Biological Diversity

1
Biological Diversity

• Conceptual levels
• Genetic genes, DNA
• Determines diversity within a species
• Eg 1000 genes in bacteria, 10,000 in fungi,
  700,000 in flowering plants etc
• is what allows populations to adapt to
  changes in climate and other local environmental
  conditions
• Species
• Mammals, birds, reptiles
• rate of extinctionrate of species formation
• Domestication of few species

2
Biological Diversity

• Ecosystems
• An ecosystem is a system where populations of
  species group together into communities and
  interact with each other and the abiotic
  environment.
• Marine eg coral reefs
• Terrestrial eg deserts, rivers, mountain etc

3
Biological Diversity

• Management concepts
• max sustainable yield
• -the largest yield that can be obtained which
  does not deplete or damage natural resources
  irreparably and which leaves the environment in
  good order for future generations.
• -the maximum amount of a species or group of
  species that can be taken without diminishing the
  future take.
• optimum yield
• Precautionary approach
• -large safety factor
• -continuos monitoring/assesment
• -public review

4
Biological Diversity/nature conservation

• Management concepts
• max sustainable yield
• -the largest yield that can be obtained which
  does not deplete or damage natural resources
  irreparably and which leaves the environment in
  good order for future generations.
• -the maximum amount of a species or group of
  species that can be taken without diminishing the
  future take.
• optimum yield
• Precautionary approach
• -large safety factor
• -continuos monitoring/assesment
• -public review

5
Biological Diversity/nature conservation

• Functions of the law
• Distributive Ownership status
• Conservatory by regulation
• Proscriptive by prohibition

6
Biological Diversity/nature conservation

• Legal status of living resources/habitats/ecosyste
  ms
• Sovereign property
• Common property
• More modern requirements
• Transboundary biological resources
• Animal rights?
• Environmentalists
• Common heritage

7
Biological Diversity/nature conservation

• Soft law
• UNEP Principles of Conductconservation..harmoniou
  s utilization of natural resources shared 1978
• IUCN World Charter for Nature (WCN) 1982
• -wise use
• -unique areas
• - persons participation, individual obligations
  to protect
• -International areas

8
Biological Diversity/nature conservation

• Bruntland report 1987
• -biosphere reserves
• -common heritage
• -trust fund
• -World bank role
• -22 legal principles

9
Biological Diversity/nature conservation

• Rio Declaration 1992
• Agenda 21
• Combating deforestation
• Fragile ecosystems
• Sustainable mountain development
• Sustainable agriculture
• Conservation of biodiversity
• Sound management of biotechnology
• Sustainable use of ocean resources
• Habitat conservation

10
Biological Diversity/nature conservation

• IUCN Draft International Convention on
  Environment and Development 2000

11
treaties

• Convention on Biological Diversity 1993 (188
  parties, in force 1994)
• negotiations
• preamble
• objectives (art 1)
• Conservation of diversity
• Sustainable use if components
• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from use,
  access to genetic resources, tech transfer
• Rights over resources/technologies
• definitions (art 3)
• Jur scope (art 4)
• in-situ/ex situ conservation measures (art 8-10)
• access to genetic resources (art 15), share
  results
• access to technology (esp art 16), intellectual
  property rights, private sector
• handling of biotechnology (art 19)

12
Convention on Biological Diversity 1993

• Institutions
• COP (Montreal)
• -Subsidiary bodies
• -Subsidiary Body on scientific, technical and
  technological advice
• -open ended working group on biosafety
  1996-1999
• -expert panel on access and benefit sharing
• -open ended ad hoc working group on article
  8(j)
• Clearing House Mechanism internet based
• Compliance weak national reporting (art 26),
  financial compensation for compliance (art 20.2),
  social/economic incentives for compliance (art
  11) but reports available to public de facto,
  igo/ngo observer status (art 23.5)
• No enforcement provision/protocol yet
• Financial mechanism through GEF/WB

13

• Access to genetic resources practice
• 1995, the Philippines required bioprospectors to
  get "prior informed consent" from both the
  government and local peoples.
• Costa Rica's National Institute of Biodiversity
  (INBIO) signed a historic bioprospecting
  agreement with a major drug company to receive
  funds and share in benefits from biological
  materials that are commercialized.
• Countries of the Andean Pact (Colombia, Ecuador,
  Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela) have adopted laws
  and measures to regulate access to their genetic
  resources
• submission of duplicate samples of genetic
  resources collected to a designated institution
• a national institution for collection of genetic
  resources
• sharing existing information
• sharing research results with the competent
  national authority
• assisting in the strengthening of institutional
  capacities
• sharing specific financial or related benefits.

14

• Access to technology practice?
• No particular legislation
• But
• Much scientific info available on internet/
  published
• Exchange of students

15
Convention on Biological Diversity 1993
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (117 parties, in
force since sept 2003)

• LMOs transgenic modification GMOs
• Traditional modification
• Therefore, protocol
• -advance informed agreement procedure (art 7)
• -export/import notification (art 8, 9, 10)
• -labelling requirements
• -biosafety clearing house for information access

16
Post CBD

• Convention on Desertification 1994
• Forest Principles
• NON-LEGALLY BINDING AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT OF
  PRINCIPLES FOR A GLOBAL CONSENSUS ON THE
  MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE
  DEVELOPMENT OF ALL TYPES OF FORESTS

17
Pre CBD - Existing treaties

• four main treaties
• Ramsar Convention 1971
• World Heritage Convention 1972
• CITES 1973
• Migratory species convention 1979

18
Pre CBD - Existing treaties

• Common characteristics
• Listing
• protected areas
• COP
• national reporting
• dispute settlement by negotiation only
• -after CBD, practice of MoUs
• -reservations to listings allowed!

19
Pre-CBDRamsar Convention 1971 (in force 1975,
144 parties

• Wetlands of International Importance
• Lists int imp wetlands
• Wise use concept

20
Pre-CBDWorld Heritage Convention 1972(unesco in
force 1975, 177 parties)world heritage list
21
Pre-CBDWorld Heritage Convention 1972
World heritage in danger list
22
Pre-CBDWorld Heritage Convention 1972

• Australia v Tasmania (Tasmania Dam case 1983)
• Australia is a federation
• states retain part of their sovereignty acc to
  their constitution
• Constitution defines the areas of federal
  legislation in residual areas, states have
  jurisdiction
• federal government in Australia conducts foreign
  affairs. 
• Australia fed gov - member of WHC, this site
  listed
• Could federal government legislate in an area
  covered by the treaty where it would have had no
  power to legislate had the treaty not been made?
• Yes therefore, no dam to be built in archeol./
  biol imp/sensitive area even if Tasmanian people
  want it

23
World Heritage Convention

• also
• Return looted heritage
• Eg Ethiopian obelisk from Rome E
• Protecting heritage sites during wars

24
Convention on migratory species of wild animals
1979 (UNEP, in force 1983, 89 parties)

• Obligations depend on state of threat
• App I most endangered conserve and restore
  habitats
• App II not endangered agreements to restore

25
Pre CBD-Migratory species convention 1979
APPENDIX I    OF THE CONVENTION ON THE
CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS
(CMS) (as amended by the Conference of the
Parties in 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999
and 2002)   Effective 23 December
2002   Interpretation
 

• APPENDIX I OF THE CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION
  OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (CMS)
• (as amended by the Conference of the Parties in
  1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2002)
• Mammalia   CHIROPTERA              
  Molossidae Tadarida brasiliensis
   PRIMATES              Hominidae (1)  Gorilla
  gorilla beringei CETACEA             
  Physeteridae Physeter macrocephalus
                Platanistidae Platanista gangetica
  gangetica               Pontoporiidae Pontoporia
  blainvillei               BalaenopteridaeBalaenop
  tera borealis Balaenoptera physalus
  Balaenoptera musculusMegaptera
  novaeangliae              Balaenidae Balaena
  mysticetusEubalaena glacialis (2) (North
  Atlantic)Eubalaena japonica (3) (North
  Pacific)Eubalaena australis (4)
   CARNIVORA              Mustelidae Lontra felina
  (5)             Lontra provocax (6)             
  Felidae Uncia uncia (7)              Phocidae (8)
   Monachus monachus   SIRENIA              
  Trichechidae Trichechus manatus  (populations
  between Honduras and Panama)  PERISSODACTYLA      
          EquidaeEquus grevyi  ARTIODACTYLA         
       Camelidae Camelus bactrianus             Vicu
  gna vicugna (except Peruvian populations)       
         CervidaeCervus elaphus barbarusHippocamelus
  bisulcus              BovidaeBos sauveliBos
  grunniensAddax nasomaculatusGazella
  cuvieriGazella damaGazella dorcas (only Northwest
  African populations)Gazella leptocerosOryx dammah
    Aves  SPHENISCIFORMES             
  Spheniscidae Spheniscus humboldti  
  PROCELLARIIFORMES              
  Diomedeidae Diomedea albatrusDiomedea
  amsterdamensis              Procellariidae Pterodr
  oma cahowPterodroma phaeopygiaPterodroma
  sandwichensis (9) Puffinus creatopus
                Pelecanoididae Pelecanoides
  garnotii PELECANIFORMES             
  Pelecanidae Pelecanus crispus Pelecanus
  onocrotalus (only Palearctic populations) CICONI
  IFORMES              Ardeidae Egretta
  eulophotes Gorsachius goisagi             
  Ciconiidae Ciconia boyciana             
  Threskiornithidae Geronticus eremita  Platalea
  minor   PHOENICOPTERIFORMES               
  PhoenicopteridaePhoenicopterus andinus
  (10)Phoenicopterus jamesi (11)  ANSERIFORMES      
           AnatidaeAnser cygnoides       Anser
  erythropus Branta ruficollis Chloephaga
  rubidiceps Anas formosa Marmaronetta
  angustirostris Aythya nyroca Polysticta
  stelleri Oxyura leucocephala   FALCONIFORMES
                  AccipitridaeHaliaeetus albicilla
  Haliaeetus leucoryphus Haliaeetus pelagicus
  Aquila clanga Aquila heliaca Aquila adalberti
  (12)                 Falconidae Falco naumanni  

 
1. Formerly listed as Pongidae 2. Formerly
included in Balaena glacialis glacialis 3.
Formerly included in Balaena glacialis glacialis
4. Formerly listed as Balaena glacialis
australis 5. Formerly listed as Lutra felina 6.
Formerly listed as Lutra provocax 7. Formerly
listed as Panthera uncia 8. The order PINNIPEDIA
is now included in the order CARNIVORA 9.
Formerly included in Pterodroma phaeopygia (s.l.)
10. Formerly listed as Phoenicoparrus andinus
11. Formerly listed as Phoenicoparrus jamesi
12. Formerly included in Aquila heliaca (s.l.)
13. Formerly listed as Chettusia gregaria
26
Pre-CBDCITES Convention on the international
trade in endangered species of flora and fauna
1973 (IUCN, in force 1975, 167 parties)

• Trade in endangered species
• Aim prevent commercial trade in..
• 3 appendices
• Appendix I species threatened with extinction
  trade only in exceptional circumstances.
• Appendix II species not necessarily threatened
  with extinction, but trade must be controlled to
  avoid future survival danger.
• Appendix III species protected in at least one
  country, asked other CITES Parties for assistance
  in controlling the trade.

27
Pre CBDCITES- endangered species lists

• Appendices I, II and III valid from 16 October
  2003
• Appendix IAppendix II Appendix III
• F A U N A (ANIMALS)P H Y L U M C H O R D A T A
  CLASS MAMMALIA (MAMMALS)
• PRIMATES Apes, monkeys   Lemuridae Large lemurs
  Lemuridae spp.   Megaladapidae Sportive lemurs
  Megaladapidae spp. (possibly extinct)
    Cheirogaleidae Dwarf lemurs Cheirogaleidae spp.
    Indridae Avahi, indris, sifakas, woolly lemurs
  Indridae spp.   Daubentoniidae Aye-aye
  Daubentonia madagascariensis   Callitrichidae
  Marmosets, tamarins Callimico goeldii
    Callithrix aurita

28
Pre-CBDCITES 1973

• States must establish management, scientific
  authority
• Permit system (export and import)
• Data collection and monitoring by NGOs
• National implementation
• eg UK Criminal Justice Act Nov 2003

29
Marine biodiversity

• Original legal status of seas
• Territorial seas (3 miles)
• High seas
• Pacific Fur Seals arbitration
• Migratory seals not sovereign property
• Freedom of high seas
• Joint conservation/management model but regime
  failed

30
Marine biodiversity

• Icelands unilateral declaration of 12 mile
  territorial sea 1972
• Iceland declares exclusive fisheries zone 50
  miles
• Icelandic fisheries cases 1974
• UNCLOS III 1982
• Legal status of seas today
• territorial sea 12 miles coastal state
• jur.
• exclusive economic zone 200 miles coastal
  state jur. if declared
• high seas freedom

31
Marine Biodiversity

• Straddling Stocks Agreement 1995 (in force 2001)
• Convention for Regulation of Whaling 1946
• UNEP Regional Seas conventions
• Indirect
• Pollution treaties oil spills, land based, from
  vessels, emergencies

32
Biodiversity/ nature conservation

• prohibitions, restrictions, trade
  control/sanctions for endangered species
• No customary law to protect endangered
  species/sites/habitats, all through treaty
• CBD principles non binding only provide
  guidance
• Precautionary principle
• Equitable sharing - of benefits of traditional
  knowledge but only appropriate access to
  technology, not equitable access
• Intergenerational equity
• Obligation to cooperate
• info exchange of publicly available info, not
  private
• governments to enable access to biotech research/
  results of using genetic resources
• Equity principles not so well developed complex
  re genetic resources and implementation/
  enforcement up to state party
• Large nm of treaties, still piecemeal, CBD fills
  gaps overlaps/synergies need working out