Sharing the benefits of taxonomic research: time to upgrade the model

Biological Samples ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Genetic Material ◽

New Model ◽

Taxonomic Research ◽

Informatics Tools

Many permits for collecting biological samples have simple conditions, such as returning specimens and information. In meeting them researchers are ‘sharing benefits’ in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). However, the documents giving such conditions are often poorly connected to long-term research by many individuals, leading to tail-off of delivery. The conditions and the benefits shared are also often ineffective for biodiversity conservation because of inefficient linkage to environmental managers and policy priorities. A new model is needed to better manage permit conditions so that users of biological and genetic material are aware of the agreements and can deliver with minimal additional effort, and to provide better linkage to application in provider countries. Many of the informatics tools to permit this are already available. The paper will outline the elements of the model and suggest means of implementation.

Measuring progress in marine protection: A new set of metrics to evaluate the strength of marine protected area networks

10.31230/osf.io/t2835 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kelsey Roberts ◽

Rebecca Valkan ◽

Carly Cook

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Marine Protected Area ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Current Value ◽

Marine Protection ◽

Mpa Network

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have proven to be a valuable tool for both promoting the sustainable use of marine resources and long-term biodiversity conservation outcomes. Targets for marine protection under the Convention on Biological Diversity have seen rapid growth in MPAs globally, with progress judged using targets for total area protected rather than evaluating growth based on the capacity to protect biodiversity. The value of a MPA network to biodiversity conservation depends on a range of attributes of both individual MPAs and portfolios of MPAs, which are not captured by simple area-based targets. Therefore, a clear and efficient set of metrics are needed to effectively evaluate progress towards building MPA networks, considering the representation and adequacy of protection for biodiversity. We developed a universally applicable set of metrics that can evaluate network structure in relation to its capacity to conserve marine biodiversity. These metrics combine properties of effective individual MPAs with metrics for their capacity to function collectively as a network. To demonstrate the value of these metrics, we apply them to the Australian MPA network, the largest in the world. Collectively, the indicators suggest that while Australia has made significant progress in building a representative and well-structured MPA network, the level of protection offered to marine biodiversity is generally low, with insufficient coverage of no-take MPAs across many bioregions. The metrics reveal how the current value of the MPA network could be greatly increased by reducing the prevalence of multi-use zones that allow extractive activities known to negatively impact biodiversity.

Toward a More Expansive Discourse in a Changing World: An Analysis of Political Leaders’ Speeches on Biodiversity

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13052899 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 2899

Author(s):

Sang Hun Lee ◽

Yi Hyun Kang ◽

Rong Dai

Keyword(s):

Policy Process ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Political Leaders ◽

Host Countries ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

The Subject ◽

High Level

Speeches delivered in the Conference of the Parties (COPs) to the Convention on Biological Diversity represent leading discourses about biodiversity conservation. The discourse shared by high-level politicians is especially influential in the financing and decision-making process of global biodiversity governance. However, the speeches given in the COPs have not been the subject of systematic analyses until now. This study analyzes the host countries’ speeches given at the six most recent COPs and investigates which discourses have been expressed in the speeches. The regulatory discourse that views nature as a resource was found to be the dominant discourse, while other discourses that view nature as a scientific object or a spiritual entity were represented only marginally. As the need for a transformational policy for biodiversity conservation is growing amid a global pandemic, it is essential to deepen our understanding of the dynamics and complexity of nature and reflect it in the policy process. This study suggests that more balanced discourse on biodiversity may earn broader audiences’ consensus on biodiversity conservation.

Vegetation period of genetic resources of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Herba Polonica ◽

10.2478/hepo-2020-0017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 36-47

Author(s):

Grażyna Silska

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Linum Usitatissimum ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Cannabis Sativa ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Vegetation Period ◽

Biological Features ◽

Beginning Of Flowering

Abstract Introduction Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants (INF&MP) is involved in gathering and evaluation of genetic resources of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and medicinal plants, because Poland has signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. Field trials were carried out in 1990–2001 in the Experimental Station in Wojciechów located in Opolskie region. The research material was accessions of genetic resources from the collection of flax, stored at the Institute of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute in Radzików near Warsaw. Objective The aim of the publication was to evaluate the following biological features of flax: time of beginning of flowering and vegetation period to yellow maturity. Methods The characteristics data for flax accessions are presented according to the methodology of development of the International Flax Database. Each flax accessions from the world collection of flax genetic resources received one of the following assessments of two vegetation periods: very short, short, medium, long and very long. Descriptors of biological features of flax were used, presented in “List of flax descriptors (L. usitatissimum L.)” edited by Janka Nozkova, published in 2011. These descriptors are used to develop the International Flax Database, which in turn helps in the rapid evaluation of the L. usitatissimum genetic resource collection. Carrying out a detailed characterization of biological features of L. usitatissimum accessions is very helpful for breeders in selecting genetic material for breeding new varieties of flax. Results The following results were obtained from the time of the beginning of flowering and the vegetation period to yellow maturity. Time of beginning of flowering was the following: very short – 0 accessions, short – 97 accessions, medium – 20 accessions, long – 2 accessions and very long – 0 accessions of flax. The genotypes tested were characterized by the following results in terms of vegetation period from sowing to yellow maturity: very short – 0, short – 37, medium – 62, long – 0 and very long – 0 accessions of flax. Conclusions Time of beginning of flowering and the vegetation period to yellow maturity shall be revalorised to the International Flax Database for those L. usitatissimum accessions that did not receive the same assessment of the biological features tested in the two or three years of the study.

Biodiversity: Implementation of the 1992 CBD in Malaysia†

International Journal of Legal Information ◽

10.1017/s0731126500006508 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 40 (1-2) ◽

pp. 273-308

Author(s):

Tanya Marie Lopez ◽

Rajesvaran Nagarajan ◽

Sobana Swarta Thevi

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Natural Disasters ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Winter Temperatures ◽

The World ◽

State Of The Environment ◽

Mother Earth

Of late, particularly since the inception of the Convention on Biological Diversity (“CBD”), there has been some recognition of the relevance of biological resources and the need to protect and conserve these resources for the benefit of humankind. Natural disasters which have been occurring around the world, such as the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, the 2009 earthquake in Haiti, the floods in Pakistan and the mystery surrounding the fallen dead birds from the sky en masse in Arkansas have raised concerns on the state of the environment in which we live in today. The resultant long-term effects of such natural disasters is colossal to the inhabitants of mother Earth although those who are not directly affected by such disasters are rarely of the view that they have, in some way, contributed to the happenings of such disasters. In Europe and parts of America, winter temperatures plummeted towards the end of 2010 recording some of the lowest temperatures in history whilst in the southern hemisphere, cyclones and floods have plagued Australia thereby giving rise to prophecies that perhaps, the world may be coming to an end.

Reforming the approach of the Global Environmental Facility to biodiversity conservation

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605300028398 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 101-106

Author(s):

Russell A. Mittermeier ◽

Ian A. Bowles

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Environmental Problem ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Global Environmental Facility ◽

Earth Summit ◽

Funding Mechanism ◽

The Earth ◽

Global Environmental

Biodiversity – a measure of the wealth of species, ecosystems and ecological processes that make up our living planet –received public prominence as a result of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The loss of biodiversity, say the authors, is the greatest environmental problem the world faces but the issue has not been given the attention it deserves. With the emergence of the Global Environmental Facility in 1990 came the chance to fund biodiversity conservation on a unprecedented scale and in 1992 the GEF was adopted as the interim funding mechanism for the Convention on Biological Diversity signed at the Earth Summit. Three years after its foundation, the authors of this paper suggest that the GEF has to be reformed radically if it is to become an effective force in conservation. Their conclusions are based on Conservation International's experience with the GEF over the last 3 years in more than 10 countries.

Will the CBD fulfil our expectations? Conserving Biological Diversity – With Fairness and Responsibility

elni Review ◽

10.46850/elni.2008.002 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 10-11

Author(s):

Monika Brinkmöller

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Global Community ◽

Strong Interest ◽

Responsible Manner

From 19 to 30 May 2008 Germany hosts the 9th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 9). At this meeting, the global community discusses measures against the ongoing destruction of biodiversity as well as ways towards a fair and responsible use of genetic material. Non-Governmental Organisations take a strong interest in the success of this process and have made a number of recommendations to the negotiating parties. This article considers whether the acronym CBD also stands for “Conserving Biological Diversity” in a fair and responsible manner.

Challenges of Gauging the Impact of Area-Based Fishery Closures and OECMs: A Case Study Using Long-Standing Canadian Groundfish Closures

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.612859 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Nancy L. Shackell ◽

David M. Keith ◽

Heike K. Lotze

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Effective Area ◽

Population Growth Rates ◽

Research Survey ◽

Development Goals ◽

Marine Areas ◽

The Impact

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity was established in 1993. Canada is a signatory nation that has adopted, and exceeded, the UN Aichi biodiversity target to protect 10% of coastal and marine areas through marine protected areas or “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) by 2020. However, the science of OECMs as contributors to biodiversity conservation is relatively young and their definition and efficacy testing continue to evolve. Here, we examine whether areas closed to fishing on the Scotian Shelf in Atlantic Canada, where the groundfish community had collapsed in the early 1990s, have the potential to serve as OECMs for groundfish recovery. Using long-term research survey data, we show that three long-term area-based fishing fleet closures did not enhance per capita population growth rates of the majority of 24 common groundfish species. At a regional scale, 10 out of 24 species are currently at less than 50% of their pre-collapse (1979–1992) biomass, reflecting a sustained diminished productivity, even though fishing mortality has been drastically reduced through a moratorium in 1993. Additional measures are needed to protect severely depleted groundfish, especially when the causes of continued diminished productivity are still largely unresolved. The importance of OECMs as a risk-averse approach toward sustainability is globally accepted and they can be considered a tool toward the overarching UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-14). Our study provides further impetus toward articulating the criteria of OECMs and improving their design, monitoring, and testing, while placing OECMs within the broader context of sustainable ecosystem-based management.

Scaling Biodiversity Conservation Efforts: An Examination of the Relationship Between Global Biodiversity Targets and Local Plans

Frontiers in Conservation Science ◽

10.3389/fcosc.2021.752387 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer Rae Pierce ◽

Sabrina Drill ◽

Michael D. Halder ◽

Mika Mei Jia Tan ◽

Anushri Tiwari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Critical Role ◽

Well Being ◽

Global Scale ◽

Local Scale ◽

Spheres Of Influence ◽

Global Biodiversity ◽

The Relationship

Cities have a critical role to play in meeting global-scale biodiversity targets. Urban socio-ecological systems connect human and ecological well-being. The outsized impact of cities reaches well-beyond their geographic borders through cultural, ecological, and economic interactions. Although cities account for just 2% of the earth's surface, they host over half of the human population and are responsible for 75% of consumption. The Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and others have acknowledged the important role cities can play in achieving global targets. In response, at least 110 cities have produced plans focused on biodiversity, but we do not know the extent to which these city plans align with global targets or what role they play in achieving these targets. Here, we explore the relationship between global biodiversity conservation targets and local biodiversity plans to identify how elements at the two scales align or diverge. We compared the CBD Strategic Plan 2011–2020 (Aichi Targets) with 44 local biodiversity plans (often called LBSAPs) from cities around the world. We analyzed more than 2,800 actions from the local plans to measure the relationship with these global targets. Our results show how local approaches to biodiversity conservation can inform post-2020 global frameworks to improve coordination between global and local scale processes. We identify actions particular to the local scale that are critical to conserve global biodiversity and suggest a framework for improved coordination between actors at different scales that address their respective roles and spheres of influence.

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 ◽

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.

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

FACETS ◽

10.1139/facets-2020-0075 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 1044-1068

Author(s):

Justina C. Ray ◽

Jaime Grimm ◽

Andrea Olive

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Legal Framework ◽

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.