with a further 10% (17% for strict-endemics) currently considered to be Data Deficient, highlighting the urgent need for targeted conservation of Mozambique’s unique flora. This dataset will be a key resource for ongoing efforts to identify “Important Plant Areas – IPAs” in Mozambique, and to promote the conservation and sustainable management of these critical sites and species, thus enabling Mozambique to meet its commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

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Prevalence of sustainable and unsustainable use of wild species inferred from the IUCN Red List

10.1101/2020.11.04.367763 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sophie M.E. Marsh ◽

Michael Hoffmann ◽

Neil D. Burgess ◽

Thomas M. Brooks ◽

Daniel W.S. Challender ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wild Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Management Actions ◽

Taxonomic Groups

AbstractUnsustainable exploitation of wild species represents a serious threat to biodiversity and to the livelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples. However, managed, sustainable use has the potential to forestall extinctions, aid recovery, and meet human needs. Here, we infer current prevalence of unsustainable and sustainable biological resource use among species groups; research to date has focused on the former with little consideration of the latter. We analyzed species-level data for 30,923 species from 13 taxonomic groups comprehensively assessed on the IUCN Red List. Our results demonstrate the broad taxonomic prevalence of use, with 40% of species (10,098 of 25,009 from 10 taxonomic groups with adequate data) documented as being used. The main purposes of use are pets, display animals and horticulture, and human consumption. Use is often biologically unsustainable: intentional use is currently considered to be contributing to elevated extinction risk for more than one quarter of all threatened or Near Threatened (NT) species (2,752 – 2,848 of 9,753 species). Of the species used and traded, intentional use threatens 16% (1,597 – 1,631 of 10,098 species). However, 36% of species that are used (3,651 of 10,098 species) have either stable or improving population trends and do not have biological use documented as a threat, including 172 threatened or NT species. It is not yet inferable whether use of the remaining 48% of species is sustainable; we make suggestions for improving use-related Red List data to elucidate this. Around a third of species that have use documented as a threat are not currently receiving any species management actions that directly address this threat. Our findings on the prevalence of sustainable and unsustainable use, and variation across taxa, are important for informing international policymaking, including IPBES, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.Article impact statementUse is likely unsustainable for 16%, likely sustainable for 36%, and undetermined for 48% of ~10,000 wild species analyzed on the Red List.

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