Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of international strategies and plans, relevance of international sustainable devel-
opment initiatives, and international programmes.
conservation of biological diversity
At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, world leaders agreed on a
comprehensive strategy to meet human needs, while ensuring a healthy and viable
world for future generations. One of the key agreements adopted was the CBD.
The Convention establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diver-
sity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the
benefi ts from the use of genetic resources.
With regards to IAS, the CBD is the only global instrument to provide a compre-
hensive basis for measures to protect all components of biodiversity against those
alien species that are invasive. Article 8(h) of the text of the convention requires
Parties, as possible and as appropriate, 'to prevent the introduction of, or control
or eradicate, those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species'.
Recent Conferences of the Parties to the CBD, and meetings of its subsidiary body,
have focused on how to help Parties to the convention with implementation of
Article 8(h). h e 6th Conference of the Parties (2002) adopted Decision VI/23 on
Alien Species that h reaten Ecosystems, Habitats and Species,
to which are annexed
Guiding Principles for the Prevention, Introduction and Mitigation of Impacts of Alien
Species that threaten Ecosystems, Habitats or Species
. h e text of the Decision is very
long—34 items plus the guiding principles as an annex. It encourages capacity
building and regional approaches, encourages cooperation with other relevant
international instruments of relevance for IAS, and encourages funders and donors
to provide resources for IAS management. It urges Parties, other Governments, and
relevant organizations to promote and implement the voluntary Guiding Principles
which are contained in its annex. h e 15 Guiding Principles outline recommended
approaches to: the precautionary approach; a three-stage hierarchical approach
(prevention, eradication, control); ecosystem approach; the role of States; research
and monitoring; education and public awareness; border control and quarantine
measures; exchange of information; cooperation (including capacity-building);
intentional introduction; unintentional introductions; mitigation of impacts;
eradication; containment; and control. h e full text of this Decision can be found
in CBD 2002, and any Decisions of the Conference of the Parties that relate to IAS
can also be accessed via the CBD Invasive Alien Species portal (
http://www.cbd.int/
invasive/cop-decisions.shtml).
Unfortunately, there are procedural issues relating
to the adoption of this decision, (see CBD 2002), which leads some to argue that
the Decision is not valid. Others, such as the IPPC, the Council of Europe, and the
European Union, on the other hand have already used it as the basis for developing
IAS policy and measures in their own spheres of jurisdiction.
