Global biodiversity mechanisms: a thematic review of recent developments and future evidence needs

20 May 2009, London

Economic events of the last nine months have highlighted the extent to which activities in one country now affect many others. Yet such globalisation has long been apparent to those involved with environmental conservation, with the seminal UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972) bringing global ecological inter-dependence into mainstream political and public awareness. Since that time, multiple international environmental treaties have been developed to enhance international co-operation and to co-ordinate national responses to international environmental issues.

In 2008, there were many different meetings of the governance bodies of the major multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs). These included those of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), the IUCN World Conservation Congress and other smaller, or regional meetings. The UK¹ played an active part in all these meetings.

“Global Biodiversity Mechanisms” was a one day conference organised by JNCC that aimed to review and reflect on recent MEA outcomes in support of the process of implementation of UK obligations under these. But, rather than reviewing the Convention meetings one by one, a thematic approach was taken, thus facilitating consistency in developing evidence needs and policy responses. Each of the following themes was addressed:

tackling the threats from invasive alien species and emerging wildlife diseases (such as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1);
the impacts of climate change and biodiversity, including implications of expanding markets for biofuels;
implementing the Ecosystem Approach and better understanding the services provided to humanity by ecosystems;
how best to support the delivery of conservation in the UK’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies – home to globally important biodiversity; and
the science-policy interface - what evidence do decision-makers need and how can this best be provided?

The conference comprised presentations on a number of cross-cutting themes, followed by a series of parallel workshops which gave an opportunity for detailed discussion of outcomes, implications for the UK and areas where UK may particularly wish to further contribute to relevant international processes.

The presentations at the conference, the outcome of the various workshops and plenary discussions, and briefing material on the various themes and the outcome of recent MEA meetings are available [below].

Download: Summary of Conference Proceedings

Presentations and workshop reports

Topic	Speaker	Presentation / report
Aims of the day	Marcus Yeo, Director of Policy & Resources, JNCC	Presentation (PDF, 197 kb)
Thematic feedback from Conventions
Climate change and biodiversity	Colin Galbraith, Science Director, Scottish Natural Heritage	Presentation (PDF, 1.6 mb)
Biofuels	Jessica Magnus, Policy Adviser, JNCC	Presentation (PDF, 515 kb)
Invasive alien species & wildlife diseases	David Stroud, Senior Ornithological Adviser, & Jessa Battersby, Head of European Programme, JNCC	Presentation (PDF, 1.8 mb)
Ecosystem approach	Diana Mortimer, Head of Sustainability Advice, JNCC	Presentation (PDF, 1.5 kb)
Science-policy interface	Andy Stott, Director of Science, JNCC	Presentation (PDF, 500 kb)
Working groups	Chair
Climate change	Marcus Yeo	Summary (PDF, 58 kb) Workshop report (PDF, 101 kb)
Biofuels	Kieran Power, Bio-energy and Renewable Materials Team , DECC	Summary (PDF, 26 kb) Workshop report (PDF, 101 kb)
Invasive alien species and wildlife diseases	Ruth Cromie, Head of Wildlife Health, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust	Summary (PDF, 60 kb) Workshop report (PDF, 101 kb)
Ecosystem approach	Nick Davidson, Deputy Secretary General, Ramsar Convention	Summary (PDF, 60 kb) Workshop report (PDF, 101 kb)
Island issues, especially OTs & CDs	Jack Ward, Director of Department of Conservation Services, Government of Bermuda	Summary (PDF, 59 kb) Workshop report (PDF, 101 kb)
Final plenary	Martin Brasher, head of Wildlife, Habitats and Biodiversity, Defra	Summary Report (PDF, 95 kb)