March 2, 2009 Session
Threats to the Planet's Biodiversity: What Can be Done to Preserve It?
Why Species and Biodiversity are International Issues
-Concern over increasing rate of extinctions
"Earth Faces a Catastrophic Loss of Species," Independent/UK, July 20, 2006
-Migration of species across international borders
-Shared ecosystems that transcend international boundaries
-Some species reside in international commons
-Species as a common interest or concern ("genetic heritage of humanity"?)
-Rise of the biotechnology industry and international trade in genetic materials
-Impact of global climate change on rate of extinctions
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (1973)
-Has been ratified by 173 nations (as of December 2008)
United States was first country to ratify the treaty.
- Protects 30,000 species (25,000 plants, 5,000 animals)
-Appendices (lists are species in the two indexes are updated every two years)
I - Trade in life or dead specimens and parts is banned completely (892 species in 2008)
(sampling of species on Annex I)
Spider monkey Flying fox
Tree kangaroo Orangutan
Giant anteater Blue whale
Leopard cat Tiger cat
Gray wolf Asian brown bear
Asian elephant African elephant
Black rhinoceros Wild yak
Ostrich Imperial eagle
Scarlet macaw Sea turtle
II - Trade is regulated, but not prohibited
III. - Species of national concern
COP 14 in the Hague, Netherlands
The Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
Has been ratified by 191 countries (December 2008)
United States signed the treaty in 1993, but has not ratified it.
Responsibilities of all parties to the convention
Adopt plans for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
Establish programs for identification and monitoring of biological diversity
Establish national protected areas
Develop facilities for ex-situ conservation of biodiversity
Facilitate access to genetic resources by other states
Special Responsibilities of the Developed Countries
Provide new and additional financial resources to assist developing countries to comply with the convention
Involve developing countries in biotechnological research activities
Provide priority access to the results and benefits arising from biotechnologies to countries from where genetic materials originated
Facilitate transfer of technologies relevant to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity under fair and favorable terms
Insure adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights
Protected Areas