Biodiversity & Island Life Biodiversity & Island Life in the New Millennium in the New Millennium Noah Idechong, Randy Thaman & Andrew Smith Plenary Session - Biodiversity Conservation Issues & Opportunities 7th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation & Protected Areas, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, July 8-12, 2002
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Biodiversity & Island Life in the New Millennium Noah Idechong, Randy Thaman & Andrew Smith Plenary Session - Biodiversity Conservation Issues & Opportunities.
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Biodiversity & Island LifeBiodiversity & Island Lifein the New Millenniumin the New Millennium
7th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation & Protected Areas, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, July 8-12, 2002
Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation: What does it mean? Why mainstream?
Biodiversity Conservation in the Pacific: Definitions Relevance Threats
Challenges for the Working Groups: Issues, opportunities, constraints and linkages Questions, questions and more questions…
Details in paper by Thaman, et al.
Talk will cover:
“Mainstreaming”: What does “mainstreaming” mean? Why mainstream biodiversity
conservation? How do we mainstream biodiversity
conservation?
Omelai lomoachel (“clearing the streams”)
The Changing Face of Biodiversity Conservation in the Pacific:
Since the 1985 Conference: Community & traditional level
e.g. Micronesian Traditional Leaders Conference (July 1999)
National / Provincial / State govt. levels Increased support for protected areas
Regional level SPREP established as a separate organization
Issues more complex - need to get ahead Proactive rather than reactive
Definition of Biodiversity:Term includes:Island & ecosystem diversity
diversity of island types & their ecosystems e.g. high or low, large or small, volcanic or
limestone unique biodiversity inheritance all natural & cultural terrestrial, freshwater
& marine ecosystems e.g. forests, agricultural areas, mangroves, reefs
Definition of Biodiversity:Term includes:Species & taxonomic diversity
all species & “taxa” (biological classifications) of wild & domesticated plants, animals & micro-organisms e.g. mammals, sharks, finfish, grasses, ferns,
fungi, bacteria
Definition of Biodiversity:Term includes:Genetic diversity
all genetic types, breeds, cultivars or varieties
wild, domesticated & cultivated plants & animals e.g. cultivars of yams, breadfruit, chickens,
pigs AND all chemical extracts from them
intellectual property rights
Definition of Biodiversity:Term includes:Ethnobiodiversity
knowledge, uses, beliefs, conservation practices and language a society or culture has for their islands, ecosystems, species, taxa & genetic diversity
central to the definition of biodiversity in the Pacific islands the islands, people & their knowledge,
traditions & spirituality are seen as inseparable from the terrestrial, freshwater & marine ecosystems
Nature of Pacific Island Biodiversity:
Great diversity AND disparity in biological inheritances of different countries at the island, ecosystem & community levels
Paralleled by the diversity & disparity of the users & stakeholders of that biodiversity
Significance of Biodiversity Conservation: Biodiversity ‘hotspots’, endemism,
rarity are the main focus of international biodiversity conservation
often in remote areas, lack local names Coastal areas, near villages/towns
are where species of greatest cultural importance often found
often over-exploited, but of greatest cultural importance
Significance of Biodiversity Conservation: Cultural importance (ethnobiological
diversity) powerful tool for mainstreaming at community levels
catalog ecological services, uses & economic value to communities
“selling point” or incentive for mainstreaming biodiversity conservation=cultural valuable services & products as
foundation for sustainable long-term livelihoods
Significance of Biodiversity Conservation: Biodiversity, including
ethnobiological knowledge, constitutes the “NATURAL & CULTURAL CAPITAL”
needed for development of current & future generations
Biodiversity inheritance = “living bank account”
passed from generation to generation to grow & produce “interest”
Significance of Biodiversity Conservation: “Capital” must not be depleted or
“spent” for short-term benefits at the expense of future generations=“embezzlement” resulting in…
“Biocultural Bankruptcy” for our children & grandchildren
Significance of Biodiversity Conservation:
Language: Need to understand other terms
being used, both across sectors & at different levels
Status of Pacific Biodiversity:Examples: Indirect threats (examples only):
Uncontrolled population growth
Loss of traditional & contemporary
ethnobiological knowledge
Rapid & uncontrolled urbanization
Poverty & economic deterioration
Political instability & political ignorance or lack
of political will to commit to conservation
Challenge of Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in the Pacific (Summary):To promote the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation, we must:
Clearly understand what biodiversity includes & what it means in the Pacific context (broader definition)
Recognize = “Natural & Cultural Capital”
See it is seriously & increasingly threatened
Include as an integral & priority component of ALL development initiatives (community & national)
Challenge of Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in the Pacific (Summary):(cont.) Must address threats now (this generation)
Or loose our biological inheritance and become “Bioculturally Bankrupt” - leading to possible economic, cultural & environmental breakdown in our islands
Biodiversity is the living foundation upon which our cultural and economic future depends
Challenge to the Working Groups: What does “mainstreaming” really
mean at the different levels (community, government, regional)?
Identify underlying linkages between levels
How do we make biodiversity relevant to people at all levels within the Pacific?
Expectations; thinking processes How do we get people to re-connect
with their environmental context? How do we trigger the “ah ha” response?
Challenge to the Working Groups: How do we address the issue of
unsustainable commercial & subsistence use through mainstreaming?
Partnerships between various levels & groups
What implications will “globalization” have on mainstreaming at the different levels?
Need for a holistic, not sectoral, approach Mainstreaming is not done in isolation -