Download 5. Biodiversity

5. Biodiversity
International Environmental Law
Professor Dr. Christina Voigt
1. Questions
1. What is biological diversity?
2. Why should we value it?
3. Which threats exist to biodiversity?
4. What suggestions does the film make for
protecting biodiversity? Which other
suggestions could be made?
2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
“Everyone in the world depends completely on
Earth’s ecosystems and the services they provide,
such as food, water, disease management, climate
regulation, spiritual fulfillment, and aesthetic
enjoyment. Over the past 50 years, humans have
changed these ecosystems more rapidly and
extensively than in any comparable period of time
in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing
demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and
fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and largely
irreversible loss in the biodiversity of life on Earth”
Fourth Global Biodiversity Outlook
2013
“Current trends are bringing us closer to a
number of potential tipping points that
would catastrophically reduce the
capacity of ecosystems to provide ...
essential services.”
2. Protection of Biodiversity
• Definition of Biodiversity
• Threats to Biodiversity and Loss of Biological
Diversity
• Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
• Protection
3. International Legal Instruments
• Regulatory Techniques
– direct/indirect
– In-situ conservation
– Ex-situ conservation
• Global Instruments (examples)
– Convention on International Trade with
Endangered Species (CITES) (e.g. Elephants)
– Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
– Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
– UNESCO World Heritage Convention
Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD)
Objectives
1) conservation of biological diversity,
2) sustainable use of its components and
3) fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising from the utilization of
genetic resources
Precautionary Principle: Compare!
Rio Declaration, 15:
“where there are
threats of serious or
irreversible damage,
lack of full scientific
certainty shall not be
used as a reason for
postponing costeffective measures to
prevent environmental
degradation”
CBD, Preamble:
“where there is a threat
of significant reduction
or loss of biological
diversity, lack of full
scientific certainty
should not be used as a
reason for postponing
measures to avoid or
minimize such threat
such a threat.”
Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD)
• Commitments (Art.5-20)
• Ecosystem Approach
– Requires consideration of the whole ecosystem rather
than its separate elements
– Primarily based upon the understanding that the various
elements of ecosystems are in an interactive relationship at
different spatial and temporal scales. Focuses on
ecosystems rather than separate species
– Pays attention to the many links within and amongst them
– Adopting a long-term timeframe
• Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020,
including Aichi Biodiversity Targets
COP 10 Decision
X/2.Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 20112020
Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of
biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across
government and society
Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on
biodiversity and promote sustainable use
Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity
by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic
diversity
Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from
biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through
participatory planning, knowledge management and
capacity building
Access to Genetic
Resources/Bioprospecting/Benefit
Sharing
• Art. 15
• Nagoya Protocol (2010)
Biosafety
• Cartagena Protocol, January 29, 2000
– Art. 19.3 CBD
– Biotechnology and its Risks
– Precaution
– Biosafety and Trade
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