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There is a long tradition of assessing the activity and progress of taxonomy with quantitative indicators, such as, for example, number of taxonomists, species described and species collected. These evaluations play a key role in the context of a worldwide concern over biodiversity and its governance. We have described and analysed these evaluations since 1992, the year in which the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted. We showed that despite the establishment of a dedicated body inside the CBD (the Global Taxonomy Initiative), these quantitative evaluations are mostly sporadic and independent initiatives, performed by non-taxonomists. They do not map the places where most of the taxonomic activities take place, and they are performed on small scales, with scarce and heterogeneous sources of data, making comparisons almost impossible. Most of the indicators they use refer to the activity of species description. We argue that there is a need to rethink the way we evaluate taxonomy today and we discuss why it is urgent to move beyond indicators of species description. We suggest the use of a new set of indicators that would focus on taxonomic resources and dynamics, instead of taxonomic outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These plans aim to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 by conserving wetland ecosystems, reversing biodiversity loss, and promoting climate security (1, 2). China's canal project threatens biodiversity The construction of the canal will have negative and potentially irreversible impacts on biodiversity and wetland ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity included a 2010 supplemental agreement-the "Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources"-that sought to provide protocols for fair-sharing between the higher-income countries in which those resources often are deposited (including but not exclusively biological samples used to derive DNA/RNA/amino acid sequences, and databases derived from them) and lower-income countries from which the original materials were harvested. As background, the foundation for research conducted by many members of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) relies on field sampling of wild populations of mammals in nations beyond the borders of higher-income countries in the Northern Hemisphere, for example, in lower-income countries in the Southern Hemisphere (the "Global South"). [Extracted from the article]

Developing indicators for monitoring biodiversity, as called for by the Convention on Biological Diversity and 2020 Aichi Targets, is challenging in many countries due to data and capacity gaps. One proposed solution is to disaggregate global datasets to generate national-level indicators for countries where these values do not exist, but to date there are few examples where this approach has been systematically applied and its efficacy investigated. Using comparisons of disaggregated global data and data generated nationally for four indicators in five tropical Andean countries, we show that the two approaches can often lead to divergent values. Differences between values gathered using these two methods vary according to country and indicator, with the average differences for all countries as 26% for forest cover loss (maximum Bolivia 31%), 10% for the Red List Index (maximum Venezuela 27% for birds), 14% for protected area coverage of Key Biodiversity Areas (maximum Colombia 25%), and 67% for carbon sequestration potential (maximum Peru 102%). Most of the variations are due to methodological differences, calling into question the reliability of inter-country comparisons and roll-ups of national indicator data to regional or global scales. Nationally-generated indicators are desirable because they have the greatest power to influence national policy. However, in cases where regional or global consistency is needed, such as assessments by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and Global Environmental Outlook, assessors should rely on global and regionally-disaggregated global data to elucidate trends and spatial patterns for most indicators. To broaden the utility of nationally-generated indicators, the biodiversity indicators community must agree on methodological standards, ensure that local stakeholders' needs are understood and addressed, develop incentives for the use of these standards, and communicate them to practitioners at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A challenge in implementing biodiversity conservation is in reconciling criteria for identifying significant areas and representative networks for biodiversity protection. Many international environmental initiatives include biological, ecological, economic, social and governance criteria to aid selection of areas for biodiversity conservation. Here we reviewed criteria used by 15 international initiatives, and what minimum set of biodiversity variables would be needed to support them. From a range of ecological and biological criteria, we identified eight criteria commonly used to identify areas for biodiversity conservation across these initiatives. Four criteria identified areas that (1) contained unique and rare habitats; (2) included fragile and sensitive habitats; (3) were important for ecological integrity; and (4) were representative of all habitats. Another four criteria were based on species' attributes, including (5) the presence of species of conservation concern; (6) the occurrence of restricted-range species; (7) species richness; and (8) importance for life history stages. Information required to inform these criteria include: habitat cover, species occurrence, species richness, species' geographic range and population abundance. This synthesized set of ecological and biological criteria, and their biodiversity variables will simplify the process to identify additional areas of high biodiversity significance, that in turn support achieving the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets to fill gaps in the representativeness of the global coverage of protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia is one of the ten member states of the economically and politically diverse regional organization of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Southeast Asia comprises four of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots, three of the 17 global megadiverse countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines) and the most diverse coral reefs in the world. All member states are Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). We discuss ASEAN-wide joint activities on nature conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity that do not stop at national borders. The Indonesian archipelago comprises two of the world's biodiversity hotspots (areas with a high degree of endemic species that are highly threatened by loss of habitats): Its insular character and complex geological history led to the evolution of a megadiverse fauna and flora on the global scale. The importance of biodiversity, e.g., in traditional medicine and agriculture, is deep-rooted in Indonesian society. Modern biodiversity pathways include new fields of application in technology, pharmacy and economy along with environmental policies. This development occurred not only in Indonesia but also in other biodiversity-rich tropical countries.This review summarizes and discusses the unique biodiversity of Indonesia from different angles (science, society, environmental policy, and bioeconomy) and brings it into context within the ASEAN region. The preconditions of each member state for biodiversity-related activities are rather diverse. Much was done to improve the conditions for biodiversity research and use in several countries, primarily in those with a promising economic development. However, ASEAN as a whole still has further potential for more joint initiatives. Especially Indonesia has the highest biodiversity potential within the ASEAN and beyond, but likewise the highest risk of biodiversity loss. We conclude that Indonesia has not taken full advantage of this potential yet. A growing national interest in local biodiversity as a natural resource is a welcome development on one hand, but the risk of too many restrictions for, e.g., the science community (high level of bureaucracy at all project stages from planning phase, visa procedures, field work permits, scientific exchange and project managment issues, governmental budget cuts for basic research and restricted access to international literature for Indonesian researchers) does significantly hamper the internationalization of biodiversity-related science. In the long run, Indonesia has to find a balance between protectionism and sensible access to its national biodiversity to tackle global challenges in biodiversity conservation, health issues, food security, and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at Switzerland to examine the role of a small state during the negotiations of the Cartagena and the Nagoya Protocols to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The influence of this small country was substantial at some point in the negotiation processes and on important features of the protocols. The main explanatory factors for this influence are identified as the competence and the tactical skills of the Swiss delegations as well as the flexible and timely mandates they received. This was reinforced by the way the position formation process was organized at the domestic level, namely a lead ministry strongly committed to the process and an efficient coordination between domestic actors, including the delegations. The Swiss delegations were thus able to support the progress of the negotiations, and in parallel to secure some of their interest, by assuming entrepreneurial and intellectual leadership strategies in function of the evolution of domestic and international constraints and opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges in halting biodiversity loss is finding ways to address the issue in places where it would matter most; in the economic sectors of society that exert the strongest pressures on biodiversity such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Governments have acknowledged the need for this so termed mainstreaming under the Convention on Biological Diversity, but in practice have made little progress and struggle to find ways forward. In this paper we argue that the concept of mainstreaming was originally developed for situations where governments or intergovernmental organizations with explicit public mandates took the lead, but it is increasingly extended into various governance contexts where multiple types of actors at different levels (could) engage in conserving biodiversity. This paper aims to enable the identification of innovative repertoires of mainstreaming opportunities that optimally and realistically benefits from the broader governance context. Therefore it presents a framework, consisting of institutional, motivational and means dimensions for identifying key barriers and levers for mainstreaming biodiversity into economic sectors. By applying the framework on the forestry sector we show that it does not only help to identify new mainstreaming opportunities but it also shows directions for improving existing schemes as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Living in Harmony with Nature’ is a 2050 vision put forth by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which takes into consideration culture and locality of perceptions of nature and aspirations for its use. Considering that 54% of the world population lives in cities, where nature has been decimated, the role of rural communities, living within or in proximity of natural and semi natural areas, will effectively influence the fate of the ‘remaining’ nature while they engage in local development. Reconciling between growth and development on the one hand, and nature conservation on the other, necessitates an understanding of how rural communities, especially the youth, imprint their own ideas on landscapes and develop ownership over natural spaces. In order to extend the understanding of how harmony with nature is perceived in different parts of the world, this paper presents the findings of primary research involving a group of young people who live in rural areas in Lebanon, a country in the Arab Middle East. Participatory research based on photovoice methodology was conducted with 77 young people aged 7–16 and residing in five rural villages located in different parts of Lebanon. Photographs taken by participants indicated that for many, nature was not perceived literally i.e. woodlands, forests, plants, animals, etc…. Instead, the participants saw nature as part of agriculture and local culture. Nature was also seen as symbolic expression of the participants’ inner state of mind. Narratives written to explain the photographs shed light on the perception of harmony with nature which focused on positive family experiences and relayed personal emotions, abstract, and holistic yet functional view of nature. Another recurring theme that emerged from photographs and narratives was the role of family members, in particular grandparents, as having a strong influence on the positive perceptions of nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the status and most recent meetings of the Compliance Committees established under two protocols to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Topics discussed include the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, the protocols' focus on environmental law and policy, and their compliance mechanisms.

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Over recent years, an international legal architecture on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) for genetic resources has emerged with important implications for the use and exchange of genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA). The inclusion of the ABS as part of the broader agreement of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) marked a fundamental turning point in the paradigm of the ownership rights in genetic materials. The recently adopted Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization constitutes the newest element of this legal framework and adds new impulse to the discussion about how to best address ABS to genetic resources. Today, several key international agreements govern the legal landscape in the area of ownership of genetic resources, but two of them, namely Union for the Protection of Plant Varieties (UPOV) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), are at the heart of the protection over biological resources. The paper briefly describes the special nature of the genetic resources as public good and discusses the articulate debate over the implementation of the instruments of ABS in the policy arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nagoya Protocol is based on concepts of biological diversity that are hardly applicable to microorganisms. Because of this incongruence, the Nagoya Protocol threatens future microbial research, potentially defeating its original purpose. Countries with appropriate regulations can promote science and their bioeconomy through international collaboration and simultaneously gain a competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of better linking conservation and sustainable development, it is imperative to optimize the transfer of biodiversity-related knowledge and technology from resource-rich countries to developing countries. All countries signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity are expected to report on their progress towards achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. However, weak data coverage and the technicality or even unavailability of indicators present major barriers to the monitoring of biodiversity as well as the development of adequate biodiversity policies and management plans in many countries of the global South, hence increasing the North-South knowledge and capacity gap. Capacity development in these countries may hence substantially enrich global biodiversity monitoring and policy. In this effort, ensuring that monitoring programs are realistic and sufficiently embedded in policy remains a challenge. To contribute to the mainstreaming of biodiversity into development cooperation, we developed a capacity development concept that links scientific data to policy development. To guarantee shared ownership, academic institutes and organisations or authorities with responsibilities in biodiversity policy were invited to jointly submit competitive “Monitoring, Reporting and Verification” (MRV) project applications. It appeared that especially ground truthing, economic valuation of biodiversity, and the application of modern technologies in biodiversity monitoring were missing capacities in the global South. Efforts are also required to increase the understanding and use of indicators to avoid them remaining a theoretical concept. As is observed with MRV in the carbon context, increased involvement of local communities is recommended in the global MRV framework, including techniques such as community-based Mapping, Measuring and Monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reporting progress against targets for international biodiversity agreements is hindered by a shortage of suitable biodiversity data. We describe a cost-effective system involving Reef Life Survey citizen scientists in the systematic collection of quantitative data covering multiple phyla that can underpin numerous marine biodiversity indicators at high spatial and temporal resolution. We then summarize the findings of a continentaland decadal-scale State of the Environment assessment for rocky and coral reefs based on indicators of ecosystem state relating to fishing, ocean warming, and invasive species and describing the distribution of threatened species. Fishing impacts are widespread, whereas substantial warming-related change affected some regions between 2005 and 2015. Invasive species are concentrated near harbors in southeastern Australia, and the threatened-species index is highest for the Great Australian Bight and Tasman Sea. Our approach can be applied globally to improve reporting against biodiversity targets and enhance public and policymakers' understanding of marine biodiversity trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses are beginning to be regarded as tradeable commodities, and samples that were once freely available to researchers are attracting claims of national sovereignty. This article aims to clarify the international regulatory framework that governs the sharing of viruses. It argues that as "genetic resources " viruses sit within the scope of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its associated Nagoya Protocol, forming an imperfect frameworkfor the transfer of viruses between contracting parties. The article concludes that the unique nature of viruses may necessitate a new or altered specialised access and benefit-sharing instrument. In the meantime, researchers can no longer expect to access virus samples without first negotiating reciprocal benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The very first Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC) has been issued by India on 1 October 2015, which is a major step towards making the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing operational. According to the Nagoya Protocol under Convention on Biological Diversity, all parties must recognize the biodiversity access permits with an IRCC as evidence of acquisition in accordance with applicable domestic law and rules. By this action, India had taken a giant leap and had left a mark in the history of biodiversity governance. Following this, until 24 April 2016 more IRCCs have been issued by India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two articles published in Diversity and Distributions (Green, ; Reynolds et al., ) demonstrate the role of waterbirds in dispersing alien species and claim that this phenomenon has been largely neglected. Setting out priorities for the future, they focus on the need to improve our understanding of the problem if it is to be successfully managed. We argue that birds are vectors of the secondary spread of alien species already introduced by human agency, rather than the pathway of their primary introduction. The challenge presented by unaided dispersal pathways, such as birds, will not be significantly reduced by future advances in our understanding of their mechanisms. The three-stage hierarchical approach, recommended by the Convention on Biological Diversity, remains the best management option for biological invasions, irrespective of the level of knowledge about their pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted in 1992 and entered into force at the end of 1993, established a global regime on access to genetic resources (GR) and sharing of benefits arising from their utilization (Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regime). Its protocol--the Nagoya Protocol (NP)--which entered into force 21 years later in 2014, clears up some terminological ambiguities of the Convention, clarifies and develops several procedural and instrumental elements of the regime, and obliges States Parties to implement some of its provisions, including the core instrument of the regime: the bilateral ABS agreement between users and providers of GR, that became a condition for obtaining access to the resource. However, scholars who analyzed the ABS regime as well as its official bodies find, and sometimes deplore, the small number of ABS agreements concluded so far, under the CBD as under the NP. This paper has two objectives: First, to assess the effectiveness of the ABS regime implemented by the CBD and the NP on the basis of its central instrument: the ABS agreements concluded between users and providers of GR. The aim is to accurately document the number of ABS agreements concluded since the entry into force of the regime. To our knowledge, such a counting that is neither piecemeal nor has an estimate yet been produced. To do so, I combine several sources, including first hand data collected from the official information agencies--the National Focal Points (NFP)--of each of the States Parties to the NP. Second, I provide a critical summary of the existing explanations of the low number of ABS agreements concluded and I evaluate the corresponding causal mechanisms, relying on the results I obtained regarding the number of permits and agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which is an international treaty under the United Nations. It outlines the three objectives of CBD including to conserve biodiversity, promote its sustainable use and to ensure the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from its utilization. It notes the programs developed by the CBD on thematic issues and cross-cutting issues.

In the last 1.5 years, the world has come together to create collective strategies to address climate change, biodiversity loss and degradation of the world's oceans in three historic agreements: the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and the High Seas Treaty. In November 2022, the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) concluded with a historic decision to establish and operationalize a loss and damage fund for those affected by climate change. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the Convention on Biological Diversity, which recognizes the value of biodiversity for economic development and establishes state sovereignty over natural resources. Topics discussed include the delimitation of marine areas under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; the differences in technological capacity and and abundance of natural resources in developed versus developing states; and the need for international cooperation to manage marine resources.

Following the call from the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity 'Cities & Biodiversity Outlook' project to better preserve urban biodiversity, this paper presents stakeholder-specific statements for bird conservation in city environments. Based upon the current urban bird literature we focus upon habitat fragmentation, limited habitat availability, lack of the native vegetation and vegetation structure as the most important challenges facing bird conservation in cities. We follow with an overview of the stakeholders in cities, and identify six main groups having the greatest potential to improve bird survival in cities: i) urban planners, urban designers and (landscape) architects, ii) urban developers and engineers, iii) homeowners and tenants, iv) companies and industries, v) landscaping and gardening firms, vi) education professionals. Given that motivation to act positively for urban birds is linked to stakeholder-specific advice, we present ten statements for bird-friendly cities that are guided by an action perspective and argument for each stakeholder group. We conclude with a discussion on how the use of stakeholder-specific arguments can enhance and rapidly advance urban bird conservation action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need for a post-2020 global biodiversity framework to include adaptation, not just climate change mitigation, to achieve biodiversity goals by 2050. Topics include factor that will likely compromise the efforts of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to pursue ambitious targets and to expand conservation dimensions by safeguarding genetic diversity and strategies that should incorporate indicators to support their effective implementation and monitoring.

Anthropogenic underwater noise is a source of marine pollution that spans the world's oceans. It has the potential to cause harmful impacts to many types of marine animals, ranging from whales and other cetaceans to smaller creatures such as fish and invertebrates. Discussion of the problem in international fora has become increasingly common following sustained scientific investigations into the extent of underwater noise and the threat it poses to marine animals. This article discusses whether the most suitable international regulatory framework to address this problem is the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its institutional measures. Although the CBD text does not expressly mention anthropogenic underwater noise, it can be argued that the convention's provisions are applicable to the problem. CBD provisions provide a useful general environmental protection obligation which can be a legal basis on which to create expectations to adopt specific measures aimed at reducing the extent, intensity or types of anthropogenic underwater noise to minimise impacts on species at risk. To this end, the process to revise the CBD's Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 presents a golden opportunity to strengthen the conservation of marine biodiversity against the threats posed by anthropogenic underwater noise. This article reviews the negotiation history of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and suggests how more explicit measures addressing the problem of anthropogenic underwater noise could be adopted within the CBD legal framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2015, the European Commission withdrew its proposal for a new Regulation on Plant Reproductive Material. For decades, the European Union ( EU) has struggled to strike a balance between seed legislation and the rights of farmers to save and exchange seed. The shelving of the draft Regulation was a major setback, given the need for legislative action in the aftermath of the Kokopelli judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU. This article discusses EU seed legislation in light of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It analyses possible options and dilemmas for Norway in reconciling commitments to promote effective and high-quality food production in a well-functioning market, and securing long-term crop genetic diversity. Norway's association with the internal market through the European Economic Area Agreement, as well as the fact that the Norwegian seed market is small and of scant interest to major seed companies, indicate that Norway enjoys flexibility in policy design. The article finds that EU seed legislation does not allow effective regimes for exchange and use of conservation varieties, possibly at odds with the two treaties and the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is currently not on course to achieve most of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Aichi Targets to address biodiversity loss. One challenge for those implementing actions to achieve them may be the complexity and lack of clarity in the wording of the targets, which also make it difficult to stimulate and quantify progress. Drawing on experience in developing and measuring indicators to assess progress toward targets, we identify four key issues: ambiguity, quantifiability, complexity, and redundancy. The magnitude of required commitments under some targets is rendered ambiguous by the use of imprecise terms (e.g., 'substantially'), while many targets contain poorly defined operational terms (e.g., 'essential services'). Seventy percent of targets lack quantifiable elements, meaning that there is no clear binary or numeric threshold to be met in order for the target to be achieved. Most targets are excessively complex, containing up to seven different elements, while one-third of them contain redundancies. In combination, these four issues make it difficult to operationalize the targets and to ensure consistent interpretation by signatories. For future policy commitments, we recommend the adoption of a smaller number of more focused headline targets (alongside subsidiary targets) that are specific, quantified, simple, succinct, and unambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UN's globally adopted Convention on Biological Diversity coverage target for marine protected areas (MPAs) is ≥10% by 2020. In 2014, the World Parks Congress recommended increasing this to ≥30%. We reviewed 144 studies to assess whether the UN target is adequate to achieve, maximize, or optimize six environmental and/or socioeconomic objectives. Results consistently indicate that protecting several tens-of-percent of the sea is required to meet goals (average 37%, median 35%, modal group 21-30%), greatly exceeding the 2.18% currently protected and the 10% target. The objectives we examined were met in 3% of studies with ≤10% MPA coverage, 44% with ≤30% coverage, and 81% with more than half the sea protected. The UN's 10% target appears insufficient to protect biodiversity, preserve ecosystem services, and achieve socioeconomic priorities. As MPA coverages generated from theoretical studies inherently depend on scenario(s) considered, our findings do not represent explicit recommendations but rather provide perspective on policy goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past shortfalls to meet global biodiversity targets have simultaneously prompted questions about the relevance of global environmental conventions, and sparked renewed ambition, for example, in the form of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. While progress toward the Aichi Targets through the Convention on Biological Diversity is well-documented globally, less is known at the national level. We conducted a systematic content analysis of 154 documents to assess the nature and extent of national implementation of the Aichi Targets using Canada as a case study. Results indicate that most responses are aspirational, with only 28% of responses implemented. Implemented responses tend to be associated with targets with specified levels of ambition that emphasize biophysical values, or targets that are relatively straightforward to achieve in this context (e.g., knowledge capacity and awareness). In contrast, targets focused on equity, rights, or policy reform were associated with fewer actions. Implementation of this latter class of targets is arguably stalled not solely because of a lack of effective target design, but because of lack of fit within existing institutional commitments. This suggests that solutions-in terms of improving implementation-lie not only in overcoming known dilemmas of quantifiability, but also in fostering institutional transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing the representation of ecosystems and threatened species habitats is critical for optimizing protected area (PA) networks and achieving the Convention on Biological Diversity strategic goals. Here we provide a systematic approach for maximizing representativeness of ecosystems and threatened species within a constrained total PA network size, using Australia as a case study. We show that protection of 24.4% of Australia is needed to achieve 17% representation for each ecosystem and all threatened species habitat targets. When the size of the PA estate is constrained, trade-off curves between ecosystem and species targets are J-shaped, indicating potential 'win-win' configurations. For example, optimally increasing the current PA network to 17% could protect 9% of each ecosystem and ensure that all threatened species achieve at least 78% of their targets. This method of integrating species and ecosystem targets in PA planning allows nations to maximize different PA goals under financial and geographical constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental conservation is increasingly operated through partnerships among state, private, and civil society actors, yet little is known empirically about how such collectives function and with what livelihood and governance outcomes. The landscape approach to conservation (known also as the ecosystem approach) is one such hybrid governance platform. Implemented worldwide over the past decade by international NGOs, the landscape approach employs the ‘ecosystem principles’ of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In spite of its prominence as a conservation and development strategy, little political ecology scholarship has considered the landscape approach. This article offers a case study of a conservation landscape in the Congo Basin, the Tri-National de la Sangha (TNS), which connects tropical forests in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic. Led by NGOs, the TNS has since 2001 relied on partnerships among logging companies, safari hunters, the state, and local communities. Although the landscape approach purports to facilitate re-negotiations of user rights, resource access patterns in the TNS appear to have molded to pre-existing power relations. Rather than incorporating local concerns and capabilities into management, local knowledge is discredited and livelihoods are marginalized. As a result, management occurs through spatially-demarcated zones, contrasting the fluidity of interactions among diverse groups: both human (loggers, hunter-gatherers, safari guides, NGOs) and non-human (trees, elephants). These findings are situated within a burgeoning literature on neoliberal environmental governance, and suggest that ensuring ecologically and socially positive outcomes will require careful and iterative attention to linkages between ecological processes and evolving power dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity has gained international relevance with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). An important signatory of the agreement, Brazil is a megadiverse country with vast biomes. Internally, the Brazilian federative organization is characterized by discrepancies between the jurisdictional scale and natural boundaries. From a governance perspective, this article analyzes how political administrative bodies deal with biome subsets, using the Atlantic Forest biome as reference. The problem was researched through the dynamics between scales and levels, considering the action of governmental and non-governmental actors in the process, in the context of an adaptive approach. To overcome the mismatches between the federative structure and the biome, we present the 'governance of scales' model, which proposes articulation between the spatial scale and jurisdictional scale, through the institutional and management scales. Previous experiences of the Brazilian government in harmonizing watersheds and the coastal region with federalism enhance the feasibility of our biome-level proposal. The model is a useful contribution to biodiversity governance in favor of novel arrangements to improve the fit between social and ecological systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) endorses an international effort to protect and sustain Earth's biological resources. The 20th century marks the most massive global extinction in Earth’s history, one that is inextricably connected to the human fingerprint. The CBD addresses this global issue by incentivizing the protection of genetic resources and by endorsing equitable sharing of biological information. The CBD, while well intentioned, has not made large strides in reversing global biodiversity loss. This Comment reflects on how the CBD has failed to stabilize the decline of biological diversity and urges the United States, a global powerhouse, to finally ratify the Convention. This Comment argues that the CBD should amend itself and approach the problem in new ways—by adding a new enforcement mechanism and by creating two new protocols that target specific global pressures on biodiversity. A new enforcement mechanism should model that of the Montreal Protocol’s, the most successful international environmental treaty. The first new protocol should address the global pressure of climate change by focusing on methane emissions from livestock production. The second new protocol should address the global pressure of habitat degradation by instituting a cap and trade system designed to combat deforestation. The addition of sanctions and new protocols could vastly improve the success of the Convention and efficiently address global loss of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]