Subject: RSPB - Short 'Ecosystems in the Balance' paper

bioplan
"Hyvarinen, Joy" <Joy.Hyvarinen@rspb.org.uk>

* APOLOGIES FOR CROSS-POSTINGS *

Ecosystems in the Balance:
A Role for the Convention on Biological Diversity?
Joy Hyvarinen
October 2001

In less than a year, the World Summit on Sustainable Development takes place
in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Johannesburg Summit, which is about the
future of the planet, will review progress since the Rio Conference on
Environment and Development in 1992.

The Convention on Biological Diversity, one of the outcomes of the Rio
Conference, can claim some successes, but there are no signs that it is
slowing global, high-speed loss of biological diversity. This means the
stakes are high for the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP 6), due to meet
in April next year, prior to the Summit. Preparatory meetings take place
next month in Montreal, Canada. RSPB believes these meetings are very
important.

It is easy to identify the main failure: governments have not made a real
political commitment to the Convention. While they are happy to speak about
the importance of biodiversity, it remains a marginal concern for most
governments.

Another obstacle is the failure of industrialised countries to help
developing countries. The Convention is clear: implementation by developing
countries depends on implementation of developed country commitments on
financial resources and technology (Article 20. 4). This Article also
recognises that economic and social development, and eradication of poverty,
are the first and overriding priorities of developing countries. The Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and, for example, the UK Darwin Initiative are
welcome contributions, but the support they provide is nowhere near
sufficient.

The months leading up to the Johannesburg Summit hold a challenge for the
'biodiversity community'. It needs to ensure that biodiversity claims a
place at the centre of the international policy agenda. COP 6, in the
Netherlands in April, needs to mark a watershed in political commitment to
the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Maintenance of biological diversity is a prerequisite for sustainable
development. People depend on goods and services provided by ecosystems (eg
food, water purification), in both industrialised and developing countries.
The interrelationships are complex and close. For example, loss of cultural
diversity and loss of biological diversity are related. The RSPB believes
that conservation of biological diversity is a key test of sustainability.
If biological diversity is disappearing because of human action, we are not
living sustainably. In the UK, this has been recognised through the
inclusion of a bird population index as one of 15 major indicators for
sustainable development.

The RSPB works with scientists, businesses, governments and many others to
achieve change. Internationally, RSPB works through the BirdLife
International partnership, a very successful model of cooperation among
non-governmental organisations. For example, a long-term partnership between
BirdLife South Africa and RSPB's education department produced Learning for
Sustainable Living, a curriculum resource for teachers used in schools all
over South Africa.

In preparation for COP 6, the Convention's Subsidiary Body on Scientific,
Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) meets in Canada from 12-16
November, followed by a Meeting on the Strategic Plan, National Reports and
Implementation (MSP), from 19-21 November. The MSP meeting is particularly
important.

The Convention requires parties to have national biodiversity plans (known
as National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, or NBSAPs). This may
not seem like much of a requirement, but the starting point for action is
having a plan. The national plans also provide a framework for involving
stakeholders (eg local communities, conservation organisations) in setting
priorities and agreeing actions. This participatory approach has been one of
the Convention's successes.

The MSP meeting will consider priority actions under national plans. RSPB
believes these should include linking biodiversity plans with other national
plans, such as poverty reduction strategies and national strategies for
sustainable development; defining priority species, sites and habitats;
and agreeing action plans for these priorities, with clear targets. Later
this month, the BirdLife International partnership will launch a
groundbreaking publication, which documents all sites of international
importance for birds in Africa. For more information, click on
<http://www.birdlife.org>.

In addition to lacking political commitment, the Convention has 'structural'
problems, as highlighted in earlier RSPB papers (The Convention on
Biological Diversity: Future Issues, July 2001, Strengthening the Convention
on Biological Diversity, August 2001). The MSP meeting will consider a
proposed Strategic Plan for the Convention. It has helped clarify key
issues, and could provide a basis for further development of the Convention,
including addressing deficiencies. RSPB is exploring if national reports,
also to be considered by the MSP, could be linked to further development of
the Convention, for example under Article 23.4(i).

Whether the Convention on Biological Diversity has a major role to play in
safeguarding earth's life support systems may be answered at COP 6. Without
stronger political commitment from governments, and substantially increased
funding for developing countries, the Convention will find itself weakened.
An enfeebled Convention, undermined by lack of political support and
funding, could be worse than no Convention at all, as it could simply serve
to marginalize biodiversity concerns on international and national agendas.

BOX With more than 1 million members and more than 1,000 professional staff,
the RSPB is Europe's largest wildlife conservation organisation. The RSPB
champions the conservation of birds and other wildlife, in the UK and
worldwide, in the interests of wildlife, the natural environment and people.
The RSPB is the UK Partner of BirdLife International, a global partnership
active in more than 100 countries, with around 60 national bird and habitat
conservation organisations currently as full partners. END BOX
 

Ms Joy Hyvarinen
International Treaties Adviser
Global Programmes Dept, International Division
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
The Lodge, Sandy
Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL
Tel: +44 (0) 1767 680551
Fax: +44 (0) 1767 683211
joy.hyvarinen@rspb.org.uk
http://www.rspb.org.uk
RSPB is the BirdLife International Partner in the UK
 

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