Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
not be used as a reason for postponing cost effective measures to prevent envir-
onmental degradation'. In the CBD preamble it is stated as 'Noting that where
there is a threat of signifi cant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full
scientifi c certainty should not be used as a reason to postpone measures to avoid or
minimize a threat of signifi cant reduction or loss of biodiversity'.
IAS are a form of biological pollution. Impacts on biodiversity are wide
ranging, complex, insidious, and often irreversible (e.g. De Poorter and Clout
2005). The precautionary principle is therefore a cornerstone of the IUCN
approach which states that in the context of alien species, 'unless there is
a reasonable likelihood that an introduction will be harmless, it should be
treated as likely to be harmful' (IUCN 2000). In the invasives context, the
precautionary approach/principle has been widely incorporated into inter-
national guidance on invasives, including the CBD guiding principles, the
CBD Jakarta mandate on marine and coastal biodiversity, the European IAS
strategy, and the African Eurasian Waterbird agreement. However, in the
context of trade measures, precaution remains controversial (Cooney 2004;
Cooney and Dickson 2005).
8.9 Relation between invasive species and sustainable
development programmes
In 1994 The Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development
of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a non-binding instrument states that
'the introduction of certain non-indigenous species' as one of the four most
signifi cant causes of the loss of biodiversity in SIDS (Section IX para 41) and
specifi cally identifi es the need to 'support strategies to protect Small Island
Developing States from the introduction of non-indigenous species' (Section IX
para 45, C. (vi)).
An International Meeting for the 10-year Review of the Barbados Programme
of Action took place in 2005 in Mauritius and adopted the Mauritius Strategy for
further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action. h e Mauritius
Strategy reiterates the recommendation to control major pathways for potential
IAS in Small Island Developing States.
h e World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) took place in 2002,
in Johannesburg, South Africa. h e WSSD's goal, according to UN General
Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 55/199, was to hold a 10-year review of the 1992
UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at the Summit
level to reinvigorate global commitment to sustainable development. h e Plan of
Implementation of the WSSD (Paragraph 44(i)) calls for countries to 'Strengthen
national, regional and international eff orts to control IAS, which are one of the
main causes of biodiversity loss, and encourage the development of an eff ective
work programme on invasive alien species at all levels'. (See http://www.un.org/
esa/sustdev/documents/WSSD_POI_PD/English/POIChapter4.htm.)
 
 
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