scholarly journals The ecosystem-service chain and the biological diversity crisis

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1537) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold A. Mooney
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Drivers Of Change ◽  
Service Chain ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Future Loss

The losses that are being incurred of the Earth's biological diversity, at all levels, are now staggering. The trend lines for future loss are steeply upward as new adverse drivers of change come into play. The political processes for matching this crisis are now inadequate and the science needs to address this issue are huge and slow to fulfil, even though strong advances have been made. A more integrated approach to evaluating biodiversity in terms that are meaningful to the larger community is needed that can provide understandable metrics of the consequences to society of the losses that are occurring. Greater attention is also needed in forecasting likely diversity-loss scenarios in the near term and strategies for alleviating detrimental consequences. At the international level, the Convention on Biological Diversity must be revisited to make it more powerful to meet the needs that originally motivated its creation. Similarly, at local and regional levels, an ecosystem-service approach to conservation can bring new understanding to the value, and hence the need for protection, of the existing natural capital.

The Protection and Sustainable Exploitation of Genetic Resources of the High Seas from the European Union's Perspective

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-341
Author(s):  
Serge Beslier
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Near Future ◽  
High Seas

AbstractThis paper examines how marine biodiversity and genetic resources in the high seas can be protected and whether their exploitation should be regulated. As to their protection, it raises the question whether existing sectoral approaches should continue or to create a new mechanism based on an integrated approach. In accordance with the European Union's position, the latter is favoured, while acknowledging that several States still have reservations and question the need for new legal instruments. Concerning the necessity of a regulatory scheme governing their exploitation, existing mechanisms under the Law of the Sea Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity are examined and it is concluded that they are not applicable or do not provide for specific rules on this issue. It is further presumed that the resulting absence of a clear framework is acceptable because the potential of commercial exploitation is still uncertain, so that there will only be scientific research without vital negative impact on the marine environment in the near future. It is suggested that the international community should rather focus on defining the legal status of genetic resources and clarifying whether they belong to the common heritage of mankind and require a benefit-sharing system, as proposed by developing countries.

scholarly journals Konflikte um das "grüne Gold der Gene"

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (129) ◽  
pp. 631-652
Author(s):  
Christoph Görg ◽  
Ulrich Brand
Keyword(s):  
Critical State ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
State Theory ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Political Processes

In the last years an international legal framework evolved m the field of biodiversity, its protection and use. Accesses to genetic resources and mtellectual property nghts for developed commodities are fundamental for dominant actors and therefore these two aspects are central in political processes. Other aspects as nghts of mdlgenous peoples or benefit sharing have much less importance. Central institutions to regulate the highly contested issues are the Convention on Biological Diversity, the TRIPS agreement m the wro as well as the FAO which are not at all coherent in their policies. Agamst the background of regulation and critical state theory the article examines the contradictory role of the nation-state and international institutions in international biodiversity politics and examines central conflicts lines. Weaker actors try to politicise the struggle under the concept of "biopiracy" accusing dominant actors of an illegitimate appropriation of biodiversity. Fmally, some preconditions of "democratic biodiversity politics" are outlined.

scholarly journals The biodiversity crisis in Canada: failures and challenges of federal and sub-national strategic and legal frameworks

FACETS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1044-1068
Author(s):  
Justina C. Ray ◽  
Jaime Grimm ◽  
Andrea Olive
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Governance Capacity ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Economic Wealth ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis

Negative biodiversity trends are evident in Canada, in spite of its ecological and economic wealth and high governance capacity. We examined the current implementation of Canada’s national biodiversity strategy—the planning instrument to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity—through its existing legal framework. We did this by evaluating biodiversity-related strategies and plans and 201 federal, provincial, and territorial laws. We found that while most jurisdictions claim dedicated attention to biodiversity, there is little evidence of an integrated approach within provinces and territories and across the federation. Biodiversity conservation led by governments underscores the need for considerations of species and ecosystem services to be mainstreamed into economic and development decision-making. Key challenges to this include Canada’s unusual degree of decentralized constitutionally ascribed authority over natural assets and its historical and continued economic emphasis on extraction of natural resources—a conflict of interest for jurisdictions. Transitioning to scale-appropriate planning and integrated decision-making that can address the pressures and causes of biodiversity conservation in Canada will require transformative change. Law reform, while necessary, will not succeed unless accompanied by a whole-of-government approach, a shift to a bio-centric mindset, innovative governance (particularly Indigenous-led conservation), and federal leadership with strong levels of financial investment.

Marketing Linkages: Secretariat Governance of the Climate-Biodiversity Interface

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sikina Jinnah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Active Player ◽  
Executive Secretary ◽  
Response Measures

In this article I argue that, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), led by its autonomously entrepreneurial Executive Secretary, influences overlap management by strategically linking biodiversity and climate change issues. Specifically, the Secretariat marketed (filtered, framed, and reiterated) strategic frames of the biodiversity-climate change interface that reframed biodiversity from a passive victim of climate impacts, to an active player in climate response measures (i.e. adaptation). This reframing is significant in that a major hurdle to selling the benefits of biodiversity conservation to countries with more pressing development concerns has been the perceived limited relevance of conservation to human well-being. In emphasizing biodiversity's role in human adaptation and security, the Secretariat has begun to shape member state discourse surrounding the biodiversity-climate change linkage. Ultimately aimed at enriching our emerging theoretical understanding of the role of international bureaucracies in global governance, this article illuminates: (1) how the Secretariat understands and manages biodiversity-climate linkages; (2) the origins of the Secretariat's understanding and activities surrounding this issue; and (3) how Secretariat participation in overlap management is beginning to influence CBD political processes and outcomes.

scholarly journals On the potential policy use of some selected biodiversity indicators: limitations and recommendations for improvements

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 84-88
Author(s):  
Z. Benedek
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Indicators ◽  
Current Form ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Long Run ◽  
And Performance

In order to facilitate the use of biodiversity indicators in policy making at the country level, a few and well-established indices should be suggested. Promising candidates include biodiversity-related indices of the Convention on Biological Diversity; their current use and performance are evaluated through a Hungarian case study. Especially indices of the ecosystem level have already been in use, but they are not necessarily useful measures of the state of biodiversity in their current form. For example, ecosystems suggested globally for monitoring (forests and marine habitats) are not present in all the countries, thus the way of ecosystem selection should be standardized, not the actual ecosystem types. Besides the information on the extent of some selected habitats, the original cover should also be considered to evaluate the present situation. Recommendations are demonstrated in the case study. With the use of existing data, the applicability of certain indices can be improved, but in the long run, ecosystem-based indices of the natural capital should be favoured.  

Impact Investment for Biodiversity Conservation: Cases from Latin America and the Caribbean

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Studer
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Local Livelihoods

AUTHORStuder, IsabelDATEJan 2021DOWNLOAD:English (0 downloads)DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003025More than 30% of the earths available freshwater and almost 50% of the worlds tropical forests are found in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and possesses a vast array of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems. This unique source of capital -- natural capital -- generates important life-supporting benefits for people called ecosystem services. The term “natural capital” refers to the terrestrial and marine ecosystem components, including biodiversity, that contribute to the generation of valuable goods and services for humankind now and in the future. A shortfall in funding to protecting natures assets and biodiversity can be partially addressed through mobilization of private investment by supporting private actors that are sustainably leveraging natural capital, facilitating private investment in conservation and restoration projects, and fostering private innovation in sustainability solutions. This report characterizes and evaluates the performance of innovative finance approaches in LAC including blended finance, green bonds, payment for ecosystem services (PES), capital markets solutions, habitat banks, direct equity and pooled funds, and accelerators. As countries seek to reach their commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Paris Climate Accord, and Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15, innovative finance could become an essential complement to public finance and a catalyzer to achieve those commitments through the sustainable use of nature, while ensuring local livelihoods and a more inclusive development.

scholarly journals Conservation at the National Level

Conservation ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 305-330
Author(s):  
Charles Perrings
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
National Level ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Payment Systems ◽  
Biological Resources ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Biodiversity Offsets ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
Us Endangered Species Act

Since the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity, nation-states have asserted sovereign rights over all biological resources within their boundaries. Chapter 13 reviews the policies and instruments applied by governments to the conservation of natural capital in areas of national jurisdiction. Measures addressed include the assignment of property rights in biological resources; protective legislation; environmental offsets; incentive systems including taxes, subsidies, and payments for ecosystem services; and penalties. Particular attention is paid to common pool resource management regimes, legal restrictions on land use such as the US Endangered Species Act, biodiversity offsets, and payment systems such as the EU and US agri-environment schemes.

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