Information and international biodiversity conventions

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Information and international biodiversity
conventions

• Eliezer Frankenberg
• Nature and Parks Authority

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What is meant by biodiversity?

• 'Biological diversity', or biodiversity, means
  the variability among living organisms that
  derives from all sources including terrestrial,
  marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the
  ecological complexes of which they are part.
• This includes diversity within species (at a
  genetic level), between species and of
  ecosystems.
• Biodiversity at each of these levels of
  complexity is characterized by
• Variety, the number of different types
• Quantity, the number or total biomass s of any
  type
• Distribution, the extent and nature of
  geographic spread of different types
• In general terms, biodiversity conveys the
  biological richness of planet Earth.

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The CBD

• Entered into force in 1994 and have three goals
• Conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use
  of its components and the fair and equitable
  sharing of the benefits arising out of the
  utilization of genetic resources.
• Combining conservation with economy and social
  justice.

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In the CBD text, Article 7

• Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible
  and as appropriate, in particular for the
  purposes of Articles 8 to 10
• a. Identify components of biological diversity
  important for its conservation and sustainable
  use having regard to an indicative list of
  categories
• b. Monitor, through sampling and other
  techniques, the components of biological
  diversity identified, paying particular attention
  to those requiring urgent conservation measures
  and those which offer the greatest potential for
  sustainable use
• c. Identify processes and categories of
  activities which have or are likely to have
  significant adverse impacts on the conservation
  and sustainable use of biological diversity, and
  monitor their effects through sampling and other
  techniques and
• d. Maintain and organize, by any mechanism data,
  derived from identification and monitoring
  activities.

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What is a successful indicator?

• Scientifically valid-
• a) there is an accepted theory of the
  relationship between the indicator and its
  purpose, with agreement that change in the
  indicator does indicate change in the issue of
  concern
• b) the data used is reliable and verifiable.
• Based on available data- so that the indicator
  can be produced over time.
• Responsive to change in the issue of interest.
• Easily understandable-
• a) conceptually, how the measure relates to the
  purpose,
• b) in its presentation, and
• c) the interpretation of the data.
• Relevant to users needs.
• It is used- for measuring progress,
  early-warning of problems, understanding an
  issue, reporting, awareness-raising, etc.

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The five core key questions

1. What is changing and to what extent? (state)
2. Why is it changing? (pressure)
3. Why is it important? (use)
4. What has been done and what can be done about it?
   (response)
5. Do we have the means to formulate and implement
   response measures? (capacity).

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indicators for assessing progress

• Status and trends of the components of biological
  diversity
• 1. Trends in extent of selected biomes,
  ecosystems, and habitats
• 2. Trends in abundance and distribution of
  selected species
• 3. Coverage of protected areas
• 4. Change in status of threatened species
• 5. Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated
  animals, cultivated plants, and Fish species of
  major socioeconomic importance

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Sustainable use

• 6. Area of forest, agricultural and aquaculture
  ecosystems under sustainable management
• 7. Proportion of products derived from
  sustainable sources
• 8. Ecological footprint and related concepts

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Threats to biodiversity

• 9. Nitrogen deposition
• 10. Trends in invasive alien species

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Ecosystem integrity and ecosystem goods and
services

• 11. Marine Trophic Index
• 12. Water quality of freshwater ecosystems
• 13. Trophic integrity of other ecosystems
• 14. Connectivity / fragmentation of ecosystems
• 15. Incidence of human-induced ecosystem failure
• 16. Health and well-being of communities who
  depend directly on local ecosystem goods and
  services
• 17. Biodiversity for food and medicine

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• Status of traditional knowledge, innovations and
  Practices
• 18. Status and trends of linguistic diversity and
  numbers of speakers of indigenous languages
• 19. Other indicator of the status of indigenous
  and traditional knowledge
• Status of access and benefit-sharing
• 20. Indicator of access and benefit-sharing
  Status of resource transfers
• 21. Official development assistance provided in
  support of the Convention
• 22. Indicator of technology transfer

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What is monitored?

• Of all this, the only available data relates to
  the three following topics
• 2. Trends in abundance and distribution of
  selected species
• 3. Coverage of protected areas
• 4. Change in status of threatened species
• And becomes irrelevant when we try to evaluate
  ecosystem services.

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classification of ecosystem services

• Service category Service types
• Provisioning 1. Food
• 2. Water
• 3. Raw materials
• 4. Genetic resources
• 5. Medicinal resources
• 6. Ornamental resources
• Regulating 7. Air quality regulation
• 8. Climate regulation (including carbon
  sequestration)
• 9. Moderation of extreme events
• 10. Regulation of water flows
• 11. Waste treatment
• 12. Erosion prevention
• 13. Maintenance of soil fertility
• 14. Pollination
• 15. Biological control
• Habitat/Supporting 16. Lifecycle maintenance
  (e.g. migratory species, nursery habitat)
• 17. Maintenance of genetic diversity
• Cultural provide opportunities for 18.
  Aesthetic enjoyment

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Where are we?

• There is no Biological Survey and no funding
  agency that targets biodiversity surveys.
• The NBS states that current monitoring involves
  only few species and selected ecosystems and
  cannot answer the needs of management.
• There is no regular monitoring at the habitat or
  ecosystem level, but monitoring is held by
  several bodies for various purposes.
• Development of a National Biodiversity Monitoring
  Framework is now considered.

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Thanks for your attention