Overview

1. Overview • History • IUCN and Red List • CITES • Convention on Biological Diversity • Cool international legislation efforts from other countries

2. History What issues led to the formation of the earliest international conservation agreements? Who was the first to launch an effort to “establish an international or world commission for the protection of nature”? Was he successful? What organization eventually was created that matched his vision?

3. More History What important international conference marks the beginning of international environmental and conservation law? What was the outcome of this conference?

4. International Union for the Conservation of Naturehttp://www.iucn.org/ • Founded 1948: “Whereas the time has come when human standards of living are becoming inadequate for their maintenance; Whereas this trend may be reversed if people are awakened in time to a full realization of their dependence upon exhaustible natural resources and recognize the need for their protection and restoration as well as for their wise and informed administration in order that the future peace, progress and prosperity of mankind may be assured…”

5. HISTORY & SCOPE: • Founded 1948 • 83 States; 110 government agencies • 831 NGOs • >11,000 scientists from 181 countries

6. COMMISSIONS (# members): • World Commission of Protected Areas (1300) • Species Survival (SSC) (7000) • Environment, Economic and Social Policy (500) • Ecosystem Management (400) • Education and Communication (600) • Environmental Law (800)

7. SSC produces the Red List The most comprehensive, widely recognized inventory of the status of plants and animals. • PURPOSE: To convey the urgency and scale of conservation problems to the public and policy makers, and to motivate the global community to try to reduce species extinctions. “…for certainly if species are to be saved it is in the first place through information.”

8. Red Listhttp://www.iucnredlist.org/ • HISTORY: • Begun in 1959 as index card system by Colonel Leofric Boyle • Peter Scott (1909-1989): Chaired SSC 1963-1980 • 1962-78 SSC published red data books on mammals, birds and herps

9. IUCN Specialist Groups • Authorities on Red List, evaluate inclusion on list • Formulate Action Plans detailing conservation status and priorities for a species • Groups taxon or issue specific • e.g. • Canid Specialist Group • Carnivorous Plants Specialist Group • Invasive Species Specialist Group

11. Class Discussion What species did you look up on the red list? What was its classification? What criteria were used to determine this classification? How do IUCN red list criteria differ from ESA listing criteria?

12. Toward a more Objective Red List • Early list used subjective, non-transparent criteria. • Series of papers developed more taxonomically inclusive, objective and transparent criteria • Detailed guidelines developed as a result: http://intranet.iucn.org/webfiles/doc/SSC/RedList/RedListGuidelines.pdf

13. Red List Criteria Philosophy • Simple • Probabilistic • Flexible to available data • Flexible to biological unit (eg. species, sub-species, geographically distinct population) • Based on clear, consistent definitions • Include uncertainty • Incorporate a meaningful time scale

14. Criteria

15. How many Red List species? http://www.iucnredlist.org/about/summary-statistics • 47,978 species evaluated • 17,315 threatened • 785 extinct species • 65 only in captivity or cultivation

16. How many other countries have ES lists and what criteria are used?(Miller et al 2007 Cons Bio 21:684 – 696) Surveyed 180 countries 77% had lists (of 47 respondents) 78% used IUCN criteria Countries without lists – 88% were planning to add them

17. CITES:Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Faunahttp://www.cites.org/ • OBJECTIVE: To ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival • HISTORY: • Drafted in 1963 by IUCN • Agreed upon in 1973 • Became active in 1975 What are some of the largest wildlife trade challenges/issues?

18. SCOPE: • 157 parties (countries) (shown in green below) • 30,000 species (5,000 animals; 25,000 plants)

19. Categories • Appendix I: Prohibits commercial trade on species threatened with extinction and requires permits for scientific investigation • Appendix II:Species that would become threatened with extinction if trade were not limited (must have “non-detrimental” take permit) • Appendix III:for species that might be in danger but there is not enough info (no real criteria and of limited utility)

20. Enforcement & Monitoring • National Governments • Must implement legislation and regulatory mechanisms • TRAFFIC • Trade Record Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce • Monitoring network: part of IUCN and WWF • Established 1976 • “Aimed at identifying impacts of trade on species and finding solutions to the factors that threaten their survival.”

21. To use or not to use?

22. CITES and the ESA • Any international trade in endangered species ruled out under ESA (as traditionally interpreted) • Applies without limit to all foreign endangered species. • Section 10, ESA, trade allowed Section 10 of the ESA allowed ‘if the import will enhance the survival of the species’ • *this affects researchers

23. Convention on Biological Diversity • At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro • Three Objectives • the conservation of biological diversity • the sustainable use of its components • the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources • 188 countries • What important document was produced? • How many countries signed on? Is the US a signatory?

24. Convention on Biological Diversity • “In April 2002, the Parties to the Convention committed themselves to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.” • Recent report noted that we are not on track to meet this goal

25. Other key concepts What is the difference between hard and soft international conservation law? What factors threaten compliance with international laws and how can levels of compliance be increased? How has the WTO been involved in conservation law? (See figure 3.5 in text)

26. Cool ideas/programs from other countries

27. Payments for Environmental Services – PSA – (pagos por servicios ambientales) in Costa Rica Initiated in 1997 Recognized four services: (1) greenhouse gas mitigation; (2) hydrological services; (3) scenic value; and (4) biodiversity 3 contract types - forest conservation, reforestation, and sustainable forest management Payments $22 - $42/ha/yr for 5 years Can register 2 – 300 ha How was it funded?

29. Sanchez et al 2007 Cons Biol 21:1165-1173

30. Sanchez et al 2007 Cons Biol 21:1165-1173

31. Endangered Species Legislation in Australia • 1992 Australian Endangered Species Protection Act • 1999 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (http://www.ea.gov.au/epbc/index.html) • Over 1600 listed species – 77% are plants

32. 1999 biodiversity act prohibits unapproved human impact on: • World heritage property • Ramsar wetland • Threatened species (uses IUCN criteria) • Endangered communities • Migratory species • Commonwealth marine area or Commonwealth land

33. Unique characteristics • Only protects species on federal land and water (< 1% continent, and all islands) • Can list key threatening processes • Can list key ecological communities • Use IUCN categories for listing • Recovery plans for species/communities and threat abatement plans • http://www.ea.gov.au/epbc/index.html

34. Sustainability BreakWhat is your carbon footprint?How to decrease/offset? http://www.terrapass.com/carbon-footprint-calculator/