scholarly journals Activities of Environmental Convention-Secretariats: Laws, Functions and Discretions

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3116
Author(s):  
Volker Mauerhofer
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Multilateral Environmental Agreements ◽  
Legal Norms ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
Operating Rules ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Functional Areas

Multilateral Environmental Agreements—MEAs—are indispensable legal frameworks for environmental sustainability and also define the operating rules of their implementation bodies (“Secretariats”). The contribution assesses in how far the norms defining Secretariats’ functions differ and also reflect on actual functions for three MEAs, namely (1) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora-CITES (1973), (2) the Convention on Biological Diversity—CBD (1992), and (3) the Convention on Migratory Species—CMS (1979). It does so by comparative legal interpretation of the main norms of these MEAs laying down the functions of its respective Secretariats as well as an in-depth review of academic literature about these functions. The results for these three conventions divide into nine functional areas and show an unexpectedly wide range of different functions laid down in the conventions as well as extensive variety in the discretion for many of these functional areas. Some potential explanations of these formal differences are provided. The paper further finds that actually executed functions may not be fully covered by the underlying legal norms but rather by “flexible” highest governing bodies of MEAs and concludes that occasionally an unusual legislative style was chosen, and shows potential solutions and future research directions.

scholarly journals A protocol for an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized land-use and climate scenarios

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4537-4562 ◽  
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.

The Physical Environment

Monteverde ◽  
2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth L. Clark ◽  
Robert O. Lawton
Keyword(s):  
Physical Environment ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Geologic History ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Physical Setting

Because biological diversity is directly related to diversity of the physical environment, a clear picture of the physical setting of the Cordillera is crucial to understand its ecology and conservation. The physical setting of Monteverde and the Cordillera de Tilarán encompasses a wide range of environmental conditions. The size, position across the trade windflow, geology, erosional dissection, and hydrology of the Cordillera interact to produce extraordinary physical diversity that parallels its great biological diversity. A major difference between tropical montane and lowland regions is the way biological diversity is distributed across the landscape. Montane regions are usually less diverse at the scale of 0.01-0.1 km2 but are as rich in species as nearby lowland areas at scales of 10-100 km2. We have two goals in this chapter. First, we review what is known of the climate and weather, geology and geologic history, geomorphology, soils, and hydrology of Monteverde. Our account focuses on higher elevations in Monteverde and wetter areas on the Caribbean slope, with less attention to the drier environments on the lower Pacific slope. Second, we point out areas where our knowledge is incomplete and suggest promising lines of future research. Although the geology and geomorphology of Monteverde are moderately well known, our knowledge of the rates of many geomorphic processes, particularly erosion, is poor. We also lack information on soils and hydrology, particularly of wind-driven cloud and precipitation inputs, evapotranspiration, and stream outputs from forests and other land-use types in Monteverde. Quantitative information on how variability in the physical environment interacts with biotic processes at the population, community, and ecosystem levels is scant. Most of the climate and weather data were collected at 1450 m at the Pensiόn (1956-1971), at 1520 m at John Campbell's residence (1972 to present), and intermittently throughout or near the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve (MCFP; Lawton and Dryer 1980, Crump et al. 1992, Clark 1994, Bohlman et al. 1995, W. Calvert and A. Nelson, unpubl. data).

scholarly journals A protocol for an intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models using harmonized land-use and climate scenarios

2018 ◽  
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) to explore a wide range of land-use change and climate change futures. This paper describes the rationale for scenarios 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 service models used, the core simulations carried out, the harmonization of the model output metrics, and the treatment of uncertainty. The results of this collaborative modelling project will support the ongoing global assessment of IPBES, strengthen ties between IPBES and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios and modelling 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.

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.

scholarly journals Towards reducing misrepresentation of national achievements in marine protected area targets

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
patrick Smallhorn-West ◽  
Hugh Govan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Area Coverage ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
International Database ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Pacific Island Nations

Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted 20 targets, known as the Aichi Targets, to benchmark progress towards protecting biodiversity. These targets include Target 11 relating to Marine Protected Area coverage and the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is the accepted international database for tracking national commitments to this target. However, measuring national progress towards conservation targets relies on sound data. This paper highlights the large-scale misrepresentation, by up to two orders of magnitude, of national marine protected area coverage from two Pacific Island nations in multiple online databases and subsequent reports, including conclusions regarding achievements of Aichi 11 commitments. It recommends that for the target driven approach to have value, users of the WDPA data should carefully consider its caveats before using their raw data and that countries should strive for a greater degree of accountability. Lastly it also concludes that protected area coverage may not be the best approach to environmental sustainability and that the remaining 19 targets should be considered to a greater extent.

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.

scholarly journals 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 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 99-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz Essl ◽  
Guillaume Latombe ◽  
Bernd Lenzner ◽  
Shyama Pagad ◽  
Hanno Seebens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
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.

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.

Earthworms and agricultural systems: Status of knowledge and research in Canada

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 265-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Tomlin ◽  
C. A. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Species Distribution ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Earthworm Species

Since the ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, there has been increased interest in issues related to biodiversity, particularly with respect to soil biodiversity and the influence of agricultural practices. This paper is one of a series of papers contributing to a state of the art review initiated by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on the status of soil biodiversity research in Canada, particularly with respect to agroecosystems. The objectives of this paper are to provide an overview of earthworm species distribution in Canada by province and territory, and to review research that illuminates our understanding of the ecological relationships of earthworms in agricultural systems. Most Canadian earthworm species are considered exotics having generally been dependent on human activity for their introduction and dispersal throughout the Canadian landscape. Twenty-seven earthworm species have been identified so far in Canada; of these, eight species are native to North America. Suggestions for future research on earthworm biodiversity within an agricultural context are discussed including: the need for increased spatial and temporal information on earthworm distributions across Canada, particularly with respect to Canada’s varied agroecosystems and landscapes; information on the ecology of earthworms with respect to their contributions to the soil system and their interactions with other soil fauna; the need for ecosystem process models relating earthworm contributions to soil structure formation and transport of materials and nutrients within the soil system; and the need to determine threshold levels of earthworm species associations in order to optimise effectively their contributions to soil quality and plant growth. To facilitate these studies, expansion of taxonomic expertise and capability across Canada will be required. Key words: Earthworms, agroecosystems, ecology, species distribution, soil biodiversity

scholarly journals The 2010 challenge: data availability, information needs and extraterrestrial insights

2005 ◽  
Vol 360 (1454) ◽  
pp. 221-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Balmford ◽  
Peter Crane ◽  
Andy Dobson ◽  
Rhys E Green ◽  
Georgina M Mace
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Status

At the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, 190 countries endorsed a commitment to achieve, by 2010, a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national levels. A wide range of approaches is available to the monitoring of progress towards this objective. The strengths and weaknesses of many of these approaches are considered, with special attention being given to the proposed and existing indicators described in the other papers in this issue. Recommendations are made about the development of indicators. Most existing and proposed indicators use data collected for other purposes, which may be unrepresentative. In the short term, much remains to be done in expanding the databases and improving the statistical techniques that underpin these indicators to minimize potential biases. In the longer term, indicators based on unrepresentative data should be replaced with equivalents based on carefully designed sampling programmes. Many proposed and existing indicators do not connect clearly with human welfare and they are unlikely to engage the interest of governments, businesses and the public until they do so. The extent to which the indicators already proposed by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity are sufficient is explored by reference to the advice an imaginary scientific consultant from another planet might give. This exercise reveals that the range of taxa and biomes covered by existing indicators is incomplete compared with the knowledge we need to protect our interests. More fundamentally, our understanding of the mechanisms linking together the status of biodiversity, Earth system processes, human decisions and actions, and ecosystem services impacting human welfare is still too crude to allow us to infer reliably that actions taken to conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystem services are well chosen and effectively implemented. The involvement of social and Earth system scientists, as well as biologists, in collaborative research programmes to build and parameterize models of the Earth system to elucidate these mechanisms is a high priority.

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