2015 OECD Environmental Performance Reviews Mainstreaming BIODIVERSITY into sectoral policies 2011-2016 OECD Environmental Performance Reviews Performance Environmental OECD Br AZIL Consult this publication on line at http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264240094-en. This work is published on the OECD iLibrary, which gathers all OECD books, periodicals and statistical databases. Visit www.oecd-ilibrary.org for more information. 2015 ISBN 978-92-64-24006-3 97 2015 15 1 P 9HSTCQE*ceaagd+ www.oecd.org/environment/country-reviews OECD ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS Mainstreaming biodiversity The OECD Environmental Performance Review (EPR) chapters on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use are intended to assess how well the reviewed country has done in achieving its biodiversity-related objectives, in terms of both environmental effectiveness and economic efficiency of policies and measures, and to provide recommendations for improving future policies and performance. These chapters also include a section on mainstreaming biodiversity into other sectors (such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, infrastructure, and tourism). Other sections of the biodiversity chapters also deal with mainstreaming (e.g. institutional co-operation, policy instruments), as do other chapters of EPRs, in particular the one on green growth. General structure of OECD EPR chapters on biodiversity: • State and trends in biodiversity/ecosystems • Institutional and regulatory/legal framework • Policy instruments for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use • Mainstreaming biodiversity in other sectors/ policy areas This brochure provides excerpts of the mainstreaming sections of recent OECD EPR chapters on biodiversity, namely from: • Chile (2016) • France (2016 • Brazil (2015) • Spain (2015) • Colombia (2014) • South Africa (2013) • Mexico (2013) • Israel (2011) For further information, please contact: Ivana Capozza ([email protected]), team leader for EPRs Katia Karousakis ([email protected]), team leader for biodiversity and CBD focal point. From: OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Chile 2016 Access the complete publication at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264252615-en Please cite this chapter as: OECD/ECLAC (2016), “Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use”, in OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Chile 2016, OECD Publishing, Paris. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264252615-12-en This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD member countries, or those of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. 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Mainstreaming biodiversity into sectoral and other policies The Chilean export-oriented economy depends on the use of its natural resources, with copper production, fishing and aquaculture, forestry, tourism and agricultural industries providing the greatest contribution to GDP (Chapter 1; Figure 1.2; Chapter 3). With growing economic activity, infrastructure development and expansion into new areas, pressures on biodiversity and environmental conflict are increasing (Chapter 2). This makes mainstreaming all the more important, especially in biodiversity hotspot areas with growing population density, such as the Chilean matorral, the Valdivian forests and the Sechura desert (Hogan, 2013). While biodiversity objectives are now being incorporated into several other policy areas, tangible results from these efforts – beyond a few local examples – are not yet apparent. There has generally been a lack of knowledge among decision makers of the role that biodiversity and ecosystem services play in supporting Chile’s economy and the quality of life of its citizens (MMA, 2014a). Improving knowledge, building awareness and actively engaging local stakeholders are, therefore, necessary to make the case for actions towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, to address trade-offs and social conflicts and, ultimately, to ensure effective mainstreaming. The new National Biodiversity Strategy (under development at the time of writing) increases emphasis on mainstreaming. It promotes work with trade associations of the major producing sectors to address biodiversity concerns and creates an Advisory Steering Committee with representation from 11 ministries, 2 NGOs, 2 scientific institutions and 5 trade associations. Mainstreaming biodiversity considerations into land-use planning, marine planning and sectoral policies can also help leverage new sources of financing for pursuing biodiversity-related objectives, such as with tourism in protected areas. As discussed in the following sections, key mainstreaming areas of focus should include reform of environmentally harmful subsidies such as those for irrigation works and small-scale mining; reductions in fertiliser and pesticide application; improved monitoring of the impacts of aquaculture on ecosystems; improved monitoring of soil and water contamination from mining; and the development of decontamination plans for abandoned mines. 6.1. Agriculture Agriculture is a mainstay of the Chilean economy and an important source of exports and employment. Total agricultural production increased by 30% over 2002-13. It concentrates on high quality export products, notably fruit farming (40% of agricultural GDP) and animal husbandry. The country is one of the world’s leading exporters of fresh fruit and wine. Several trade agreements are pushing Chile to improve the sustainability of its products (Chapter 3), and market demand is driving greater production of organic products. Controlling the use of fertilisers and pesticides The use of nitrogen fertilisers and pesticides increased faster than total agricultural production and the expansion of agricultural land (Figure 5.9). Chile had the highest average annual increase in pesticide sales among OECD member countries, mainly linked to the growth of the horticulture and vine sub-sectors (OECD, 2013c). The use of pesticide per unit of agricultural land has grown rapidly since 2000. It is now similar to that of many OECD member countries (Figure 5.9; Annex 1.C). Wageningen (2013) indicates that small farmers in Chile often spray more pesticides than necessary. Risks to soil and water from pesticide and fertiliser use in agriculture appear to be considerable, yet Chile has no comprehensive system to monitor soil and water quality OECD ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS: CHILE 2016 © OECD 2016 227 II.5. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE Figure 5.9. The use of agricultural chemicals increased Fertiliser use, 2002-13 Pesticide sales, 2005-13a Nitrogen fertilisers Phosphate fertilisers Fungicides/bactericides Herbicides Agricultural production Insecticides Other pesticides Pesticides intensityb (right axis) 2000 = 100 180 1 000 tonnes 2005 = 100 30 140 160 25 120 140 100 120 20 100 80 15 80 60 60 10 40 40 5 20 20 0 0 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 a) Data refer to imports in formulated products for use in agriculture, forestry and veterinary and sanitary sectors. b) Based on data expressed in tonnes per km2 of agricultural land. Source: FAO (2015), FAOSTAT (database). 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933388726 (notably in remote regions). Chile is the only OECD member country that does not estimate its national (soil surface) nitrogen and phosphorus balances (OECD, 2013c). To date, controls have not been sufficient to address nutrient releases from agricultural activities into inland water systems. In addition, Chile has long subsidised the recovery of the production potential of degraded agricultural soils, which can entail nutrient contamination from chemical fertilisers, although some measures could improve the soil’s ability to sequester carbon (Chapter 4). NGOs have reported massive deaths of bees after pesticide sprays and academic research found pesticide residues in honey (CIAP, 2012).28 This calls for adequate restrictions based on pesticide risk assessments such as those conducted in the EU.29 While no taxes are in place on fertilisers and pesticides or on water effluents, the proposed extended producer responsibility legislation does include disposal of unused pesticides (Chapter 1). Improving water use The agriculture sector’s demand for water is a significant threat to biodiversity in Chile, draining wetlands and eroding soil (Section 1.3). A large part of Chilean agriculture produce relies on irrigation technology. Chile has heavily invested in irrigation infrastructure