BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION SUMMARY

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
SUMMARY
1. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2002
2. Assessing the ecological footprint
3. Logging bans in Asia and the Pacific: an overview
4. Traditional knowledge of biodiversity in Asia-Pacific:
problems of piracy & protection
5. Monitoring conservation project effectiveness
6. Biodiversity conservation program design & management: a
guide for USAID staff
7. Getting real: the challenges of sustaining biodiversity
partnerships
8. Integrated drought management: lessons for sub-Saharan Africa
9. Business and biodiversity: the handbook for corporate action
10.Co-management of natural resources: organizing, negotiating
and learning-by-doing


DOCUMENT SUMMARIES AND LINKS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES 2002

Author(s): IUCN

Produced by: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2002)

The list is presented as a website. Summary statistics are
available and a summary comparison with lists from previous
years.

The complete database of species can be searched by name,
family, extent of threat and country.

Available online at:
http://www.redlist.org/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2. ASSESSING THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

Author(s): Jorgensen, A.; Vigsoe, D.; Kristoffersen, A.;
Rubin, O.

Produced by: Environmental Assessment Institute / Institut
for Miljovurdering (2002)

This report sets out to assess the scientific validity of
what it calls the WWF's 'doomsday prophecy', as outlined in
the NGO's Living Planet Report 2002. The Danish authors
argue that WWF has produced one in a long line of articles,
stretching back to Malthus' essay on the principle of
population, that predict disaster as a result of human
demand on natural resources outstripping supply.

The paper outlines the concept of the ecological footprint,
one which has developed out of the commonly used carrying
capacity measure of sustainable use of natural resources.
Each of the six measures used to determine footprints are
clearly outlined and the WWF's conclusions are described.

The authors go on to provide an outline of the main
scientific arguments questioning the ecological footprint
model, and some of the counter arguments. The authors argue
that the purely ecological focus of the concept of
sustainability (rather than one which includes social and
economic considerations) does not measure true
sustainability and is therefore invalid.

More depth of analysis is given to the WWF's analysis of
energy consumption. It is argued that the idea of needing
enough world forest cover to sequester carbon produced by
mankind is unrealistic. The report states that forests are
not the only way of reducing carbon dioxide concentrations
in the atmosphere. They also state that the footprint
model's measures of nuclear power, renewable energies and
land use estimates are all skewed.

The report ends by arguing against the individual
predictions made by WWF and presenting its own method for
ecological footprinting that takes into account the faults
it finds with the current methodology.

Available online at:
http://www.imv.dk/include/downloadfile.asp?file_id={440A67A2-
D769-45D8-84ED-0FF60D04EFF3}

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
3. LOGGING BANS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC: AN OVERVIEW

Author(s): Waggener, T.R.

(2002)

The study of the efficacy of removing natural forests from
timber production as a strategy for conserving forests,
conducted at the request of the Asia-Pacific Forestry
Commission (APFC) and coordinated by the FAO Regional
Office for Asia-Pacific, sought to review the experiences
with logging bans in selected countries.

The objectives were to:
* investigate past and current experiences of Asia-Pacific
countries in removing natural forests from timber production as
a strategy for conserving forests
* assess the policy, economic, environmental, and social
implications of implementing logging bans and other timber
harvesting restrictions
* identify conditions necessary for the successful
implementation of logging bans or likely to enhance
successful implementation.

A number of country studies were carried out in New Zealand,
China, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam which
revealed a highly complex and variable mixture of
symptomatic reasons for imposing logging bans and
restrictions on harvesting in natural forests. Concern over
continuing deforestation was the dominant issue whilst
action was primarily driven by the aim of halting further
deforestation and degradation of remaining natural forests.
However the use of logging bans has several broader
implications for the countries concerned:

* Impacts on timber production
* Impacts on land use resulting from the need to find
alternative sources of timber
* Implications for international trade
* Potential oss of comparative advantage in trade when
shifting to alternatives

Additionally there are questions to be raised over the
suitability of logging bans in achieving conservation
objectives. As such the assumption that logging bans are an
effective means of avoiding the negative consequences of
forest use and practice is only partially true. The case
studues revealed a number of lessons:

* Banning timber harvests alone is insufficient to conserve
forests
* Clear tenure and use rights are critical for forest
conservation
* Monitoring and assessing of outcomes need improvement
* Mitigating social and economic impacts is important for
success
* Comprehensive policy implementation, rather than
incremental measures, is required

The report identifies a number of necessary conditions for
achieving conservation objectives in natural forests:

* Policy objectives and goals must be clearly identified,
specific, measurable, and consistent with local forest
conditions
* Conservation policy goals should be incorporated into,
and be consistent with other forest policies, legislation
and operational guidelines
* Policies should promote stability, and be consistent with
national policies and guidelines regulating other sectors
* Institutional reform of forestry organizations should be
consistent with new roles and expectations
* The real costs of forest conservation must be recognized
and consensus built for sharing of costs
* Greater recognition and incentives should be provided to
the private sector
* Land use and forest monitoring, and resource assessments
must be given higher priorities
* Strong political commitment must lead to practical, long-
term policy and institutional reforms and implementation of
effective forest management
* Forest planning and land-use planning should be
integrated and conducted as a dynamic process
* Dependencies of local people on forests need to be
recognized and people need to be involved in forest
management decision-making

And makes the following recommendations:

* Practical conservation and protection goals should be
clearly defined and expressed in both qualitative and
quantitative terms.
* Forest land use must be acknowledged as a dynamic process,
and policies must recognize dominant (often incompatible)
uses requiring zoning or exclusive classifications for
management, as well as multiple (integrated) uses where
outputs and forest values may change over time.
* Adaptive management regimes will be required for each
management alternative consistent with intended goals and
priorities.
* Rehabilitation for highly degraded natural forests may
require temporary or short-term closures independent of
long-term future use based on restored sustainability.
* Overall environmental quality and public values require
recognized 'safe minimum standards' of forest practices,
regardless of specific uses; such standards are frequently
embodied in codes of practice or forest practice
regulations, representing a consensus of public and technical
viewpoints on a broad spectrum of forest practices and uses.
* Public participation in policy formulation and land-use
activities is essential to generate consensus and/or broad
support on issues of land-use tenure, use rights, and other
options to complement government control and management.
* Roles of government forestry agencies may need to be
redefined to provide guidance and technical support, but
not monopoly management, of both production and conservation
forestry.
* Effective monitoring and evaluation of various forestry
programs, using well-defined criteria and indicators, are
required to measure progress and to guide modifications
needed to achieve well-defined goals and objectives.

NOTE: Access to full text documents on mekonginfo requires
free registration.

Available online at:
http://www.mekonginfo.org/mrc_en/doclib.nsf/0/3719C35E18AF46C
047256C4400109D3E/$FILE/FULLTEXT.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF BIODIVERSITY IN ASIA-PACIFIC: PROBLEMS OF PIRACY & PROTECTION

Author(s): GRAIN; Kalpavriksh

Produced by: Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN)
(2002)

This report examines issues surrounding traditional
knowledge of biological resources in the Asia - Pacific
region particularly in the context of increased pressure on
communities and governments to commoditise and privatise
biodiversity. The authors argue that mechanisms to protect
traditional knowledge (TK), primarily through intellectual
property (IP) rights, are weak and often unsuitable.

The paper begins by summing up the global state of play
with regard to TK highlighting the primary actors in IP
legislation - WTO, UPOV, WIPO - and the other key bodies
involved, namely the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), FAO and APEC. It outlines case studies of
conflicting interests over control of biological resources
and details how governments are tackling TK issues through
research, documentation, community initiatives and
acknowledgment of the roles of traditional healers and
women.

The authors conclude that the unequitable exploitation
of TK can be stemmed through:

* increased networking amongst local communities and NGOs
* the development of strong community rights systems
* clear legal measures linked to recognition of indigenous
peoples and communities rights
* the recognition and protection, through legal means, of
the various initiatives at documenting traditional
knowledge
* highlighting alternatives to IPRs
* demanding the review and amendment of TRIPS
* raised awareness and empowerment through education

Available online at:
http://www.grain.org/publications/tk-asia-2002-en.cfm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
5. MONITORING CONSERVATION PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS

Author(s): Wildlfe Conservation Society

Produced by: USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse
(DEC) / Development Experience System (DEXS) (2002)

This bulletin of the Wildlife Conservation Society looks at
methods for evaluation tailored specifically to wildlife
conservation projects. It provides a model monitoring
framework based around explicitly defined targets, trend
data, monitoring activities and indicators.

Among the key concepts are:
* Monitoring is critical to effective wildlife conservation
because it helps to assess whether or not our conservation
interventions are working.
* Monitoring allows the testing of conceptual models and
assumptions to determine whether conservation efforts are
needed and are correct.
* Ideally, monitoring should be carried out at three levels
measuring: the results of conservation interventions, the
reduction of threats, and progress in achieving stated
objectives.
* Monitoring that does not lead to an assessment of
management effectiveness, and an improvement in management
practices has little conservation value.
* Serious tradeoffs exist when allocating limited resources
between threats-reduction efforts and monitoring the
effectiveness of such efforts.

Available online at:
http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNACQ516.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
6. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PROGRAM DESIGN & MANAGEMENT: A GUIDE FOR USAID STAFF

Author(s): USAID

Produced by: USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse
(DEC) / Development Experience System (DEXS) (2002)

The goal of this Guide is to provide basic information
about designing, managing, and implementing biodiversity
conservation programs or activities. It addresses the
questions 'what do you need to know to design, implement,
manage, and evaluate a biodiversity conservation program or
activity' and 'what are the critical elements of success
for such programs and activities?'. The Guide provides
information useful to program managers who have a strong
background in biodiversity conservation and also to those
who have little or no background.

The key topics addressed by the guide are as follows:

* Defining biodiversity and its values
* Choosing conservation priorities and targets
* Selecting scale and sites
* Identifying threats and designing activities to address
them
* Monitoring, evaluating, and managing adaptively
* Creating partnerships
* Implementing mechanisms and partners

The guide also looks at some USAID specific details related
to relevant regualtions and programmes

The final section of the guide provides a toolbox which
describes the most common categories of activities that are
implemented in conservation programs. These chapters
discuss:

* Protected areas
* Community-based conservation
* Sustainable use
* Economic incentives and conservation finance
* Environmental education and communication
* Policy development and reform.

Available online at:
http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNACQ426.pdf


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
7. GETTING REAL: THE CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS

Author(s): Tennyson, R.

Produced by: Corporate Social Responsibility Forum (Prince
of Wales International Business Leaders Forum) (2002)

This document, prepared for the WSSD 2002 in Johannesburg,
explores the rhetoric and reality of the business/
environment partnership approach that was defined and
promoted at Rio ten years previously.

The essay asks whether that approach has been effective and
considers the major challenges that business/biodiversity
partnerships face. Those challenges are identified as:

* selling biodiversity, or raising awareness among policy
makers and the public
* making the business case for biodiversity, and going
beyond the need to prove economic benefits to seek out and
encourage individuals in business, who are committed to
conserving biodiversity as an end in itself
* the challenge of NGOs, in deciding whether to engage with
business and government or to campaign from the sidelines
* whether partnerships are necessarily the best approach;
in some cases simple donation or sponsorship may be more
effective. The authors present a table of some of the key
factors that would indicate the appropriateness of a
partnership rather than sponsorship
* weeding out bad partnerships; the authors give some
characteristics of good and bad partnerships
* admitting mistakes and being efficient
* working on a significantly large scale
* working out leadership issues
* opening closed minds

The essay concludes with a call to all stakeholders to
learn from experience and implement what works; to 'Get Real'.

Available online at:
http://www.iblf.org/csr\CSRWebAssist.nsf/content/b1o2.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
7. INTEGRATED DROUGHT MANAGEMENT: LESSONS FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Author(s): UNESCO division of water sciences

Produced by: UNESDOC: Online UNESCO documents (2002)

The document discusses the need for a more integrated
approach to drought than has been the case. It argues that
the focus on drought should become wider than addressing
food security and crisis water provision.

In moving from a crisis to a developmental approach, the
authors state that the challenge lies in moving towards the
integration of a
variety of actions, which can mitigate the crisis, and
improve quality of life while maintaining ecosystems.

The document briefly outlines the nature of the problem in
sub-Saharan Africa, an area vulnerable to drought, highly
dependent on agriculture and under serious population
pressure. Lessons for the region highlighted in the paper
are:

* drought must be mainstreamed, the approach should become
pro-active rather than reactive
* governments need to address risk and vulnerability before
drought strikes
* the information gap between global monitoring and new
technology and those communities affected by drought, must
be closed
* a focus on traditional knowledge of water and soil
management and empowerment through education could mitigate
drought
* drought science needs to become more integrated, taking
factors like health, population and food availability into
account alongside climate and weather
* regional and international cooperation and management is
essential to planning and management

The document ends with a call for the establishment of an
international drought centre for the sub-Saharan region.

Available online at:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001262/126257e.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
9. BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY: THE HANDBOOK FOR CORPORATE ACTION

Author(s): Earthwatch Europe; IUCN; World Business Council
for Sustainable Development

Produced by: International Union for Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources (IUCN) / World Conservation Union
(2002)

The handbook makes the case for integrating biodiversity
considerations and actions into daily activities and
planning of businesses. It argues that too many businesses
have ignored their environmental responsibilities and that
showing commitment in the form of donations to nature
conservation is not enough.

The authors lay out the rationale for integrating
biodiversity into business practice, discussing the
business case for its conservation as well as the wider
requirements of sustainable development generally. They
point out that no one strategy will suit all businesses,
each will be different according to their activities, and
some examples of the responsibilities of companies in a
number of sectors are given.

The document lays out a possible checklist for companies to
move towards a biodiversity action plan, which includes:

* make the business case for biodiversity
* identify a senior-level biodiversity champion
* carry out a biodiversity assessment
* secure board-level endorsement
* develop a corporate biodiversity strategy
* develop a corporate biodiversity
action plan
* implement the corporate biodiversity action plan


Available online at:
http://biodiversityeconomics.org/pdf/handbook.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CO-MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: ORGANIZING, NEGOTIATING AND
LEARNING-BY-DOING

Author(s): Borrini-Feyerabend, G.; Farvar, M. T.;
Nguinguiri, J. C.; Ndangang, V. A.

Produced by: International Union for Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources (IUCN) / World Conservation Union
(2000)

A practical manual for natural-resource managers interested
in negotiating multi-party agreements and institutions, and
in learning by doing. The publication offers guidelines,
checklists, concepts, ideas and a range of methods and
tools to facilitate a co-management process.

The manual explores the concept of co-management and
approaches that can make it successful such as conflict
management and social communication. The authors then go
through the phases of the co-management process, defined as:

* the preparatory phase
* the negotiating phase
* the learning by doing phase

The book ends with tips for each phase and with annexes
describing some participatory methods and tools to use in
the process.

Available online at:
http://nrm.massey.ac.nz/changelinks/cmnr.html


Alan Stanley
ELDIS Programme
at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex
Brighton BN1 9RE, UK

Email: eldis@ids.ac.uk

Tel: +44 1273 877427
Fax: +44 1273 621202
WWW: http://www.eldis.org/biodiversity