Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
An ad hoc expert group met to discuss the ideas around managing at ecosystem scale
in Lilongwe, Malawi, early in 1998 and at the COP 4 in Bratislava, 1998, the 'Malawi
Principles' were proposed, but adopted as 'The Ecosystem Approach' in decision IV.1 pro
parte:
The Conference of the Parties;
Recognizing
that in several decisions adopted at the third meeting of the
Conference of the Parties the ecosystem approach has been addressed as a
guiding principle, although the terminology used has varied, including:
'ecosystem approach', 'ecosystem process-oriented approach', 'ecosystem
management approach' and 'ecosystem-based approach'
,
The CBD COP therefore recognized the large number of terms used for ecosystem ap-
proach, but attempted to consolidate these approaches as the ecosystem approach, and use
of the definite article was not by chance.
Further elaboration of the ecosystem approach was undertaken by SBSTTA 5 with de-
cision V.10 noting:
1.
The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of
land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and
sustainable use in an equitable way. Thus, the application of the
ecosystem approach will help to reach a balance of the three
objectives of the Convention: conservation; sustainable use; and the
fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization
of genetic resources
.
2.
An ecosystem approach is based on the application of appropriate
scientific methodologies focused on levels of biological organization,
which encompass the essential structure, processes, functions and
interactions among organisms and their environment. It recognizes
that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component
of many ecosystems
.
