Showing papers by "International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources published in 2000"

A guide to designing legal and institutional frameworks on alien invasive species

Abstract: This guide seeks to help by providing national law and policy makers with practical information and guidance for developing of strengthening legal and institutional frameworks on alien invasive species, consistent with Article 8(h) of the CBD, as well as pertinent obligations under other international instruments. It provides a structured framework for dealing with alien invasive species issues and contains illustrations and practical examples to assist in understanding their impact

Designing Projects and Project Evaluations Using The Logical Framework Approach

Abstract: Although volumes having been written on project design and planning there is not, and most likely never will be, a blueprint for designing projects and project evaluations. Project designs vary from short term external consultants undertaking a simple 'desk-top' design to a collaborative design exercise involving multiple stakeholders. Designs can be brief, uncomplicated exercises that last only hours or long complex procedures that involve many cycles, or iterations, of planning, reviewing and adjusting.

Assessment mismatches must be sorted out: they leave species at risk.

Abstract: Sir — Although Rodríguez et al. are correct that nationally endemic taxa should be classified identically on national and global Red Lists, they provide no evidence to support their inferences that national Red Lists “are more accurate” than global Red Lists, or that global lists ignore a “wealth of local data”. Moreover, we see certain problems with the national Red Lists they analyse which suggest these inferences may be mistaken. Only nine of the 70 different assessments tabulated by Rodríguez et al. are due to different information about species. Thirty-two result from differences between IUCN assessors and the national assessors over the choices of taxa for consideration — especially taxa from groups such as reptiles, amphibians, bony fishes and invertebrates, which IUCN has only partially considered — and the inclusion of subspecies, which have not been a major focus of the IUCN Red List. Seven species were listed as Data Deficient on the national lists, whereas for the global list the same information was considered adequate to place them in a threatened category. Of particular concern are the cases resulting from inconsistent use in the national lists of the IUCN Red List Criteria (see Table 1). Many of these inconsistencies are compounded by national Red List assessments not making their use of the Red List Criteria explicit for each taxon, as required, and/or failing to provide supporting information (despite the claim that national Red Lists utilize a “wealth of local data”, the Argentine and Ecuador lists contain no supporting data whatsoever). At present IUCN recommends that experts making assessments for the global Red List should consult national authorities in reaching a decision. IUCN would like to move rapidly towards a situation where the national assessments could be used without any intermediate steps to ensure standardization of approaches. To this end IUCN has established two key initiatives. First, to improve information flow and quality, IUCN is appointing Red List Authorities (RLAs) who will ensure that all assessments are done in a fully consultative manner and are well documented and peer reviewed (a model established by BirdLife International). The RLAs will have access to shared databases of species information that will be based in part on interactive web technologies (see http://www.iucn.org/ themes/ssc/programs/sis. htm). Second, IUCN aims to improve consistency in the use of the Red List Criteria. It is running a series of regional Red List workshops around the world: the first, held in Sri Lanka in September 1999, involved participants from 12 Asian countries. Other workshops are planned for Mesoamerica, South America, southern Africa and east Africa. IUCN is also recommending and distributing standard computer software that takes assessors systematically through the categorization process. Progress in all this is constrained only by resources. Craig Hilton-Taylor*, Georgina M. Mace†, David R. Capper‡, Nigel J. Collar‡, Simon N. Stuart§, Colin J. Bibby‡, Caroline Pollock*, Jørgen B. Thomsen|| *IUCN/SSC UK Office, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK †Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK ‡BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, UK §IUCN/SSC, Rue Mauverney 28, Gland CH-1196, Switzerland ||Conservation International, 2501 M Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037, USA

Databases tailored for biodiversity conservation.

Abstract: We were pleased to see the attention afforded bioinformatics for biodiversity in Science 's special issue on the topic (29 Sept., pp. [2305][1]-[2314][2]). It is essential that informatics technology be devoted to increasing our understanding of Earth's taxonomic diversity and to developing means to

Sustainability Law for the New Millennium and the Role of Environmental Legal Education

Abstract: The first half of this paper discusses the development of sustainability law. It takes as its basis that environmental law plays a central role in the achievement of sustainable development and that environmental lawyers and those from associated disciplines must come to terms with the imperatives of the internationally accepted concept of sustainable development. The second half of the paper deals with the implications of sustainability law for the teaching of environmental law, including the need to further liberate environmental law from the confines of law schools and lawyers, and to make it part of the common discourse of government, business and communities at large. A number of current initiatives in environmental legal education and training are canvassed, focussing on the Asia Pacific region.

The Role of IUCN—the World Conservation Union—in Shaping Education for Sustainability

Abstract: IUCN—the World Conservation Union, is an international conservation organization that has states, government agencies, and NGOs as members. IUCN was founded in 1948 as the International Union for the Preservation of Nature, IUPN. It became apparent that preservation that excluded people was not effective. So the organization adopted the name IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to reflect its new approach. Ever conscious of this mouth full of a title, IUCN added more recently a subtitle- “The World Conservation Union”.

Rain Forest Conservation Under Review

Abstract: In the June 9th issue of Science , the authors of the report “Economic incentives for rain forest conservation across scales” (C. Kremen et al ., p. 1828) and the authors of the Perspective “Counting the cost of deforestation” (R. Bonnie et al ., Science 's Compass, p. [1763][1]) raise a