scholarly journals Bending the Curve of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Loss: An Emergency Recovery Plan

BioScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tickner ◽  
Jeffrey J Opperman ◽  
Robin Abell ◽  
Mike Acreman ◽  
Angela H Arthington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Environmental Flows ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystem ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Recovery Plan ◽  
Species Invasions

Abstract Despite their limited spatial extent, freshwater ecosystems host remarkable biodiversity, including one-third of all vertebrate species. This biodiversity is declining dramatically: Globally, wetlands are vanishing three times faster than forests, and freshwater vertebrate populations have fallen more than twice as steeply as terrestrial or marine populations. Threats to freshwater biodiversity are well documented but coordinated action to reverse the decline is lacking. We present an Emergency Recovery Plan to bend the curve of freshwater biodiversity loss. Priority actions include accelerating implementation of environmental flows; improving water quality; protecting and restoring critical habitats; managing the exploitation of freshwater ecosystem resources, especially species and riverine aggregates; preventing and controlling nonnative species invasions; and safeguarding and restoring river connectivity. We recommend adjustments to targets and indicators for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals and roles for national and international state and nonstate actors.

Biodiversity: Increasing the Political Clout of Nature Conservation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yrjö Haila
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Global Environmental Problems ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Political Clout ◽  
Human Modification ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
Living Nature

The term biodiversity was introduced in the 1980s as a novel framing for the human dependence on the Earth's biosphere. 'Biodiversity loss' became the way to capture a major dimension of global environmental problems. The chapter describes stages of this process. The first phase of the spread of the term was its enthusiastic reception among environmentalists. Second, concern was integrated into international environmental policy at the Rio Conference in 1992 through the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Efforts to implement the convention have created an environmental regime both internationally and within different countries. However, due to its broad coverage of processes of living nature and its huge ambition to regulate human modification of nature and exploitation of natural resources, there have been major difficulties with implementation. In particular, how to integrate specific issues manifested in local contexts, and the global concern, has proved problematic.

Water Quantity and Hydrology

2018 ◽  
pp. 67-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew McCartney
Keyword(s):  
Water Discharge ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystem ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Freshwater Habitats ◽  
And Function ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Ecosystem Structure And Function ◽  
Hydrological Monitoring

Freshwater ecosystems are naturally dynamic. The source of water, discharge, turnover, and residence times all affect which organisms can live in different freshwater habitats and are key determinants of freshwater ecosystem structure and function. Human-induced changes to the volume and timing of both surface and ground water flows are a leading driver of global declines in freshwater biodiversity and are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. The conservation of many wetlands around the world, including in some cases the preservation of unique flora and fauna, is now entirely dependent on continued human intervention and water management. Such management can only be successful if based on sound understanding of water budgets and hydrological processes informed by accurate hydrological monitoring. This chapter provides a brief introduction to hydrological monitoring—what needs to be measured and how—for freshwater ecology and conservation.

scholarly journals “Large Ocean States”: Sovereignty, Small Islands, and Marine Protected Areas in Global Oceans Governance

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Chan
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Small Island ◽  
International Affairs ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecological Responsibility ◽  
Island States ◽  
Small Island States

Abstract Small island states are typically portrayed as vulnerable and insignificant actors in international affairs. This article traces the emerging self-identification of “large ocean states” that these small island states in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are now employing, juxtaposing their miniscule landmass and populations with the possession of sovereign authority over large swathes of the world’s oceans. Such authority is increasingly being exercised in the context of biodiversity conservation through expanding marine protected areas (an element of both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity) as an expression of “ecological responsibility.” This new exercise of green sovereignty reinforces state control over spaces previously governed only at a distance, but control made possible only through compromises with nonstate actors to fund, monitor, and govern these MPAs.

Trends in the abundance of marine fishes

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 1205-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Hutchings ◽  
Cóilín Minto ◽  
Daniel Ricard ◽  
Julia K. Baum ◽  
Olaf P. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Maximum Sustainable Yield ◽  
Marine Fishes ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Global Database ◽  
Top Predators ◽  
2010 Target ◽  
Rate Of Decline ◽  
Demersal Species

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) established a target in 2002 to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. Using a newly constructed global database for 207 populations (108 species), we examine whether the 2010 target has been met for marine fishes, while accounting for population biomass relative to maximum sustainable yield, BMSY. Although rate of decline has eased for 59% of populations declining before 1992 (a pattern consistent with a literal interpretation of the target), the percentage of populations below BMSY has remained unchanged and the rate of decline has increased among several top predators, many of which are below 0.5BMSY. Combining population trends, a global multispecies index indicates that marine fishes declined 38% between 1970 and 2007. The index has been below BMSY since the mid-1980s and stable since the early 1990s. With the exception of High Seas pelagic fishes and demersal species in the Northeast Pacific and Australia – New Zealand, the multispecies indices are currently below BMSY in many regions. We conclude that the 2010 CBD target represents a weak standard for recovering marine fish biodiversity and that meaningful progress will require population-specific recovery targets and associated time lines for achieving those targets.

The Main Results of the Ninth Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 249-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Buck
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Access And Benefit Sharing ◽  
Global Target ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Science Policy Interface ◽  
Global Biodiversity

AbstractThe Ninth Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP9) in May 2008 in Bonn was one of the major international environmental meetings in 2008. Its decisions significantly advance global biodiversity politics on a range of critical issues and thereby help achieving the global target of substantially reducing current rates of biodiversity loss by 2010. This article describes the main decision adopted by COP9 on biofuels, marine biodiversity, biodiversity and climate change, access and benefit-sharing and the science-policy interface of international biodiversity politics.

Is existing scientific knowledge sufficient to provide the basis for reliable monitoring of achieving land degradation neutrality?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Grainger
Keyword(s):  
Land Degradation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Land Restoration ◽  
Degraded Land ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Dry Areas ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Environmental Concepts

<p>A goal of Land Degradation Neutrality by the year 2030 was agreed by the Rio+20 conference in 2012, and subsequently included in the Sustainable Development Goals. It dilutes earlier goals of unrestricted control of desertification, for example, by proposing that the rate of land degradation should be reduced and the rate of restoration of degraded land increased so they offset each other by 2030. As with many environmental concepts that have emerged in recent decades, Land Degradation Neutrality was proposed in the political arena, and scientific study is only now starting to evolve. Yet distinct positions are already forming within the scientific community, for example, on the feasibility of monitoring land degradation neutrality in dry areas when there are no reliable estimates for the rate of desertification, and on what constitutes land restoration in dry areas. Land degradation neutrality is also yet to be put in the wider context of environmental degradation as a whole, e.g. how does it relate to the forest degradation component of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) mechanism of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and to degradation of biodiversity which the Convention on Biological Diversity is seeking to reduce. This session will allow scientists working in the field of land degradation neutrality to share their perspectives in this emerging field.</p>

scholarly journals Multiple drivers of decline in the global status of freshwater crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidea)

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1662) ◽  
pp. 20140060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia I. Richman ◽  
Monika Böhm ◽  
Susan B. Adams ◽  
Fernando Alvarez ◽  
Elizabeth A. Bergey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Face Threats ◽  
Global Status ◽  
Alternative Means

Rates of biodiversity loss are higher in freshwater ecosystems than in most terrestrial or marine ecosystems, making freshwater conservation a priority. However, prioritization methods are impeded by insufficient knowledge on the distribution and conservation status of freshwater taxa, particularly invertebrates. We evaluated the extinction risk of the world's 590 freshwater crayfish species using the IUCN Categories and Criteria and found 32% of all species are threatened with extinction. The level of extinction risk differed between families, with proportionally more threatened species in the Parastacidae and Astacidae than in the Cambaridae. Four described species were Extinct and 21% were assessed as Data Deficient. There was geographical variation in the dominant threats affecting the main centres of crayfish diversity. The majority of threatened US and Mexican species face threats associated with urban development, pollution, damming and water management. Conversely, the majority of Australian threatened species are affected by climate change, harvesting, agriculture and invasive species. Only a small proportion of crayfish are found within the boundaries of protected areas, suggesting that alternative means of long-term protection will be required. Our study highlights many of the significant challenges yet to come for freshwater biodiversity unless conservation planning shifts from a reactive to proactive approach.

scholarly journals Freshwater conservation planning in the far north of Ontario, Canada: identifying priority watersheds for the conservation of fish biodiversity in an intact boreal landscape

FACETS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-117
Author(s):  
F. Meg Southee ◽  
Brie A. Edwards ◽  
Cheryl-Lesley B. Chetkiewicz ◽  
Constance M. O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Individual Species

Freshwater ecosystems show more biodiversity loss than terrestrial or marine systems. We present a systematic conservation planning analysis in the Arctic Ocean drainage basin in Ontario, Canada, to identify key watersheds for the conservation of 30 native freshwater fish, including four focal species: lake sturgeon, lake whitefish, brook trout, and walleye. We created species distribution models for 30 native fish species and accounted for anthropogenic impacts. We used the “prioritizr” package in R to select watersheds that maximize species targets, minimize impacts, and meet area-based targets based on the Convention on Biological Diversity commitment to protect 17% of terrestrial and freshwater areas by 2020 and the proposed target to protect 30% by 2030. We found that, on average, 17.4% and 29.8% of predicted species distributions were represented for each of the 30 species in the 17% and 30% area-based solutions, respectively. The outcomes were more efficient when we prioritized for individual species, particularly brook trout, where 24% and 36% of its predicted distribution was represented in the 17% and 30% solutions, respectively. Future conservation planning should consider climate change, culturally significant species and areas, and the importance of First Nations as guardians and stewards of the land in northern Ontario.

scholarly journals Environmental Protection Acts in India

2021 ◽  
pp. 480-483
Author(s):  
Nishant Shyam Chavan
Keyword(s):  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Environmental Laws ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Sustainable Urbanization ◽  
Ecosystem Diversity

The environment of our planet is degrading at an alarming rate because of non-sustainable urbanization, industrialization and agriculture. There is need of management of natural resources, biodiversity loss, land use, convention on biological diversity and ecosystem diversity. The rapid increase in industrialization and human needs, environment has been badly suffered. That why there was need of creating law for conversion of environment in India. So environmental laws made for huge to maintain an ecological balance of environment by safeguarding the forests and wildlife, biodiversity, forest conservation of the country. The ministry of environment forest & the nodal agency is the administrative structure of the central government for the planning, promotion, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of environment& forestry programmes. The principle activity taken by ministry of environment& forest and wildlife prevention control of pollution, afforestation regeneration of degraded areas and protection of environment in the framework of legislation. This research paper will be focus on what has action & laws are made by Indian government for protection of environment.

Safeguarding Freshwater Life Beyond 2020: Recommendations for the New Global Biodiversity Framework from the European Experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles B. van Rees ◽  
Kerry A. Waylen ◽  
Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber ◽  
Stephen J. Thackeray ◽  
Gregor Kalinkat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis ◽  
Implementation Planning ◽  
European Experience ◽  
Global Biodiversity ◽  
Freshwater Monitoring

The drafting of a new Global Biodiversity Framework for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Biodiversity Strategy for the European Union (EU) render 2020 a critical crossroad for biodiversity conservation. Freshwater biodiversity is disproportionately threatened and poorly studied relative to marine and terrestrial biota, despite providing numerous essential ecosystem services. The urgency of the mounting freshwater biodiversity crisis necessitates approaches catered to the unique ecology and threats of freshwater life, which are not adequately addressed by current strategies. We present a set of 15 special recommendations for freshwater biodiversity to guide the CBD’s post-2020 framework and the 2020 EU strategy based on European case studies, both challenges and successes. Our recommendations cover key outcomes and guiding concepts, enabling conditions and methods of implementation, planning and accountability modalities, and cross-cutting issues. They address topics including invasive species, integrated water resources management, strategic conservation planning, data management, and emerging technologies for freshwater monitoring, among others. These recommendations will enhance the ability of global and European post-2020 biodiversity agreements to halt and reverse the rapid global decline of freshwater biodiversity.

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