Effective Management of Trans boundary Landscapes – Geospatial Applications

The Convention on Biological Diversity advocates the use of landscape and ecosystem approaches for managing biodiversity, in recognition of the need for increased regional cooperation. In this context, ICIMOD and regional partners have evolved Transboundary Landscape concept to address the issues of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and systems (e.g., biodiversity, rangelands, farming systems, forests, wetlands, and watersheds, etc.). This concept defines the landscapes by ecosystems rather than political/administrative boundaries. The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is extremely heterogeneous, with complex inter linkages of biomes and habitats as well as strong upstream-downstream linkages related to the provisioning of ecosystem services. Seven such transboundary landscapes, identified across west to east extent of HKH, have been considered for programmatic cooperation, include: Wakhan, Karakoram-Pamir, Kailash, Everest, Kangchenjunga, Brahmaputra-Salween, and Cherrapunjee- Chittagong. The approach is people centered and considers the cultural conservation as an essential first step towards resource conservation efforts in the region. Considering the multi-scale requirements of study, the geospatial technology has been effectively adopted towards: (i) understanding temporal changes in landscapes, (ii) long term ecological and social monitoring, (ii) identifying potential bio corridors, (iii) assessing landscape level vulnerability due to climatic and non-climatic drivers, and (iv) developing local plans on extractions of high value economic species supporting livelihoods, agroforestry system and ecotourism, etc. We present here our recent experiences across different landscapes on assessment of three decadal changes, vegetation type mapping, assessment of socio-ecological drivers, corridor assessment, ecosystem services assessment, models for optimal natural resource use systems and long term socio-ecological monitoring.

Download Full-text

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):

Biodiversity Conservation ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Marine Protected Area ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

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.

Download Full-text

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL AND GLOBAL COOPERATION FOR CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY

Radovi Šumarskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Sarajevu ◽

10.54652/rsf.2019.v49.i1.26 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 69-80

Author(s):

Melisa Ljuša ◽

Mehmed Cero ◽

Zlata Grabovac

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Plenary Session ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Action Plan ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Global Network ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Relict Species ◽

Climate Conditions

UDK: 574:502(497.6) With the geographical position and climate conditions it has, Bosnia and Herzegovinais a countryof unique life forms and biodiversity. The flora, fauna and fungi of Bosnia and Herzegovina are among the most diverse in Europe, and the high level of endemism and relict species provide for the country’s significance at the global biodiversity level (UNCBD, 2019). Since 2002, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), has been following global trends of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Followingthe Convention, among others, six national reports were developed, as well as the Strategy and Action Plan for Protection of Biological Diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (NBSAP) by 2020. These documents seek to ensure that protection and sustainable use of biodiversity become inevitable principles when relevant sectoral policies, strategies and legislation at all governmental levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina are being developed. In 2013, the Bosnian-Herzegovina Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) portal for sharing information on biodiversity was established within the global network CBD CHM. As a member country of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Bosnia and Herzegovina actively represents and advocates for the interests of Eastern Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina has made significant contribution to the preparation of a Regional and Sub-Regional Assessment for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Europe and Central Asia, which was adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of IPBES (Medellin, Colombia, March 2018). In the context of regional and global cooperation, Bosnia and Herzegovina significantly contributes to the organization of the workshop and the preparation of an Eastern European Action Document on Pollinators, Food Security and Rural Development, within BES-Net Trialogue. Bosnia and Herzegovina reaffirmed its commitment to the status of pollinators by accessing to the global Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators at the 6th IPBES Plenary Session.

Download Full-text

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

10.18235/0003025 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

A global database of diversified farming effects on biodiversity and yield

Scientific Data ◽

10.1038/s41597-021-01000-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah K. Jones ◽

Andrea C. Sánchez ◽

Stella D. Juventia ◽

Natalia Estrada-Carmona

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

Food Production ◽

Food Systems ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Global Database ◽

Diversified Farming Systems

AbstractWith the Convention on Biological Diversity conference (COP15), United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), and United Nations Food Systems Summit, 2021 is a pivotal year for transitioning towards sustainable food systems. Diversified farming systems are key to more sustainable food production. Here we present a global dataset documenting outcomes of diversified farming practices for biodiversity and yields compiled following best standards for systematic review of primary studies and specifically designed for use in meta-analysis. The dataset includes 4076 comparisons of biodiversity outcomes and 1214 of yield in diversified farming systems compared to one of two reference systems. It contains evidence from 48 countries of effects on species from 33 taxonomic orders (spanning insects, plants, birds, mammals, eukaryotes, annelids, fungi, and bacteria) of diversified farming systems producing annual or perennial crops across 12 commodity groups. The dataset presented provides a resource for researchers and practitioners to easily access information on where diversified farming systems effectively contribute to biodiversity and food production outcomes.

Download Full-text

Justice and the Convention on Biological Diversity

Ethics & International Affairs ◽

10.1111/j.1747-7093.2009.00217.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 267-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Doris Schroeder ◽

Thomas Pogge

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

International Economic Order ◽

Social Utility ◽

Benefit Sharing ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Social Rules ◽

Biological Resources ◽

Thomas Pogge

Justice and the Convention on Biological DiversityDoris Schroeder and Thomas PoggeBenefit sharing as envisaged by the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a relatively new idea in international law. Within the context of non-human biological resources, it aims to guarantee the conservation of biodiversity and its sustainable use by ensuring that its custodians are adequately rewarded for its preservation.Prior to the adoption of the CBD, access to biological resources was frequently regarded as a free-for-all. Bioprospectors were able to take resources out of their natural habitat and develop commercial products without sharing benefits with states or local communities. This paper asks how CBD-style benefit-sharing fits into debates of justice. It is argued that the CBD is an example of a set of social rules designed to increase social utility. It is also argued that a common heritage of humankind principle with inbuilt benefit-sharing mechanisms would be preferable to assigning bureaucratic property rights to non-human biological resources. However, as long as the international economic order is characterized by serious distributive injustices, as reflected in the enormous poverty-related death toll in developing countries, any morally acceptable means toward redressing the balance in favor of the disadvantaged has to be welcomed. By legislating for a system of justice-in-exchange covering nonhuman biological resources in preference to a free-for-all situation, the CBD provides a small step forward in redressing the distributive justice balance. It therefore presents just legislation sensitive to the international relations context in the 21st century.

Download Full-text

Convention on Biological Diversity: Towards a sustainable future

Social Change ◽

10.1177/004908570303300311 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 33 (2-3) ◽

pp. 173-191

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Technology Development ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

United Nations Environment Programme ◽

Benefit Sharing ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Biological Resources ◽

Transfer Benefit ◽

Global Agreement

In an era of a rapidly shrinking biological resources, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a historic landmark, being the first global agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The CBD is one of the few international agreements in the area of natural resource conservation in which sustainability and equitable benefit-sharing are central concerns. The CBD links traditional conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably and sets forth principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, notably those destined for commercial use. Importantly, the CBD also gives traditional knowledge its due place in the sustainable use of genetic resources. The CBD also covers the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology, addressing technology development and transfer, benefit-sharing and biosafety, in an equitable framework. In the coming years, the CBD is likely to have major repercussions on the way biodiversity is conserved and benefits thereof, shared between the developing and developed worlds. The following commentary on the CBD has drawn heavily from a document produced by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, at the United Nations Environment Programme. Articles 1 to 21 of the CBD have also been reproduced here in order to disseminate knowledge regarding the principles of the CBD-Editor.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

Complexity of ecosystem services in agricultural fields, in particular the biodiversity

Acta Agraria Debreceniensis ◽

10.34101/actaagrar/63/1833 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 43-51

Author(s):

Ibolya Csíder

Keyword(s):

Complex System ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Soil Pollution ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Agricultural Fields ◽

Uniform Definition ◽

Water And Soil Pollution ◽

Farmland Ecosystem

Since the Convention on Biological Diversity a lot of papers have been published how to measure and value biodiversity. In the last decades publications on agro-ecosystems become more frequent and play a significant role in the provision of ecosystem services. There is a uniform definition for biodiversity in general, however, in terms of agro-ecosystems and their services (including biodiversity) many weaknesses can be identified. The objective of this paper is to explore some of these problems with special regard to different definitions and terms and to the farmland ecosystem services. One solution could be to adopt a more complex system which has some ecological and environmental components (air, water and soil pollution) and also takes in to consideration the efficiency of agricultural production.

Download Full-text

Research Concerning Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L. Mill) Genetic Diversity

Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca Agriculture ◽

10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:6531 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Aurel MAXIM ◽

Mignon ŞANDOR ◽

Lucia MIHALESCU ◽

Ovidiu MAXIM ◽

Oana MARE ROŞCA

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Genetic Erosion ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Cucumis Sativus L ◽

Local Varieties ◽

Industrial Farming ◽

The University

During the second part of the twentieth century the cultivated plants have been faced with genetic erosion, because of the expandinding industrial farming systems. The sustainable agriculture can not exist without a rich genetic diversity. After the United Nations Conference from Rio de Janeiro (1992), when the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted, a series of acts and european references that protect agrobiodiversity had emerged. Between 2007 and 2010, at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine a program which aims to identify and conserve local vegetable varieties was conducted. Out of 290 cultivars, 171 (58.9%) were genuine local varieties. There were collected 12 cucumber cultivars from the following counties: Salaj (7), Cluj (3), Bistrita-Nasaud (1) and Satu-Mare (1). The morphologic caractheristics proved that all this 12 cultivars were authentic and valuable local varieties. The local varieties were agronomical, biological and biochemical characterized, both in field and laboratory. The seeds achieved from those 12 local varieties were preserved in the Suceava Gene Bank, from where stakeholders (farmers, agronomists, researchers) can obtain seeds.

Download Full-text

Assessment of static and dynamic geodiversity in the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark: constraints for a sustainable use of related abiotic ecosystem services

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-2230 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cristina Viani ◽

Luigi Perotti ◽

Federico Tognetto ◽

Ilaria Selvaggio ◽

Marco Giardino

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Structural Data ◽

Western Alps ◽

Landscape Resistance ◽

Related Factors ◽

Multitemporal Data ◽

Geomorphological Evolution

Geodiversity includes geological, geomorphological, hydrological and soil elements and processes. By analysing geodiversity we can offer static and dynamic views of abiotic landscapes on the Earth. The current state of geodiversity includes both relict, long-term features recalling the past of our planet earth and active landforms and processes whose monitoring is a key for interpreting relationships between geosphere, biosphere and human activities. If the long term geodiversity mainly represents distribution of litho-structural &#8220;static&#8221; constrains to environmental changes, recent and active environmental features may act as dynamic &#8220;proxies&#8221; for interpreting climate change. Aim of this work is to analyse relevant examples of both static and dynamic geodiversity within the territory of the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Western Alps, Italy), in order to assess their role as georesources and to highlight possible sustainable use of related abiotic ecosystem services, including geoheritage. Geodiversity assessment has been performed by means of creation of geothematic maps and related factors analysed for better mountain environment understanding and management.&#160; Starting with static geodiversity we collected, analysed and interpreted lithological and structural data in order to obtain information on distribution of georesources in the study area and to create a geothematic map on landscape resistance to erosion. Thereafter we focused on two aspects related to dynamic geodiversity and their relationships with dramatic changes of the alpine landscape: glacial evolution and fluvial processes. On one hand, valley scale geomorphological evolution has been reconstructed by means of multitemporal data (e.g.: glacial landforms maps, glacier inventories) on evidences in the Sesia Valley. Obtained information crossed with national landslide inventory allowed to identify areas of strong glacial influence on slope stability (deep-seated gravitational slope deformation and landslides due to slope debutressing). Moreover, recent glacier withdrawal results in new glacier lakes increasing the hydrogeodiversity of the area and representing important potential georesources to be used. Finally, recent alluvial event (October 2020) has been considered for its high impact in reshaping fluvial environment and effects on both infrastructures and popular geosites along the Sesia river. Results of this work are useful for the establishment of a proper Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework related to environmental issues due to global change in order to support educational activities and sustainable development of alpine &#8220;tourism hubs&#8221; included in the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark by the &#8220;ArcticHubs&#8221; H2020-EU.3.5.1 project.

Download Full-text