- GLOBAL B STRATEGY A P Guide fr?j Global Biodiversity Strategy Policy -makers' Guide WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE (WRI) THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION (IUCN) UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) In consultation with FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAQ) UNITED NATIONS EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO) 1 1992 .) 1 TC : This report represents a timely, scientific treatment of a subject of public concern. Its sponsors take responsibility for choosing and focusing the study topics and guaranteeing its authors and researchers freedom of inquiry. The report's authors have also solicited and responded to the guidance of advisory panels and expert reviewers. Unless otherwise stated, however, all the interpretations and findings set forth here are those of the authors. Copyright © 1992 WRI, IUCN, UNEP All rights reserved. Printed on Recycled Paper The Global Biodiversity Strategy was developed through a process of research and consultation beginning in 1989 and involving six consultations, six workshops, and more than 500 individuals. This Policy-makers' Guide to the Strategy provides an overview of the actions needed to respond to the needs for biodiversity conservation worldwide. Those actions are detailed in the complete Strategy—a different document. Sponsors of the Biodiversity Strategy Program Robin Vellew, World Conservation Monitoring British Overseas Development Administration Centre, U.K. Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Samar Singh, Ministry of Environment and Government of Switzerland Forests, India Norwegian Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Writers Swedish International Development Authority Walter Reid, World Resources Institute, USA The Surdna Foundation Charles Barber, World Resources Institute, USA United Nations Development Programme Kenton Miller, World Resources Institute, USA United States Agency for International Development W Alton Jones Foundation Editor Organizing Committee of the Kathleen Courrier Biodiversity Strategy Program Editorial Consultant Kenton Miller, World Resources Institute, USA Raisa Scriabine Jeffrey McNeely, World Conservation Union (IUCN), Switzerland Production Manager Reuben Olembo, United Nations Environment Hyacinth Billings Programme, Kenya Graphics Biodiversity Strategy Program Coordinator Allyn Massey, Gary Ridley Kenton Miller, World Resources Institute, USA Cover Design International Coordinating Group Pamela Reznick Suraya Miff, indonesian Environmental Forum Book Design (WALHI), Indonesia Gary Ridley JoAnne DiSano, Department of the Arts, Sport, Environment, Tourism, and Territories, Australia Project Staff Rodrigo Gamez, National Biodiversity institute, Donna Dwiggins, Lori Scarpa, Janet Abramovitz, Costa Rica Joanna Erfani, Lea Borkenhagen, Vinay Gidwani, Vernon Heywood, IUCN Plants Office, U.K Bruce Goldstein, Kathy Quick, Patrice Kent Calestous Juma, African Centre for Technology Studies, Kenya Michael Lesnick, The Keystone Center, USA Jeffrey McNeely, World Conservation Union (IUCN), Switzerland Kenton Miller, World Resources Institute, USA Reuben Olembo, United Nations Environment Programme, Kenya Maria Tereza Jorge Padua, Fundacao Pro -natureza (FUNATURA), Brazil Foreword 11 life on Earth is part of one great, interde- Development must not come at the expense of other groups pendent system. It interacts with, and or later generations, nor threaten other species' survival. A depends on, the non-living components of The conservation of biodiversity is fundamental to the planet: atmosphere, oceans, freshwaters, rocks, and the success of the development process. This policy-mak- soils. Humanity depends totally on this community of ers guide to the Global Biodiversity Strategy has been pre- life—this biosphere—of which we are an integral part. pared to provide leaders with quick access to the ratio- In the remote past, human actions were trivial when nale for action and investment in biodiversity and to the set against the dominant processes of nature. No longer. specific proposals offered in the Strategy. The Strategy The human species now influences the fundamental pro- itself was prepared by our joint international program cesses of the planet. Ozone depletion, worldwide pollution, during 30 months of intensive research and consultation and climate change are testimonies to our power. throughout the world. Economic development is essential if the millions of As the Strategy explains, conserving biodiversity is not people who live in poverty and endure hunger and hope- just a matter of protecting wildlife in natural reserves. It is lessness are to achieve a quality of life commensurate with also about safeguarding the natural systems of the Earth the most basic of human rights. Economic progress is that are our life-support systems; purifying the waters; recy- urgent if we are not only to meet the needs of the people cling oxygen, carbon and other essential elements; main- alive today but also to give hope to the billions born into the taining the fertility of the soil; providing food from the world over the next century. Better health care, education, land, freshwaters, and seas; yielding medicines; and safe- employment, and other opportunities for a creative life are guarding the genetic richness on which we depend in the also essential components of a strategy for keeping human ceaseless struggle to improve our crops and livestock. numbers within the planet's "carrying capacity." Recent years have seen many major reviews of the Development has to be both people-centered and world situation and of human needs. A decade ago, the conservation-based. Unless we protect the structure, func- World Conservation Strategy drew attention to the insepa- tions, and diversity of the world's natural systems—on rable link between conservation and development and which our species and all others depend—development will emphasized the need for sustainability. The report of the undermine itself and fail. Unless we use Earth's resources World Commission on Environment and Development- sustainably and prudently, we deny people their future. Our Common Future—brought this necessity home to a LVA GH. BDEFST Y STATEG worldwide audience, whose governments examined of the UNCED Agenda 21 program of action, to the need for action in their Environmental Perspec- help assure consistency. Other initiatives, includ- tive to the Year 2000 and Beyond. Biennial World ing the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Resources and Environmental Data reports and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade annual UNEP State of the Environment reports have (GAIT) are related in important ways to the equi- provided authoritative—and often disturbing- table and sustainable management, distribution, overviews of the state of the planet. Most recently, and use of biodiversity. We urge all involved in the successor and complement to the World Con- these discussions to take account of the provisions servation Strategy, entitled Caring for the Earth: A of the Strategy. Strategy for Sustainable Living has once more What happens next? Our first concern is to emphasized the need for the world community to support the development and ratification of the change policies, reduce excessive consumption, con- Convention on Biological Diversity. The world serve the life of the planet, and live within the needs a permanent international instrument and Earth's carrying capacity. a program of action and investment that will help The three organizations that jointly produced governments and local communities save, study, the Global Biodiversity Strategy have also been and use wisely the Earth's biodiversity. The involved with these other major reports and reviews. UNCED process, GEF and GAIT are also central In that process, we have become more and more in forging international agreements to share finan- aware that a report is useful only if it leads to cial and technological resources and capabilities action—more action and better action than would for common benefit. have been taken otherwise. That is precisely why We will seek the designation by the United this new Strategy is built around 85 specific propos- Nations of an International Biodiversity Decade to als for action and why it spells out what should be give the mandate and framework for long-term done in sufficient detail for governments and non- international cooperation on biodiversity issues. A governmental organizations to take up these pro- new international mechanism will be established that posals and develop them further. keeps open the lines of debate and dialogue on bio- This Strategy appears at a time when repre- diversity, involving all interested parties in the explo- sentatives of many of the world's governments are ration of options for biological resource manage- negotiating a Convention on Biological Diversity. ment that sustain society while maintaining the We offer this Strategy as a complementary initia- diversity of the planet. And an early warning system tive. We see it as a basis for the practical action will be put in place that will inform official bureaus that should be taken while the Convention is and citizens alike of pending danger to their biotic being ratified and entering into force. And we see wealth and elicit appropriate responses. it as an outline for the diverse actions that will But perhaps most important, it is our grow- need to be taken by governments and non-gov- ing community of partners from all over the world ernmental organizations alongside and in support that will follow up with action