Convention on Biological Diversity

About: Convention on Biological Diversity is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2232 publications have been published within this topic receiving 65599 citations. The topic is also known as: CBD & United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Biological Invasions and Ecological Restoration in South Africa

Abstract: Invasive alien plant species can be a major cause of ecosystem degradation in South Africa, and ecosystem recovery may require restoration interventions beyond controlling the target alien species. Active restoration interventions are usually required if legacy effects result from the invasion. Legacy effects may induce regime shifts when thresholds to autogenic recovery are breached. In such cases, active restoration interventions will be required to manipulate the ecosystem along a trajectory to recovery. In some cases, alien control measures may be sufficient to restore a structurally and functionally representative ecosystem, provided that implementation occurs early in the invasion process and that the control methods do not hamper spontaneous regeneration. It is important that key stakeholders discuss and set realistic restoration goals at the project planning stage. Studies on the costs and benefits of ecological restoration indicate that when important services are improved, benefits outweigh the costs of alien clearing (assuming spontaneous regeneration of the native ecosystem). The costs of moderate, active restoration interventions are economically viable, whereas the costs of fully restoring ecosystem structure, functioning and composition in highly degraded ecosystems are rarely deemed economically justifiable. Valuations of specific biodiversity components, such as threatened ecosystems and species, remain problematic to assess, and these components could be under-valued in such studies. South African researchers have made significant contributions to the theory and practice of restoration ecology globally and have produced local guidelines for ecological restoration. However, there has been limited uptake in implementing active restoration projects at larger scales. This apparent knowing-doing gap may have three causes: firstly, insufficient co-production by all stakeholders in planning restoration projects, including prioritisation and goal setting; secondly, shifting beyond clearing invasive alien species to restoring ecosystems; and thirdly, insufficient resources to implement active restoration projects at the necessary scale. To achieve Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, interventions must shift from controlling invasive alien species alone to restoring native ecosystem structure and functioning.

Regulation of Synthetic Biology: Developments Under the Convention on Biological Diversity and Its Protocols.

Abstract: The primary international forum deliberating the regulation of “synthetic biology” is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), along with its subsidiary agreements concerned with the biosafety of living modified organisms (LMOs; Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the CBD), and access and benefit sharing in relation to genetic resources (Nagoya Protocol to the CBD). This discussion has been underway for almost ten years under the CBD agenda items of “synthetic biology” and “new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity”, and more recently within the scope of Cartagena Protocol topics including risk assessment and risk management, and “digital sequence information” jointly with the Nagoya Protocol. There is no internationally accepted definition of “synthetic biology”, with it used as an umbrella term in this forum to capture “new” biotechnologies and “new” applications of established biotechnologies, whether actual or conceptual. The CBD debates are characterized by polarized views on the adequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms for “new” types of LMOs, including the scope of the current regulatory frameworks, and procedures and tools for risk assessment and risk mitigation and/or management. This paper provides an overview of international developments in biotechnology regulation, including the application of the Cartagena Protocol and relevant policy developments, and reviews the development of the synthetic biology debate under the CBD and its Protocols, including the major issues expected in the lead up to and during the 2020 Biodiversity Conference.

Failure to achieve 2010 biodiversity’s target in developing countries: How can conservation help?

Abstract: Conservation and wise management of biodiversity is critical for better livelihoods, especially in developing countries. Given the failure to achieve the global target set under convention on biological diversity (CBD) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, developing countries more than ever need better technologies to conserve and manage biodiversity. Despite billions of poor people depending on biodiversity as their main source of health care needs and food the lack of effective strategy or coherent policy instrument for biodiversity conservation remains a key issue. The importance of biodiversity conservation for the benefit of developing countries is inextricably linked to developments in biotechnology, particularly genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The Rio+20 meeting in June 2012 and CBD conference of the parties 11 in October 2012 are the next real opportunities to strengthen existing frameworks and prioritize types of technological innovation to enhance biodiversity conservation and development.

Actions to halt biodiversity loss generally benefit the climate

Abstract: The two most urgent and interlinked environmental challenges humanity faces are climate change and biodiversity loss. We are entering a pivotal decade for both the international biodiversity and climate change agendas with the sharpening of ambitious strategies and targets by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Within their respective Conventions, the biodiversity and climate interlinked challenges have largely been addressed separately. There is evidence that conservation actions that halt, slow or reverse biodiversity loss can simultaneously slow anthropogenic mediated climate change significantly. This review highlights conservation actions which have the largest potential for mitigation of climate change. We note that conservation actions have mainly synergistic benefits and few antagonistic trade‐offs with climate change mitigation. Specifically, we identify direct co‐benefits in 14 out of the 21 action targets of the draft post‐2020 global biodiversity framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, notwithstanding the many indirect links that can also support both biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. These relationships are context and scale‐dependent; therefore, we showcase examples of local biodiversity conservation actions that can be incentivized, guided and prioritized by global objectives and targets. The close interlinkages between biodiversity, climate change mitigation, other nature's contributions to people and good quality of life are seldom as integrated as they should be in management and policy. This review aims to re‐emphasize the vital relationships between biodiversity conservation actions and climate change mitigation in a timely manner, in support to major Conferences of Parties that are about to negotiate strategic frameworks and international goals for the decades to come.

Role of traditional knowledge in marine bioprospecting

Abstract: The “marine world” is endowed with diverse life forms. The life under the oceans is bestowed with a unique gene pool and characteristics owing to extreme conditions such as high salt concentration and temperature variations. The marine biodiversity is an extremely rich resource for the development of a wide array of applications in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics. Various forms of traditional knowledge, including traditional medicinal knowledge, have been silently developing over the centuries, with the coastal tribes in nations across the globe. Unfortunately, marine traditional knowledge has been underestimated both commercially and legally. It has still not gained its due importance at the international platform for sustainable use and development. An attempt has been made in the present study to collate information on marine traditional knowledge based medicine. Recent trends of marine bioprospecting by various nations including India have been discussed, followed by the study of legal provisions dealing with marine bioprospecting that aim at conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. Convention of Biological Diversity, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas and World Intellectual Property Organization are the major international legal instruments that discuss the concepts of Prior Informed Consent, access and benefit sharing with regard to biopiracy and provide guidelines and limits for conducting marine scientific research.