Protection of biodiversity around the world requires: (a) basic science to produce government policies and laws that then must be enforced.
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Yes it does require the basic sciences to produce government policies
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National governments are vital to the preservation of biodiversity through the passing of laws requiring protection of species and habitats. If national laws do not protect species, then there is little hope of preserving them. However, it is not enough just to have laws, there must also be the will and the resources to enforce them. Even in economically developed nations, the necessary resources to properly enforce laws are not always made available. In under-developed nations, even the most basic resources for enforcement may be lacking. In addition, national laws may not in the end translate into local action, in which case they do not accomplish much. In democratic nations, national laws are also driven to a large extent by public opinion. They may in some cases be drafted more as a response to emotion than by actual scientific need.
Several international conventions exist for the preservation of biodiversity. These include such conventions as the Ramsar Convention (1976) which provides for the conservation of internationally important wetlands and the Bern Convention (1979) which requires the protection of endangered and vulnerable species of flora and fauna in Europe and their habitats. There are many others. Signatory nations to these conventions must ratify national laws to ensure compliance with the conventions.
In Britain, the main piece of legislation covering conservation is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and 1985, which implements preceding EU conventions. It protects both species and sites of UK importance. Enforcement of conservation directives is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, a government organisation. English Nature, a government funded watchdog, is also responsible for the promotion of the conservation of England’s wildlife.
In addition to the enforcement of laws, the Environment Agency is also responsible for data collection and monitoring. Environmental monitoring and biodiversity surveys are important because they provide information on the condition of ecosystems and the changes that are taking place within them. They therefore provide the scientific information on which to base environmental policy decisions. Similarly, assessments of the environmental impact of large development projects are vital before relevant authorities can either grant permission to proceed, or require that changes be made to development designs.
International Conservation
Species and ecosystems are seldom neatly confined within national boundaries. Many species roam across countless national borders and the oceans are owned by none. Trade in endangered species (or parts thereof) is international and pollution produced on one side of the world may wind up affecting regions on the other side of the globe. Biodiversity conservation is thus an international problem requiring international solutions.
The role of international conservation organisations is a vital one, particularly in terms of brokering international agreements between governments concerned with protecting their national interests. The most far-reaching agreement on biodiversity in recent years is the Convention on Biodiversity, signed by 156 nations at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ( the Earth Summit ) in Rio in 1992. Many others have signed since, and as they ratify the convention, governments accept responsibility for safeguarding biodiversity in their nations. Many international conservation organisations including WRI ( World Resources Institute ) and IUCN ( The World Conservation Union ) contributed to the formulation of the documents signed at the convention.
The UK was one of the first countries to follow up its commitment under the Convention on Biodiversity. Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan was published in January 1994. A UK Biodiversity Steering Group was appointed , which published a report entitled Meeting the Rio Challenge in 1995. The report contains action plans for over 100 endangered species and 14 key habitats, together with a commitment to produce further plans. The Steering Group proposed the use of a standard methodology for the production of local biodiversity action plans. These would be based upon the priorities of the UK plan, but would be supplemented by local priorities.
Action Plans seek to apply principles of business planning to a strategic view of the environment. They identify objectives, set quantified targets and define the actions needed to reach those targets. The Nature of Devon - A Biodiversity Action Plan is Devon’s response to this national biodiversity planning process. This regional process is going on throughout England. The sum of all the regional Biodiversity Action Plans should add up to the full UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
Several international conventions exist for the preservation of biodiversity. These include such conventions as the Ramsar Convention (1976) which provides for the conservation of internationally important wetlands and the Bern Convention (1979) which requires the protection of endangered and vulnerable species of flora and fauna in Europe and their habitats. There are many others. Signatory nations to these conventions must ratify national laws to ensure compliance with the conventions.
In Britain, the main piece of legislation covering conservation is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and 1985, which implements preceding EU conventions. It protects both species and sites of UK importance. Enforcement of conservation directives is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, a government organisation. English Nature, a government funded watchdog, is also responsible for the promotion of the conservation of England’s wildlife.
In addition to the enforcement of laws, the Environment Agency is also responsible for data collection and monitoring. Environmental monitoring and biodiversity surveys are important because they provide information on the condition of ecosystems and the changes that are taking place within them. They therefore provide the scientific information on which to base environmental policy decisions. Similarly, assessments of the environmental impact of large development projects are vital before relevant authorities can either grant permission to proceed, or require that changes be made to development designs.
International Conservation
Species and ecosystems are seldom neatly confined within national boundaries. Many species roam across countless national borders and the oceans are owned by none. Trade in endangered species (or parts thereof) is international and pollution produced on one side of the world may wind up affecting regions on the other side of the globe. Biodiversity conservation is thus an international problem requiring international solutions.
The role of international conservation organisations is a vital one, particularly in terms of brokering international agreements between governments concerned with protecting their national interests. The most far-reaching agreement on biodiversity in recent years is the Convention on Biodiversity, signed by 156 nations at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ( the Earth Summit ) in Rio in 1992. Many others have signed since, and as they ratify the convention, governments accept responsibility for safeguarding biodiversity in their nations. Many international conservation organisations including WRI ( World Resources Institute ) and IUCN ( The World Conservation Union ) contributed to the formulation of the documents signed at the convention.
The UK was one of the first countries to follow up its commitment under the Convention on Biodiversity. Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan was published in January 1994. A UK Biodiversity Steering Group was appointed , which published a report entitled Meeting the Rio Challenge in 1995. The report contains action plans for over 100 endangered species and 14 key habitats, together with a commitment to produce further plans. The Steering Group proposed the use of a standard methodology for the production of local biodiversity action plans. These would be based upon the priorities of the UK plan, but would be supplemented by local priorities.
Action Plans seek to apply principles of business planning to a strategic view of the environment. They identify objectives, set quantified targets and define the actions needed to reach those targets. The Nature of Devon - A Biodiversity Action Plan is Devon’s response to this national biodiversity planning process. This regional process is going on throughout England. The sum of all the regional Biodiversity Action Plans should add up to the full UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
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