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Ecosystems
Approach
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What
is the Ecosystem Approach?
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The
term 'Ecosystem Approach' was first used in the early 1980s,
but only found common acceptance at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit
where it became the primary framework for action under the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD defines
Ecosystem Approach as “a strategy for the integrated
management of land, water and living resources that promotes
conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.”
The
Ecosystem Approach recognizes the need for planning based
on natural ecosystem boundaries rather than on political
or bureaucratic borders and aims to achieve integration
of the three goals of sustainability: sustainable use of
natural resources, impartial sharing of the benefits derived
from their use and conservation of natural resources. |
Central
to the Ecosystem Approach is the acknowledgement that mankind
is part of any ecosystem in which it exists, mankind is
therefore placed as being central to the IUCNs definition
of what the Ecosystem Approach entails: “The Ecosystem
Approach places human needs at the centre of biodiversity
management. It aims to manage the ecosystem, based on the
multiple functions that ecosystems perform and the multiple
uses that are made of these functions. The ecosystem approach
does not aim for short-term economic gains, but aims to
optimize the use of an ecosystem without damaging it.”
Furthermore, it extends biodiversity management beyond protected
areas while recognising that they are also vital for delivering
CBD objectives. |
The 12 principles
of the Ecosystem Approach
1. Participation in decision
making
2. Decentralisation of management to the lowest appropriate
level
3. Consideration of management effects on other ecosystems
4. Management of ecosystems in an economic content
5. Conservation of ecosystem structure and functionality
6. Ecosystems must be managed within the limits of their
function
7. Management at appropriate spatial and temporal scales
8. Long term ecosystem management objectives
9. External and internal changes to the system
10. Balance between conservation and use
11. The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of
relevant information, including scientific and indigenous
and local knowledge, innovations and practices.
12. The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors
of society and scientific disciplines.
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Progress made to date regarding the Ecosystem Approach |
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There
has been considerable progress in the development of sector-specific
approaches incorporating many elements of the ecosystem
approach. In particular, relevant tools have been developed
in forestry, fisheries management, and watershed management
- sectors associated with the Convention's programmes of
work on forest biological diversity, marine and coastal
areas, and inland water ecosystems, respectively. These
sectors have recognized principles that are consistent with
the ecosystem approach, and are moving to develop goal-
or target-oriented approaches that include stakeholder participation,
adaptive management, and monitoring/feedback systems.
Ecosystem approach is an overall methodological framework
for supporting decisions in policy-making and planning.
There is no single correct way to achieve the ecosystem
approach to management of land, water, and living resources.
The underlying principles need to be translated flexibly
to address management issues in different social contexts.
Already, there are sectors and governments that have developed
sets of guidelines that are partially consistent, complementary
or even equivalent to the ecosystem approach (e.g. the Code
for Responsible Fisheries, the Sustainable Forest Management
approach, adaptive forest management). |
References and Links:
Laffoley,
D.d'A., Maltby, E., Vincent, M.A., Mee, L., Dunn, E., Gilliland,
P., Hamer, J.P, Mortimer, D., and Pound, D. 2004. The Ecosystem
Approach. Coherent actions for marine and coastal environments.
A report to the UK Government. Peterborough, English Nature.
65pp.
UNEP:
One Planet Many People http://na.unep.net/OnePlanetManyPeople/
Ecosystem Approach homepage (http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/cross-cutting/ecosystem/)
Definition of the EsA:
The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated
management of land, water and living resources that promotes
conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.
Decision
V/6: Ecosystem approach (http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.aspx?lg=0&dec=V/6)
the EsA description, with 12 Principles and 5 points of
operational guidance are listed.
Decision
VI/12: Ecosystem Approach (http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.aspx?id=7186&lg=0)
Recognises a/o the necessity to apply the EsA in national
policies and legislation and underlines the importance of
developing regional guidelines to apply the ecosystem approach.
Furthermore it urges parties to (continue to) submit case
studies, convene a meeting of experts to compare the ecosystem
approach with sustainable forest management and develop
proposals for the refinement of the principles.
Decision
VII/11: Ecosystem approach: (http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.aspx?dec=VII/11)
Acknowledges that there has been significant experience
in implementing the ecosystem approach, as well as in implementation
of similar approaches to management under other national,
regional and international processes, but that additional
efforts are needed to ensure effective implementation of
the approach.
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