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.

On-farm conservation strategy to ensure crop genetic diversity in changing agro-ecosystems in the Republic of Korea

Abstract: With the recognition of certain limitations of ex situ methods for conservation of plant genetic resources the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the 'Earth Summit' in 1992 highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities that are relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and gave considerable attention to on-farm and other forms of in situ conservation. Unlike semi-Static nature of ex situ conservation the in situ or on-farm conservation (OFC) is a dynamic evolutionary process. In developing countries like Republic of Korea, where there is a continuum between the use of traditional and modern cultivars, integration of OFC with already existing gene-bank activities in the country will be an effective approach for conservation and sustainable use of the country's crop genetic resources. However, very little efforts have been made so far in developing strategies for OFC, therefore, in this paper we describe the importance of OFC and strategies for its development in Republic of Korea. Surveys over the last 20 years have shown that the landraces of major crops have been almost replaced by newly bred varieties in the country. But some vegetatively propagated or minor crop species are still being maintained in the farmers' fields. We have identified crop landraces, which can be classified into four different categories from the OFC point of view. These are vegetatively propagated landraces, sexually reproduced landraces, landraces with improved varieties and landraces cultivated for the reasons of personal preference. The related issues on OFC including implementation methods from the point of national cooperative system in designated specific condition are also discussed to ensure the genetic diversity in the fast changing agro-ecosystem of the country.

Defining internationally protected areas

Abstract: According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a “protected area” is “a geographically defined area, which is designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation object...

Biodiversity Issues in Road Environmental Impact Assessments: Guidance and Case Studies

Abstract: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) specifically requires Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to consider impacts on biodiversity (Article 14, CBD). However, while ecological assessment has always been an integral component of EIA, explicit treatment of biodiversity impacts in road EIAs is often poor or non-existent. The lack of guidance on biodiversity impacts in road EIAs is likely to be partly responsible for the failure to address these issues adequately. Hence, the provision of appropriate guidance might facilitate improved consideration of these impacts. The key goal of this research is to provide guidance on a systematic and rigorous approach for assessing biodiversity in road EIAs. Draft guidance was developed using relevant literature and a two-stage consultation process with over 30 experts in the field of road EIAs. The experts provided a range of perspectives (government, statutory nature conservation bodies, consultants, non-governmental organisations and academics). The draft guidance is being applied to a number of actual road case studies to examine its use in practice. This paper outlines the draft guidance and discusses its application to the case studies. Evaluation of the case studies will allow the draft guidance to be further refined to produce finalised guidance for dissemination.

Global Efforts to Bridge Religion and Conservation: Are They Really Working?

Abstract: It has been close to half a century since Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published— a book that marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement—yet the biodiversity crisis has increased to staggering proportions The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that the current species extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than natural rates (IUCN, 2011) According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, forests have disappeared in 25 countries and deforestation clears about 12 million hectares annually, including six million hectares of primary forests in Latin America, South-East Asia and Africa (FAO, 2006) Twenty percent of coral reefs have been destroyed and 30 percent damaged due to destructive fishing practices, pollution, disease, coral bleaching, invasive alien species and tourism (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005; Wilkinson, 2008) Driven by habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, human overpopulation and over harvesting (all human-centred activities), the global loss of biodiversity is advancing at an unprecedented rate with an extinction of 150 species occurring daily (Chen, 2003; Sigmar, 2007) The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that the natural systems that support the world’s economy are at risk of collapse due to increasing biodiversity loss: declining fish stocks, deforestation and soil erosion (Murray, 2010) However, response to the crisis has been slow For instance, the Convention on Biological Diversity’s target to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 was missed (Butchart et al, 2010)