Conservation Organisations & International Conventions

Conservation Organisations

• Environmental intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are organisations that focus on promoting environmental protection and conservation efforts around the world

IGOs

• Environmental IGOs are intergovernmental bodies established by states with the aim of promoting environmental protection and conservation efforts on a global scale

• These organisations are usually composed of member states and operate within the framework of international law

• Examples include:

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• The UNEP is a leading global environmental authority that provides leadership and encourages partnerships in caring for the environment

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• The IPCC is a scientific body under the United Nations that assesses the science related to climate change, its impacts, and potential future risks

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)

• The WCMC provides information services on the conservation and sustainable use of species and ecosystems, and supports others in the development of their own information management systems

NGOs

• Environmental NGOs are non-profit organisations that are independent of any government and focus on promoting environmental protection and conservation efforts

• These organisations work to raise awareness, lobby governments and businesses, and often carry out practical projects on the ground to protect the environment

• Examples include:

Greenpeace

• Greenpeace is an international environmental organisation that campaigns on various environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, and nuclear power

World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF)

• WWF is an international conservation organisation that aims to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth

The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

• TNC is a nonprofit environmental organisation that works to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people

• TNC's work spans across 70 countries and all 50 states in the United States

Comparing Environmental IGOs and NGOs

• IGOs and NGOs both play a critical role in conserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity

• IGOs such as the United Nations (UN) and its various specialised agencies, such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), have a global reach and can influence conservation efforts on a large scale

  • NGOs, on the other hand, are often more focused on specific issues and are able to respond quickly to emerging threats to biodiversity

• The effectiveness of IGOs and NGOs in conservation and restoration efforts can vary due to a number of factors, including:

  • Use of media

  • Speed of response

  • Diplomatic constraints

  • Financial resources

  • Political influence

  • Enforceability

Comparing IGOs and NGOs

International Conventions

• International conventions on biodiversity work to create collaboration between nations for biodiversity conservation

• Example of these conventions include:

  • The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 

  • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992

• The convention had three main goals:

  • The conservation of biological diversity by use of a variety of different conservation methods

  • The sustainable use of biological resources

  • The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources

• The countries that signed the convention agreed to design and implement national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, as well as to organise international cooperation and further international meetings

CITES

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) is a global agreement that has been signed by over 150 countries

• Its aim is to control the trade of endangered species and their associated products

  • For example, elephants and their ivory tusks

• CITES categorises endangered and vulnerable species into three appendices:

  • Appendix I: species that are endangered and face the greatest risk of extinction (for example, the red panda)

  • Appendix II: species that are not currently endangered or facing extinction, but will be unless trade is closely controlled (for example, the venus fly trap)

  • Appendix III: species included at the request of the country that is regulating the trade of the species and trying to prevent its overexploitation (for example, the two-toed sloth in Costa Rica)

• There are different trading regulations that apply to each appendix:

  • For species in Appendix I: all trade in the species and their associated products is banned

  • For species in Appendix II: trade is only granted if an export permit has been issued by the involved countries

  • For species in Appendix III: permits are required for regulated trade. Permits are easier to come by for species in this appendix

• Scientists are continuously adding new species and reviewing the status of species already in the database

• There are several concerns about the efficacy of CITES listings:

  • When the trade of a certain endangered species becomes illegal, its price increases

  • The increased economic value of the species can be a major incentive for people to break the law

Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing

• The full name of this international convention is: The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation

• It is a relatively recent international convention on biodiversity

  • It was adopted at the 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010, and entered into force in 2014

• The Nagoya Protocol aims to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources, with the goal of promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

  • It addresses issues such as access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing, and compliance with national laws and international agreements