Biodiversity and Rural development in ACP countries

51 Pages·2012·3.18 MB·English

B r D B
russels ural evelopment riefings
a aCp-eu
series of meetings on

Development issues
Biodiversity and Rural
development in ACP
countries
Resources on ACP Biodiversity and
Rural development
Compiled by Isolina Boto (Head of CTA Brussels Office) and
Camilla La Peccerella (Young researcher at the CTA Brussels Office )
Revised version September 2012
Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
Briefing n. 17 We acknowledge the input received
for this Reader from:
Biodiversity
Compiled by Isolina Boto (Head of
and Rural
CTA Brussels Office) and Camilla La
development in Peccerella (Young researcher at the
CTA Brussels Office )
ACP countries
Revised version September 2012
The information in this document
was compiled as background
Brussels, March 2010
reading material for the 17th
Brussels Development Briefing on
Biodiversity and Rural development
in ACP countries. The Reader and
most of the resources are available
at http://brusselsbriefings.net
Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
Index
Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................................4
1. A definition of Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................................5
1.1. M easuring Biodiversity: Species Richness and Indicators ...................................................................................................................5
1.2. W here Is Biodiversity? .......................................................................................................................................................................................5
2. Building on a commitment to biodiversity .................................................................................................................................7
3. Role of Biodiversity .......................................................................................................................................................................10
3.1. B iodiversity and its link to Ecosystem Services ....................................................................................................................................10
3.2. S upporting Services .........................................................................................................................................................................................10
3.3. R egulating Services ..........................................................................................................................................................................................10
4. T hreats to Biodiversity and Repercussions of Biodiversity Loss ..........................................................................................11
4.1. U nderstanding Biodiversity Loss .................................................................................................................................................................11
4.2. S cenarios and future trends ..........................................................................................................................................................................11
4.3. T he need for Conserving and using Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................12
5. A gricultural biodiversity ...............................................................................................................................................................13
5.1. W hat is Agricultural Biodiversity? ..............................................................................................................................................................13
5.2. B iodiversity and agriculture are strongly interdependent ..............................................................................................................13
5.3. S pecial nature of agricultural biodiversity .............................................................................................................................................13
5.4. T he evolution of agriculture threatens agricultural biodiversity ..................................................................................................14
5.5.Biodiversity, Nutrition and Health ...............................................................................................................................................................15
6. Forest Biodiversity .........................................................................................................................................................................18
7. Marine and coastal aquatic biodiversity ....................................................................................................................................21
8. Trade and Biodiversity .................................................................................................................................................................23
8.1. T rade rules and Biodiversity: WTO TRIPs (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) Agreement ......23
8.2. I ntellectual Property Rights .........................................................................................................................................................................25
8.3. E conomic incentives and market creation ............................................................................................................................................25
9. Access, benefit-sharing and farmers’ rights .............................................................................................................................27
9.1. I PRs and traditional Knowledge .................................................................................................................................................................27
9.2. P aying farmers for biodiversity conservation services ....................................................................................................................27
10. C limate change and Biodiversity Loss ....................................................................................................................................28
11. T he EU action on Biodiversity ....................................................................................................................................................29
12. S ome initiatives in ACP regions .................................................................................................................................................31
13. C hallenges ahead and needed policy responses ...................................................................................................................35
Resources available online (English and French) ........................................................................................................................37
Websites ..............................................................................................................................................................................................41
Glossary ..............................................................................................................................................................................................44
Acronyms ...........................................................................................................................................................................................49
Footnotes .............................................................................................................................................................................................51
3
Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
Introduction
Biodiversity is the foundation of remarkable. No fewer than 1.5 poorest of the poor. One global
ecosystem services to which human million species have been named initiative that intends to do this is the
well-being is intimately linked. No and described; at least three times campaign to achieve the Millennium
feature of Earth is more complex, this and possibly many more await Development Goals (MDGs).
dynamic, and varied than the layer discovery (Novotny et al. 2002). This Biodiversity is dealt with explicitly
of living organisms that occupy its biodiversity provides incalculable under the seventh MDG, which is a
surfaces and its seas, and no feature benefit to humanity. Most directly, it commitment to ensure environmental
is experiencing more dramatic comprises a vast genetic storehouse sustainability. But it is clear that the
change at the hands of humans of medicines, foods and fibers conservation and sustainable use of
than this extraordinary, singularly (Myers 1983). Strong evidence biological diversity is also central to
unique feature of Earth. This layer of suggests that biodiversity endows achieving many of the other goals.
living organisms— the biosphere— stability to ecosystems (Naeem The first goal of eradicating hunger,
through the collective metabolic and Li 1997), sheltering humanity for example, depends on sustainable
activities of its innumerable plants, from disease and natural disasters. and productive agriculture. And
animals, and microbes physically and Moreover, these ecosystems yield that in turn relies on conserving and
chemically unites the atmosphere, services of substantial economic maintaining agricultural soils, water,
geosphere, and hydrosphere into value (Costanza et al. 1997), although genetic resources and ecological
one environmental system within most of these remain significantly processes. The capacity of fisheries
which millions of species, including undervalued. Least tangibly but no to supply hundreds of millions of the
humans, have thrived. Breathable less importantly, all of the world’s world’s people with the bulk of their
air, potable water, fertile soils, societies and cultures value species animal protein intake, for example,
productive lands, bountiful seas, for their own sake, over and above depends on maintaining ecosystems
the equitable climate of Earth’s any utilitarian purpose (Wilson 1984). (such as mangroves and coral reefs)
recent history, and other ecosystem that provide fish with habitats and
services are manifestations of the Biodiversity and sustenance. Three of the goals
workings of life. It follows that large- (numbers 4, 5 and 6) are aimed at
the Millennium
scale human influences over this improving health and sanitation.
biota have tremendous impacts on Development Goals Each of these requires healthy,
human well-being. It also follows that functioning freshwater ecosystems
the nature of these impacts, good or to provide adequate supplies of
bad, is within the power of humans A major challenge currently facing clean water, and a sustainable supply
to influence2 . the international community is of genetic resources for both modern
finding ways to transform these and traditional medicine3 .
The planet’s biodiversity is precarious living conditions for the
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Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
1. A definition of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is defined as “the available. Ideally, to assess the include fungi, nematodes, and
variability among living organisms conditions and trends of biodiversity arthropods. Species that live in the
from all sources including, inter alia, either globally or sub-globally, it is ocean and in soils remain poorly
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic necessary to measure the abundance known. For most groups of species,
ecosystems and the ecological of all organisms over space and there is a gradient of increasing
complexes of which they are part; time, using taxonomy (such as the diversity from the Poles to the
this includes diversity within species, number of species), functional traits Equator, and the vast majority of
between species and of ecosystems.” (for example, the ecological type species are concentrated in the
The importance of this definition such as nitrogen-fixing plants like tropical and subtropical regions.
is that it draws attention to the legumes versus non-nitrogen-fixing
many dimensions of biodiversity. plants), and the interactions among Biodiversity is essentially
It explicitly recognizes that every species that affect their dynamics everywhere, ubiquitous on Earth’s
biota can be characterized by and function (predation, parasitism, surface and in every drop of
its taxonomic, ecological, and competition, and facilitation such its bodies of water. The virtual
genetic diversity and that the as pollination, for instance, and how omnipresence of life on Earth is
way these dimensions of diversity strongly such interactions affect seldom appreciated because most
vary over space and time is a key ecosystems). Even more important organisms are small (<5 centimeters);
feature of biodiversity. Thus only would be to estimate turnover of their presence is sparse, ephemeral,
a multidimensional assessment of biodiversity, not just point estimates or cryptic, or, in the case of
biodiversity can provide insights in space or time. Currently, it is microbes, they are invisible to the
into the relationship between not possible to do this with much unaided human eye.
changes in biodiversity and changes accuracy because the data are
in ecosystem functioning and lacking. Even for the taxonomic Documenting spatial patterns in
ecosystem services. Biodiversity component of biodiversity, where biodiversity is difficult because
includes all ecosystems—managed or information is the best, considerable taxonomic, functional, trophic,
unmanaged4 . uncertainty remains about the true genetic, and other dimensions of
extent and changes in taxonomic biodiversity have been relatively
1.1. Measuring diversity. poorly quantified. Even knowledge
Biodiversity:
1.2. Where Is of taxonomic diversity, the best
Species Richness known dimension of biodiversity,
Biodiversity?
is incomplete and strongly
and Indicators
biased toward the species level,
The biodiversity found on Earth megafauna, temperate systems,
In spite of many tools and data today consists of many millions of and components used by people.
sources, biodiversity remains difficult distinct biological species, which is This results in significant gaps in
to quantify precisely. But precise the product of nearly 3.5 billion years knowledge, especially regarding
answers are seldom needed to of evolution. Recent estimates of the status of tropical systems,
devise an effective understanding the total number of species range marine and freshwater biota, plants,
of where biodiversity is, how it is from 7 to 20 million, of which only invertebrates, microorganisms, and
changing over space and time, the about 1.75 million species have been subterranean biota.5
drivers responsible for such change, scientifically described. The best-
the consequences of such change studied groups include plants and
for ecosystem services and human vertebrates (phylum Chordata),
well-being, and the response options whereas poorly described groups
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Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
Land-cover Map for the Year 20006
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Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
2. Building on a commitment to biodiversity
Many of the world’s governments towards all eight goals aimed at - 1996: The rolling Global Plan of
have endorsed the Fifth World reducing poverty. Action for the Conservation and
Congress’ recent call to expand Sustainable Utilization of
protected area networks for - 2002 – The Sixth Conference of
conserving biodiversity strategically, the Parties of the CBD formalizes - Plant Genetic Resources for Food
building on 15 years of momentum a target to significantly reduce Agriculture (GPA)
that has seen the establishment the rate of biodiversity loss by
of the following organizations and 2010. - Publication of the first State of the
actions: World’s Plant Genetic Resources
- 2002 – World Summit on for Food and Agriculture to
- 1992 – The Convention on Sustainable Development affirms provide an assessment of the
Biological Diversity (CBD) the above target in its current situation of plant genetic
is established at the Earth resources and lay the foundation
Summit in Rio de Janeiro, to - Johannesburg Plan of for the GPA. Periodic updating of
which 188 nations are now Implementation. this Report is undertaken by FAO
parties. It requires parties to to facilitate revision of the GPA
inventory national biodiversity; - 2002 – The United Nations in light of emerging issues and
Integrate biodiversity protection includes biodiversity as one of trends.
into relevant policies and five priority issues for sustainable
programmes; Identify and monitor development (“WEHAB” Water, - 2001: the FAO Conference adopts
activities that harm biodiversity, Energy, Health, Agriculture and the ITPGRFA as a legally binding
and protect biodiversity through Biodiversity). outcome of the revision of the
a range of measures that include International Undertaking on Plant
the creation of protected areas - 2010: International Year of Genetic Resources.
and the implementation of Biodiversity, the Conference of
regulations and incentives aimed the Parties to the Convention on - 2004: International Treaty on
at ensuring its sustainable use Plant Genetic Resources for Food
and, develop National Biodiversity - Biological Diversity will be held in and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and
Strategies and Action Plans Nagoya Japan in October 2010. establishment of the Global Crop
(NBSAPs). Diversity Trust to ensure ex situ
- Other international instruments crop conservation in perpetuity.
- 2000 - The Conference of the are key to the preservation of
Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity such as: Protecting genetic resources
Biological Diversity adopted a The International Treaty on Plant
supplementary agreement to - The 1982 United Nations Genetic Resources for Food and
the Convention known as the Convention on the Law of the Agriculture, an international binding
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Sea (UNCLOS 1982) and the FAO agreement with the overall goal of
The Protocol seeks to protect Code of Conduct for Responsible supporting global food security, was
biological diversity from the Fisheries (CCRF 1995) provide adopted by the FAO Conference in
potential risks posed by living the umbrella for FAO’s work in 2001 and entered into force in 2004.
modified organisms7 resulting fisheries8 . The Treaty allows governments,
from modern biotechnology. farmers, research institutes and
- 1983: FAO Conference adopts the agro-industries to work together
- 2000 – The Millennium International Undertaking on Plant by pooling their genetic resources
Development Goals recognize Genetic Resources as the first and sharing the benefits from their
“land area protected to maintain international agreement on plant use – thus protecting and enhancing
biological diversity” as a core genetic resources for food and our food crops while giving fair
measure to achieve Goal 7 on agriculture and establishes the recognition and benefits to local
environmental sustainability, and CGRFA. farmers who have nurtured these
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Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
crops through the millennia. In nations ratify the Treaty, they begin The Treaty’s truly innovative solution
today’s world, the pressure is on the process of setting up national to access and benefit sharing, the
to improve agricultural production commissions and committees to Multilateral System, puts 64 of our
by developing food crops that can oversee implementation. This means most important crops – crops that
adapt to environmental changes and ensuring conformity of the country’s together account for 80 percent of
meet the growing food demands of laws, regulations and procedures the food we derive from plants –
a constantly increasing population. with its obligations under the Treaty into an easily accessible global pool
Under the Treaty, crops that produce and providing guidance for including of genetic resources that is freely
our food – our breads, our curries, the relevant genetic resources in the available to potential users in the
our tortillas, and our couscous – Treaty’s Multilateral System (MLS). Treaty’s ratifying nations for some
are put into a common pool. As uses.
8
Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
9
Biodiversity and Rural Development in ACP Countries
3. Role of Biodiversity
3.1. Biodiversity
relationship between biodiversity production of a considerable portion
and its link to and supporting ecosystem services of the vitamins and minerals in the
Ecosystem depends on composition, relative human diet.
abundance, functional diversity,
Services
and, to a lesser extent, taxonomic Climate regulation: Biodiversity
diversity. Although the stability of an influences climate at local, regional,
Biodiversity plays an important role ecosystem depends to a large extent and global scales, thus changes in
in ecosystem functions that provide on the characteristics of the dominant land use and land cover that affect
supporting, provisioning, regulating, species (such as life span, growth biodiversity can affect climate. The
and cultural services. These services rate, or regeneration strategy), less important components of biodiversity
are essential for human well-being. abundant species also contribute include plant functional diversity and
Ecosystem functioning, and hence to the long-term preservation of the type and distribution of habitats
ecosystem services, at any given ecosystem functioning. There is across landscapes. These influence
moment in time is strongly influenced evidence that a large number of the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems
by the ecological characteristics of resident species, including those to sequester carbon, albedo
the most abundant species, not by that are rare, may act as “insurance” (proportion of incoming radiation
the number of species. The relative that buffers ecosystem processes in from the Sun that is reflected by
importance of a species to ecosystem the face of changes in the physical the land surface back to space),
functioning is determined by its and biological environment (such as evapotranspiration, temperature, and
traits and its relative abundance. For changes in precipitation, temperature, fire regime—all of which influence
example, the traits of the dominant or pathogens)10 . climate, especially at the landscape,
most abundant plant species—such as ecosystem, or biome levels.
how long they live, how big they are, 3.3. Regulating
how fast they assimilate carbon and Pest, disease, and pollution control:
Services11
nutrients, how decomposable their The maintenance of natural pest
leaves are, or how dense their wood control services, which benefits food
is—are usually the key species drivers Invasion resistance security, rural household incomes,
of an ecosystem’s processing of The preservation of the number, and national incomes of many
matter and energy. Thus conserving types, and relative abundance countries, is strongly dependent
or restoring the composition of of resident species can enhance on biodiversity. Yields of desired
biological communities, rather invasion resistance in a wide products from agroecosystems may
than simply maximizing species range of natural and semi-natural be reduced by attacks of animal
numbers, is critical to maintaining ecosystems. Although areas of high herbivores and microbial pathogens,
ecosystem services. Local or species richness (such as biodiversity above and below ground, and by
functional extinction, or the reduction hot spots) are more susceptible competition with weeds. Increasing
of populations can have dramatic to invasion than species-poor associated biodiversity with low-
impacts on ecosystem services.9 areas, within a given habitat the diversity agroecosystems, however,
preservation of its natural species can enhance biological control and
3.2. Supporting pool appears to increase its resistance reduce the dependency and costs
to invasions by non-native species. associated with biocides. Moreover,
Services
high-biodiversity agriculture has
Pollination: Pollination is essential cultural and aesthetic value and can
Biodiversity affects key ecosystem for the provision of plant-derived reduce many of the externalized
processes in terrestrial ecosystems ecosystem services, yet there costs of irrigation, fertilizer, pesticide,
such as biomass production, nutrient have been worldwide declines in and herbicide inputs associated with
and water cycling, and soil formation pollinator diversity. Many fruits and monoculture agriculture.12
and retention—all of which govern vegetables require pollinators, thus
and ensure supporting services. The pollination services are critical to the
10