Biodiversity, economics, and
sustainable development
The work under the CBD
International workshop on Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty
Reduction – Taking an Economic Perspective
21-24 September 2008, Vilm, Germany
Dr. Markus Lehmann
Secretariat of the Convention
on Biological Diversity
Montreal, Canada
CBD
• One of the tree
«Rio Conventions», signed
in 1992
• Entered into force
29 December 1993
• 191 Parties
• Governing Body:
Conference of the Parties
• Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety entered into force
11 September 2003; 150
Parties
CBD
Three main objectives
• Conservation of biological diversity
• Sustainable use of its components
• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic
resources
CBD and sustainable development
Preamble:
…
Recognizing that economic and social
development and poverty eradication are the
first and overriding priorities of developing
countries,
Aware that conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity is of critical importance for meeting
the food, health and other needs of the growing
world population,
…
CBD and sustainable development
Strategic Plan (Decision VI/26, 2002) :
Biodiversity is the living foundation for
sustainable development
…In addition to its intrinsic value, biodiversity provides
goods and services that underpin sustainable
development in many important ways, thus contributing
to poverty alleviation.
1. Supports ecosystem functions (fresh water, soil
conservation, climate stability)
2. Provides products (food, medicine, materials for
industry)
3. Is at the heart of many cultural values
CBD and sustainable development
Revision of the Strategic Plan
(Decision IX/9, 2008) :
…recognizing that the revised and updated
Strategic Plan should:
… Highlight the importance of biodiversity for poverty
eradication and the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals, taking into account that
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity should
contribute to poverty eradication at local level and not
harm the livelihoods of the poor… (sub-paragraph f)
CBD and sustainable development
…similar references in other guidance
documents…
E.g. Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for
Sustainable Use (adopted by COP-7, 2004):
“Sustainable use is a valuable tool to promote
conservation of biodiversity since in many
circumstances it provides incentives for conservation
because of the social, cultural and economic benefits
that people derive… As recognized by the PloI of the
WSSD, sustainable use is an effective tool to combat
poverty and, consequently, to achieve sustainable
development.”
CBD and economics
Main entry point: Article 11 on incentive
measures
…Parties, as possible and appropriate, to adopt
economically and socially sound measures that act as
incentives for conservation and sustainable use…
Role of the economic context recognized early on…
Principle 4 of the Ecosystem Approach (COP-4, 2000):
• notes the provision of ecosystem services and their economic
value
• Calls for: reducing market distortions which provide perverse
incentives for biodiversity; incentive alignment to promote
biodiversity conservation and sustainable use; cost/benefit
internalization to the extent feasible.
CBD and economics
Programme of work on incentive measures
(adopted by COP-5)
Classification: positive and negative (or dis-)
incentives, indirect incentives (market creation),
identification/removal or perverse incentives,
valuation
Global achievements
• Exchange of information/good practices (database on
incentive measures)
• Development of guidance and technical background
material by SBSTTA
CBD and economics
Guidance material
• Proposals for the Design
and Application of
Incentive Measures
(endorsed by COP-6,
2002)
• Options for the
Application of Valuation
Tools (COP-8, 2006)
• Technical material on
economic values and
valuation
CBD and economics
• “Incentive measures should be designed and introduced in a
way to support poverty alleviation and reduction of
disparities between rural and urban communities”
(Proposals for the Design and Application of Incentive
Measures, paragraph 20)
• Confirmed and reinforced by COP-9 (decision IX/6)
• More specific guidance for instance in the Framework for a
cross-cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition
(adopted by COP-8, decision VIII/23 A)…
CBD and economics
“Existing (…) policy instruments often overlook the
importance of biodiversity and associated knowledge in
addressing local problems of hunger and malnutrition. (…)
Under prevailing regulatory frameworks, food quality
standards that are not adapted to local foods may also
inadvertently constrain food producers, limiting their ability
to provide an array of species and varieties to markets.”
“Promoting the broader use of biodiversity promises to
contribute to improved human health and nutrition, while
also providing opportunities for livelihood diversification
and income generation.”
Activities on: underutilized species, including those
important in times of crisis; home gardens, agroforestry and
other production systems that contribute to in-situ
conservation; Protection and promotion of biodiversity
friendly markets; production and commercialization of nonconventional biodiversity-based products.
CBD and economics
National implementation: Reports by Parties
on incentive measures
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Approx. two thirds have at least some programmes in
place
Positive incentives most frequent (agriculture, forestry)
Lack of funds and capacity frequently identified as major
constraints, in particular by developing countries
Some funding through negative incentives (entry fees;
resource use pricing)
Less than one quarter use valuation tools
Lack of mainstreaming of biodiversity issues another main
constraint
Limited contributions to MDGs…
CBD and economics
Some ongoing activities…
•
Cooperation with UNCTAD Biotrade Initiative
Regional and/or national biotrade programmes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Guidance on ABS developed under the initiative; guidance on indicators (for
evaluation) under development
www.biotrade.org
•
IPES project (with UNEP and IUCN)
Publication on REDD as a spinoff (Huberman et al.)
Positive incentives most frequent (agriculture, forestry)
•
REDD
Providing input into processes and discussions of UNFCCC and CPF partners, in
particular on biodiversity (co-)benefits
Upcoming Expert Group meeting on Biodiversity and Climate change
•
Cooperation with TEEB
Welcomed by several COP decisions
Contributing to D1 (on NBSAP, perverse incentives removal/reform) and D3
Cooperation on Communications and Outreach
•
Upcoming workshop on perverse and positive incentives
Identification of a limited number of good practice cases from different regions
Linkages to poverty reduction goals (see above)
CBD and business engagement
“The early years”
•
Many references to business:
Convention Text
Strategic Plan (2002)
Decisions
• Guidance developed under the Convention
relevant to business
• London and Sao Paulo meetings (2005) to
develop ideas for engaging business under the
Convention
CBD and business engagement
Decision VII/17
•
•
•
•
•
First decision on business engagement
Governments’ engagement with business in the
development and implementation of biodiversity
strategies and action plans
Greater participation of business in CBD
meetings
The articulation and dissemination of the
‘business case’ for biodiversity
The compilation and development of good
biodiversity practice
CBD and business engagement
The business and biodiversity ‘toolkit’
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Corporate policies
Analyzing dependence on ecosystems
Industry guidelines
Standards, certification schemes
Collaborative platforms (with government
agencies, NGOs, peers)
Biodiversity in sustainability reporting
Third party assessments (e.g. benchmarks)
CBD and business engagement
Decision IX/26
• COP-9 adopts framework for priority
actions on business and business referred to
in many other decisions
• Strong participation from business
• First edition of “Business and Biodiversity
Forum”
• Session on business at Ministerial Segment
• German Business and Biodiversity
Initiative
CBD and business engagement
Challenges…
•
Engaging SMEs ‘juniors’, non listed
companies
Ensuring participation from developing
countries
Speaking a common language
Cooperation of UNCTAD Biotrade Initiative
Publication of business newsletter
Other outreach activities
Publication and dissemination of TEEB results
•
•
Thank you!
http://www.cbd.int/