PS336, Global Environmental Politics
Fall Semester 2005
Week 14 Outlines
Wednesday, November 16 - Protecting Endangered Species
I. Why Species and Biodiversity are International Issues
-Concern over increasing rate of extinctions
-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
World Conserservation Union (IUCN)
2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. A Global Species Assessment
II. Overview of Treaties on Preserving Endangered Species and the Biological Diversity
A. General Treaties
International Trade in Endangered Species--CITES (1973)
Migratory Species (1979)
Biological Diversity (1992) -- adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio
B. Examples of Treaties on Specific Species
Whales (1946)
International Whaling Commission
Birds (1950, 1970)
Pacific Fur Seals (1957)
Antarctic Seals (1972)
Polar Bears (1973)
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1982)
C. Examples of Treaties on Habitats
European Region (1979)
Eastern African Region (1985)
South Pacific Region (1986)
III. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
-Adopted in 1973
-Has been ratified by 169 nations (as of October 2005)
- 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 (890 species in 2000)
(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 (Yemen) Wild yak
Ostrich Imperial eagle
Scarlet macaw Sea turtle
II - Trade is regulated
III. - Species of National Concern
-Key roles played by NGOs
World Conservation Union (IUCN) -
Friday, November 18 - Preservation of Biodiversity
Global Biodiversity Outlook (see chapters 1 and 2)
Conservation International's Biodiversity Hotspots
World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development, Our Forests, Our Future
(Summary Report)
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (US World Heritage Sites)
World Data Base of Protected Areas
(20 largest nationally protected areas)
Protected Areas and World Heritage Program
I. Why biological diversity has become an international issue
II. The Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
see also IISD Website on the CBD
Has been ratified by 180 countries (but not by the United States)
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 favorableterms
Terms will recognize and be consistent with the adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2001)
Entered into force in 2004 (ratifications)