Legislation & Protocols for Conserving Biodiversity (Cambridge (CIE) AS Environmental Management): Revision Note

Legislation & Protocols for Conserving Biodiversity

Protection of Species

• Many countries have implemented legislation to protect biodiversity and prevent the extinction of species within their own territories

• These national laws often establish protected areas, regulate hunting and fishing, and prohibit the trade of endangered species:

  • For example, in the United States, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is a comprehensive law that provides for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitats

  • It prohibits the "taking" of listed species, their import, export, and interstate trade without permits

  • The ESA also requires the development of recovery plans and the designation of critical habitat areas for listed species

• There are also many international laws and agreements aimed at conserving biodiversity and protecting species worldwide

Regulation of Sustainable Harvesting

• Sustainable harvesting involves the extraction of biological resources in a manner that maintains their long-term ecological viability:

  • It aims to ensure that the rate of resource use does not exceed the rate of natural replenishment, thereby preventing overexploitation and depletion of populations

  • Sustainable harvesting practices may include setting quotas, size limits and seasonal closures, as well as implementing restrictions on harvesting equipment and creating protected areas or no-take zones

Organisations and Treaties

CITES

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) is a global agreement that has been signed by over 150 countries

• Its aim is to control the trade of endangered species and their associated products:

  • For example, elephants and their ivory tusks

• CITES categorises endangered and vulnerable species into three appendices:

  • Appendix I: species that are endangered and face the greatest risk of extinction (for example, the red panda)

  • Appendix II: species that are not currently endangered or facing extinction, but will be unless trade is closely controlled (for example, the venus fly trap)

  • Appendix III: species included at the request of the country that is regulating the trade of the species and trying to prevent its overexploitation (for example, the two-toed sloth in Costa Rica)

• There are different trading regulations that apply to each appendix:

  • For species in Appendix I: all trade in the species and their associated products is banned

  • For species in Appendix II: trade is only granted if an export permit has been issued by the involved countries

  • For species in Appendix III: permits are required for regulated trade. Permits are easier to come by for species in this appendix

• Scientists are continuously adding new species and reviewing the status of species already in the database

• There are several concerns about the efficacy of CITES listings:

  • When the trade of a certain endangered species becomes illegal, its price increases

  • The increased economic value of the species can be a major incentive for people to break the law

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

• Purpose: The IWC is an intergovernmental organisation established to regulate whaling and conserve whale populations worldwide

• Activities: The commission sets catch limits, establishes protected areas, conducts scientific research and promotes conservation efforts to ensure the sustainable use of whale stocks

• Challenges: The IWC faces challenges such as differing opinions on whaling practices, illegal whaling activities and balancing conservation objectives with cultural and economic interests

European Union Common Fisheries Policy (EU CFP)

• Purpose: The EU CFP aims to manage and conserve fish stocks in European waters and promote sustainable fishing practices

• Activities: It sets quotas, regulates fishing efforts, establishes conservation measures, promotes ecosystem-based management and supports the development of sustainable fisheries

• Implementation: The policy is implemented through regulations, directives and measures that govern fishing activities, fleet capacity, discards and conservation of marine habitats

International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO)

• Purpose: The ITTO is an intergovernmental organisation promoting the conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests and the trade of tropical timber

• Activities: It supports sustainable forest management practices, provides technical assistance, facilitates international cooperation and promotes certification schemes to ensure responsible timber trade

• Member Countries: The ITTO consists of producer and consumer member countries, working together to address issues such as deforestation, illegal logging and forest degradation in tropical regions

IUCN

• The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it

• One of the duties that the IUCN carries out is assessing the conservation status of animal and plant species around the world:

  • Scientists use data and modelling to estimate the category each species should be in

• Factors used to determine the conservation status of a population include:

  • Population size (smaller populations are usually at a greater risk of extinction)

  • Degree of specialisation

  • Distribution

  • Reproductive potential and behaviour

  • Geographic range

  • Degree of endemicity (i.e. if the species is only found in a single specific area)

  • Degree of habitat fragmentation

  • Quality of habitat

  • Trophic level (animals in higher trophic levels are usually at a greater risk of extinction)

  • Probability of extinction

• The IUCN has their own classification system:

  • There are several different categories and levels that a species can fall into depending on its population numbers and the threats and risks to those populations

  • Species that have been assessed are categorised by the IUCN as:

    • LC = least concern

    • NT = near threatened

    • VU = vulnerable

    • EN = endangered

    • CR = critically endangered

    • EW = extinct in the wild

    • E = extinct

  • Species can also be classed as DD (data deficient) when there is not enough data on which to base a category choice, or as NE (not evaluated)

• Animals that are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ can be seen online as this list is made public