scholarly journals Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs): their impact on conservation policy, advocacy and action

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZOLTAN WALICZKY ◽  
LINCOLN D. C. FISHPOOL ◽  
STUART H. M. BUTCHART ◽  
DAVID THOMAS ◽  
MELANIE F. HEATH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Finance ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Local Conservation ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Birds Directive ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Marine Realm

SummaryBirdLife International´s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) Programme has identified, documented and mapped over 13,000 sites of international importance for birds. IBAs have been influential with governments, multilateral agreements, businesses and others in: (1) informing governments’ efforts to expand protected area networks (in particular to meet their commitments through the Convention on Biological Diversity); (2) supporting the identification of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in the marine realm, (3) identifying Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention; (4) identifying sites of importance for species under the Convention on Migratory Species and its sister agreements; (5) identifying Special Protected Areas under the EU Birds Directive; (6) applying the environmental safeguards of international finance institutions such as the International Finance Corporation; (7) supporting the private sector to manage environmental risk in its operations; and (8) helping donor organisations like the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) to prioritise investment in site-based conservation. The identification of IBAs (and IBAs in Danger: the most threatened of these) has also triggered conservation and management actions at site level, most notably by civil society organisations and local conservation groups. IBA data have therefore been widely used by stakeholders at different levels to help conserve a network of sites essential to maintaining the populations and habitats of birds as well as other biodiversity. The experience of IBA identification and conservation is shaping the design and implementation of the recently launched Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Partnership and programme, as IBAs form a core part of the KBA network.

An Overview of the Determination of Biodiversity of Wetlands

2022 ◽  
pp. 150-170
Author(s):  
Moumit Roy Goswami ◽  
Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Plants ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Ecological Health ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Wetland Ecosystems ◽  
Wetland Biodiversity ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Water Birds

Wetland ecosystems support rich and unique biodiversity. Biodiversity of a given ecosystem in general and wetlands in particular provide important insights to the ecological health of an area. The Ramsar Convention 1971 identified nine criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance. Out of the nine criteria, eight are linked to biodiversity of which three are based on sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity, two are specific for water birds, two are specific for fish, and one criterion for other taxa. Hence, determination of biodiversity of wetlands is of utmost importance. In order to understand that birds, fishes, amphibians, odonates, mammals, and aquatic plants were particularly selected as indicators of wetland biodiversity, the chapter discusses the different methodologies about determination of each of these taxa under different criteria as mentioned above. These methodologies will help various stakeholders in appropriate determination of biodiversity of wetlands of a particular area.

scholarly journals Population trends and priority conservation sites for Mexican Duck Anas diazi

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Perez-Arteaga ◽  
K. J. Gaston ◽  
M. Kershaw
Keyword(s):  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Large Fluctuations ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Current Minimum ◽  
Central Highlands ◽  
Key Sites ◽  
Long Term Trend ◽  
Northern Highlands

Little is known about Mexican Duck Anas diazi biology and populations. We analyse long-term (1960–2000) trends of Mexican Duck numbers in Mexico and employ contemporary count data (1991–2000) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service midwinter surveys to identify key sites for conservation using a complementarity approach. The overall Mexican Duck population showed a significant long-term increase of 2.5% per year, with large fluctuations throughout the study period. The Northern highlands population increased at an annual rate of 7.7%, while the Central highlands population showed no significant long-term trend. During the last decade, counts in both the Northern and Central highlands exhibited no significant change. At the site level, significant long-term increases occurred in four localities in the Northern highlands (Laguna Bab�cora +13.9% annually, Laguna Bustillos +25.9%, Laguna Mexicanos +20.4% and Laguna Santiaguillo +16.9%) and in three localities in the Central highlands (Languillo +15.3% annually, Presa Solís +8.9%, Zacapu +13.4%). Two sites in the Central highlands showed significant declines, in the long term (Lago de Chapala, -5.2% per year) and during the last decade (Lerma, -11.8% per year). The Northern highlands held 16% and the Central highlands 84% of the Mexican Duck population in the period 1960–2000; during the last decade, these figures were 31% and 69%, respectively. A set of priority sites for conservation of the Mexican Duck was identified, consisting of 15 sites holding more than 70% of the midwinter Mexican Duck counts in Mexico. Ten sites from the priority set also qualify for designation as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, by holding ≥ 1% of the estimated population. Four of the priority sites are in the Northern highlands and 11 in the Central highlands, of which eight are distributed along the Rio Lerma drainage. The most urgent actions that need to be undertaken are to estimate the current minimum population size in Mexico; to establish a programme for monitoring populations in the priority sites, especially those located within the highly degraded Rio Lerma drainage; and to determine the most feasible management actions for the species, concentrating efforts around the priority sites.

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

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Delisle ◽  
Milena Kiatkoski Kim ◽  
Natalie Stoeckl ◽  
Felecia Watkin Lui ◽  
Helene Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Cultural Services ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Benefits And Costs ◽  
Provisioning Services

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.

Gaps and challenges of the European network of protected sites in the marine realm

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonios D Mazaris ◽  
Vasiliki Almpanidou ◽  
Sylvaine Giakoumi ◽  
Stelios Katsanevakis
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Spatial Design ◽  
Marine Realm ◽  
Marine Surface

AbstractThe Natura 2000 network forms the cornerstone of the biodiversity conservation strategy of the European Union and is the largest coordinated network of protected areas (PAs) in the world. Here, we demonstrated that the network fails to adequately cover the marine environment and meet the conservation target of 10% set by the Convention on Biological Diversity. The relative percentage of marine surface cover varies significantly among member states. Interestingly, the relative cover of protected seascape was significantly lower for member states with larger exclusive economic zones. Our analyses demonstrated that the vast majority (93%) of the Natura 2000 sites that cover marine waters include both a terrestrial and a marine component. As a result, the majority of the protected surfaces is adjacent to the coastline, and decreases offshore; only 20% of Natura marine PAs is at depths >200 m. The lack of systematic planning processes is further reflected by the great variability in the distances among protected sites and the limited number of shared Natura sites among member states. Moreover, <40% of the marine sites have management plans, indicating the absence of active, or limited management in most sites. This work highlights the gaps in coverage and spatial design of the European conservation network in the marine environment, and raises questions on the unevenly treatment of marine vs. terrestrial areas.

scholarly journals Mitigating the Challenges Related to the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Thomas Prehi Botchway ◽  
Ishmael K. Hlovor
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Multilateral Environmental Agreements ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Alternative Livelihood ◽  
Information Gap

In our world today, the control over and the use of a country’s natural resources (and the biological diversity of which they are a part) usually present a lot of challenges for both policy makers and implementing agencies and institutions. These challenges range from weak institutional capacities and technocratic hurdles to opposition from local communities for whom policies may be meant for. However, if such challenges are effectively mitigated, large prospects usually associated with the sustainable use and management of these natural resources may be realised. In this article, based on intensive interview of experts and critical review of official reports and policy documents, we identify a number of challenges associated the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Ghana and recommend ways of addressing these challenges. The study finds that there is usually a wide knowledge and information gap on issues related to biodiversity in Ghana. Moreover, there is inadequate funding which also leads to the inability to retain relevant experts. In addition, there is the complex nature of implementing multilateral environmental agreements in Ghana and the lack of adequate publicity on the essence of the CBD. Key among the recommendations we make are effectively engaging civil society organisations on issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development; the enhancement of Alternative Livelihood Projects (EnALPs); stringent enforcement of punitive and preventive measures and; the implementation of finance-generating biodiversity services.

A pale reflection of political reality: Integration of global climate, wetland, and biodiversity agreements

Climate Law ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Pittock
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Multilateral Environmental Agreements ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Political Reality

Avoiding dangerous climate change, conserving biodiversity, and sustaining water resources are three of the greatest environmental challenges facing humanity: their expression and management are inextricably linked. National governments have adopted multilateral environmental agreements to respond to these issues by providing mandates for action, setting higher environmental standards, mobilizing resources, and sharing knowledge. This article examines whether three relevant, global conventions—the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands—are being implemented as effectively and efficiently as possible by managing conflicts and enhancing positive synergies among them through integrative mechanisms. Systematic analysis of the conventions identifies many conflicts between measures adopted under the UNFCCC and the two biodiversity-related conventions, as well as unrealized positive synergies. Detailed assessment of integrative mechanisms reveals isolated examples of good practice. More commonly, integrative measures were not being used, particularly by the UNFCCC. After more than a decade of attempts to expand interconvention collaboration and harmonization, I conclude that voluntary efforts need to be replaced by financial incentives or governance reforms if perverse impacts are to be avoided and these agreements are to be better implemented.

scholarly journals Extending REDD+ to mangroves and wetlands for small island states and a case study for the conservation of mangroves and inter-tidal mudflats in Singapore

2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Lin Heng LYE ◽  
Vinayagan Dharmarajah
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Island States ◽  
Small Island States ◽  
Legal Strategies ◽  
City State

This paper briefly discusses the prospects of using coastal wetlands as REDD+ projects for small island states. The paper contends that the city-state of Singapore would do well to enhance existing laws to more specifically address the challenges and threats faced in conserving mangroves and inter-tidal mudflats, and support their conservation and rehabilitation, not just to facilitate the implementation of REDD+ projects but also to meet other goals like biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation. The proposal is to expand Sungei Buloh to encompass the mudflats at Kranji which is home to the mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscrorpius rotundicauda); aligned with inter-tidal and coastal management strategies advanced under the auspices of the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the IUCN. However, there are considerable challenges in maintaining an intact eco-system in the face of rapid development, not only in Singapore itself but also in the neighbouring state of Johor, Malaysia. The paper examines the specific legal strategies that will be required to meet the various objectives of conservation in the context of Singapore's laws and the challenges posed by the development plans of both Singapore and Malaysia.

PRINCIPLES FOR THE USE OF STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY

2005 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 173-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
JO TREWEEK ◽  
RIKI THERIVEL ◽  
STEWART THOMPSON ◽  
MARTIN SLATER
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Assessment ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Strategic Environmental Assessment ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Project Level

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) has been identified as an important tool for helping to ensure that development is planned and implemented for the benefit of biodiversity by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ramsar Convention and the Convention for Migratory Species. SEA is seen as a way to overcome many limitations of project-level environmental impact assessment by allowing consideration of biodiversity at higher tiers of decision-making and planning. This paper identifies some important principles that should be taken into account to ensure that biodiversity considerations are appropriately addressed in SEA, so that the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are pursued as fundamental objectives of strategic decision-making. The paper also sets out key considerations to take into account at different stages in the SEA process. The principles explored in this paper should be applicable in any country where SEA is practiced, even though legislation, methodologies and procedures vary widely.

A Legal Obligation to Restore Wetlands by Environmental Water Allocations

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-201
Author(s):  
Jeanette Jensen ◽  
Alex Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Legal Obligation ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Additional Protocol ◽  
General Obligation ◽  
Dispute Settlement Procedure

Abstract Wetlands worldwide require significant restoration, especially through environmental water allocations. This article examines the Ramsar Convention (Ramsar) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd) to ascertain whether they require an obligation to restore wetlands by such means. While both conventions contain a general obligation to restore, that obligation appears too uncertain, due to either the disputable status of the language of the text (Ramsar) or the qualifying language expressing it (cbd). The Ramsar obligation, arguably, amounts to a legal obligation that is potentially enforceable in the icj against another contracting party. The article recognizes that the obligation is practically difficult to enforce because: the Convention does not provide a formal dispute settlement procedure; the obligation is derived from guidance in numerous Conference of the Parties resolutions, and is subject to certain exceptions. Further, there is a judicial reluctance to find that the facts prove a breach of the obligations and warrant a remedy. The authors argue, however, that restoration goals are, in fact, achievable through Convention amendments or by an additional protocol.

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

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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