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Adaptation to Climate Change to Save
Biodiversity:
Lessons Learnt From African and European
Experiences
Dr. Kees Bastmeijer
Prof. Jonathan Verschuuren
Saja Erens, LL.M, MPhil
“There are three kinds of death in this world.
There’s heart death,
there’s brain death, and there’s
being off the network.”
Guy Almes
Research Question
“Should the role of law
in the protection of large natural areas
and in the establishment of ecological networks
in Europe and Africa, be strengthened
to enable them to adapt to climate change
and to halt biodiversity loss?”
Approach
• Comparing experiences in Africa – Europe
• Africa: huge transboundary protected areas
• Europe: policy to create ecological networks
(most ambitious one: Natura 2000)
• Lots of differences: scale, impacts, sensitivity,
activities,…
• Goal: to be inspired
The threats climate change poses:
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Lack of fresh water
Problems in the food chain
Overpopulation of particular species
Invasion by alien species
Et cetera…
What to do?
• Limit human causes of climate change
• Help species, habitats and ecosystems to adapt:
biodiversity cannot be protected without
ecologically connected natural areas.
The role of law
• On the international level, ecological networks
and the connectivity of natural areas are not
yet the subject of clear ‘hard law’ obligations
for states.
• More concrete initiatives have been taken at a
regional level (e.g., EU, SADC).
Is this enough?
No, because:
• Climate change was not an issue when
initiatives were adopted.
• In the EU, ecological networks are usually
not the subject of ‘hard law’.
• In Africa, doubts exist about the practical
implementation of ‘hard law’ obligations.
• Interrelationships between networks and
areas are generally unclear.
General conclusion
We feel that nature protection related to
climate change should be the subject of more
clear, ‘hard law’ obligations.
Recommendations
• Stricter control and responsibility at a regional
(SADC, EU) level.
• More explicit attention to the adaptation of species
and habitats to climate change.
• The application of the precautionary principle.
• Further research.
• Acknowledge the value of the last big areas of true
wilderness and take far reaching measures to protect
them.
Questions to be dealt with:
• On what scale should measures be taken?
• Top down or bottom up?
• What is the worth of establishing networks in
the EU when their main elements (agricultural
areas) are left untouched due to a lack of will
to change the Unions agricultural policy?
“For whatever happens to the beasts, soon
happens to man. All things are connected.”
Chief Seattle (1851)
Thanks for your attention!