Biodiversity

Question 1

What chategories fall under biodiversity?

Answer 1

• genetic diversity
• species diversity
• ecosystem diversity

Question 2

What are some sources that threaten biodiversity?

Answer 2

• sources that are both directly and indirectly affecting biodiversity
• habitat changes (loss, degradation and fragmentation)
• climate change
• invasive species
• over-exploitation
• unsustainable use
• pollution

Question 3

What reasons are there for conserving the nature and biodiversity?

Answer 3

• biodiversity provides a potential source of biological resources (food, fuel, pharmaceutical etc.)
• biodiversity contributes to the maintenance of the biosphere in a condition that supports human and other life
  
  • ‘ecosystem services’
• ethical, intrinsic, aestethic and cultural considerations

Question 4

What objectives does the CBD have?

Answer 4

• conservation of biological diversity
• sustainable use of biological diversity
• fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources

Question 5

What are some principles and approaches layed out in CBD?

Answer 5

• sovereign right to exploit own resources and no harm principle (art. 3): principle 21 of the Stockholm declaration
• principle of cooperation (art. 5)
• general measures for conservation and sustainable use (art. 6)
• identification of activities that can have significant adverse impact on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiverity (and more) and monitoring (art. 7)
• the preamble indicates endorsing the precautionary principle

Question 6

What is the ecosystem approach that the CBD adopts?

Answer 6

A strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. Application of the ecosystem approach will help to reach a balance of the three objectives of the Convention.

It is based on the application of appropriate scientific methodologies focused on levels of biological organization which encompass the essential processes, functions and interactions among organisms and their environment.

It recognizes that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of ecosystems.

Question 7

What are the main instruments of EU nature and biodiversity protection law? And which int. treaties do the implement?

Answer 7

• the birds directive and the habitats directive
• they implement directly or indirectly the bonn convention (objective: protect migratory species) and the bern convention (objective: conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats)

Question 8

What does the bird directive require member states to do?

Answer 8

• to maintain and restore the population of wild bird species while taking into account economic an recreational requirements
• to take measures that preserve, maintain or re-establish a sufficient diversity and area of habitats for all wild bird species, and to designate special protection areas (SPAs) which are relevant for wild bird conservation (must notify the commission)
• prohibits hunting of wild birds, except species listed in annex 2 of the directive (subject to restrictions, ex. hunting season)

Question 9

What does the habitat directive require member states to do?

Answer 9

• take measures to maintain or restore at favorable conservation status (SACs), natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of community interests (broader then the bird directive)

Question 10

What is natura 2000? And what is the goal?

Answer 10

• a coordinated ecological network of protected areas (SPAs and SACs) and the largest in the world
• a network of core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species and some rare natural habitat types
• goal: to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats

Question 11

What are the Aichi targets and the Kunming/Montreal targets? And are states bound to follow them?

Answer 11

• the Aichi targets is part of a strategic plan for biodiversity (2011-20), in an effort to make int. efforts on biodiversity more effective: they were mostly unsuccessful, only 6 of the 20 targets were partially achieved
• the Kunming/Montreal targets: 30-30-30 targets, 30% conservation of land, 30% restoration of land and 30% protection of the sea
• these targets are not legally binding commitments, but the COP urges the states to develeop national and regional targets with a view to contributing to efforts to reach the global targets