Managing Biodiversity

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Special Protection Areas (SPAs):

Strictly protected sites classified for rare and vulnerable birds and for regularly occurring migratory birds. Designated to protect internationally rare breeding birds

5174 protected sites in EU. Increase fro 23% to 67% (47 million hectares)

Helps to protect rare birds - reduced risk of extinction

1/3 of total land in EU is still undesignated

International Tropical Tinder Organisation (ITTO):

Sustainable management of tropical rainforests. Promotes conservation of tropical forests. Aims to promote expansion and diversification of international trade in tropical tinder in sustainably managed and legally harvested forests

36 consuming country members and 34 producing country members

Local communities helping support forest management

Hasn't stopped illegal logging

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Environmental Stewardship Schemes (ESS):

Agri-environment scheme that aims to conserve biodiversity. Its main objectives are;

conserve wildlife and biodiversity

maintain and enhance landscape quality and character

protect the historic environment and natural resources

promote public access and understanding of the countryside

conserve genetic resources

provide flood management

ESS provide funding to farmers and land owners in England who provide effective environmental management of their land

Eligible land gets £30 per hectare but less favoured land gets £8 or less

Helps to conserve biodiversity

Less favoured land gets less money

RAMSAR:

Intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources

872 RAMSAR sites worldwide

Cost effective long term strategy

Conservation alone is not enough, restoration is needed

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Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES):

International agreement between governments. It aims to ensure that trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Trade in specimens of endangered species is only permitted in exceptional circumstances. Trade must be controlled to avoid utilisation incompatible with a species survival. A specimen of a CITES listed species can only be imported/exported/re-exported once the correct documents have been obtained e.g. license/permit

183 parties. 5600 animal species and 30,000 plant species are protected

Protects many species. Legally binding

Difficult to enforce. Small fines. Doesn't always deter poachers

Debt Swap:

An arrangement where when a foreign debt owned by an LEDC is transferred to a particular organisation typically in return for the country committing itself to specific conservation measures

US & Brazil have signed an agreement converting £13.5 million of Brazilian debt into a fund to protect tropical ecosystems. Brazil will use the money to conserve its Atlantic Forest

Transferring funds to local organisations eliminates political problems. Increased foreign control. Reduces outstanding debt

Legitimises debt admitting it must be repaid/purchased