John,
Thanks man but unfortunately, the Biosphere Reserve Program was not the first one and is just one of the “programs” that we need to be concerned about as from this, the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program was formerly developed in the early 90’s here in the US but, as a concept, the idea has existed since 1968. In fact, in 1971, Nixon and Brezhnev signed a treaty agreeing to create “biosphere reserves” in their respective countries. I’m not certain when the UN was involved in this…
As things are now, there are BOTH and domestic and international biosphere reserve programs and some of the others include the World Heritage Program (WHP), CITES, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), etc…These programs are all connected and they overlap each other (multiple intergovernmental and governmental agencies) that include and allow the “partnership” of NGO’s, GSE’s and private organizations and foundations (for additional financing as using just tax payer funds was taking too long)…
When you read these, DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR here in the United States at both the federal and state levels? Keep in mind that this was in 1976 (the first reference) and 1993 (the CBD)…
In 1976 the first meeting, referred to as a Conference of the Parties (COP) was held in October in Berne, Switzerland, additional reptile species were added to already existing appendices of the WASHINGTON Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of wild fauna and flora. At this meeting, the Swiss not only signed onto CITES but they decided to go “beyond the terms of the Convention and to regulate the import of live animals…” in that they came up with the following;
Required the licensing of ALL mammals, birds and reptiles. This requirement included “limited” licenses permitted for Appendix I and more lenient licenses for the other convention appendices (II and III). This determination was performed after “consultation” with the Swiss Scientific Authority. The Swiss licenses were granted under the provisions of a federal law on the “Protection of Nature and Landscape” which prohibited the release (to avoid hybridization of endemic species).
Required veterinary inspection and control upon importation. Import shipments were not released until they were inspected (I wonder if the animals were cared for while under government custody?).
Required record keeping of ALL “traders”. This requirement includes not only “acquisitions” but SALES of protected species as well with the exception of Mediterranean land tortoise.
Source: p. 28, Control of the Reptile trade in Switzerland by Peter Dollinger, Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, CH-3000, Berne 6, Switzerland.
From the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), there are numerous governing articles that include the following…
NOTE: In these articles cited below, I added the CAP’S for emphasis (the CAP’S are not part of the original text);
Article 3. Principle – States have, in ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS and PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ACTIVITIES WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION OR CONTROL DO NOT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF OTHER STATES OR OF AREAS BEYOND THE LIMITS OF NATIONAL JURISDICTION.
Article 4. Jurisdictional Scope – Subject to the RIGHTS OF OTHER STATES, and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Convention, the provision of this Convention apply, in relation to each Contracting Party:
(a) In the case of components of biological diversity, in areas within the limits of its national jurisdiction; and
(b) In the case of processes and activities, regardless of where their effects occur, carried out under its jurisdiction or control, within the area of its national jurisdiction or beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
Article 5. Cooperation – EACH CONTRACTING PARTY SHALL, as far as possible and appropriate, COOPERATE WITH OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES, directly or, where appropriate, THROUGH COMPETENT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, in respect of areas beyond national jurisdiction and on other matters of mutual interest, FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.
Article 6. General Measures for Conservation and Sustainable Use – EACH CONTRACTING PARTY SHALL, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities:
DEVELOP NATIONAL STRATEGIES, PLANS OR PROGRAMMES for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity or for this purpose existing strategies, plans and programmes which shall reflect inter alia, THE MEASURES SET OUT IN THIS CONVENTION relevant to the Contracting Party concerned; and
INTEGRATE, as far as possible and appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity INTO RELEVANT sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and POLICIES.
Article 7. Identification and Monitoring – EACH CONTRACTING PARTY SHALL, as far as possible and appropriate, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLES 8 TO 10:
(a) Identify components of biological diversity important for its conservation and sustainable use having regard to the indicative list of categories set down in Annex I;
(b) Monitor, through sampling and other techniques, the components of biological diversity identified pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, paying particular attention to those requiring urgent conservation measures and those which offer the greatest potential for sustainable use;
(c) Identify processes and categories of activities which have or are likely to have or are likely to have severe adverse impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and monitor their effects through sampling and other techniques: and
(d) Maintain and organize, by any mechanism data, derived from identification and monitoring activities pursuant to subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) above.
Article 8 – In-situ Conservation – EACH CONTRACTING PARTY SHALL, as far as possible and as appropriate:
(a) Establish a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity;
(b) Develop, where necessary, guidelines for the selection, establishment and management of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity;
(c) Regulate or manage biological resources important for the conservation of biological diversity whether within or outside protected areas, with a view to ensuring their conservation and sustainable use;
(d) Promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings;
(e) Promote environmentally sound and sustainable development in areas adjacent to protected areas with a view to furthering protection of these areas;
(f) Rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through the development and implementation plans or other threatened strategies;
(g) Establish or maintain means to regulate, manage or control the risks associated with the use and release of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology which are likely to have adverse environmental impacts that could affect the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking into accounts the risks to human health;
(h) Prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species;
(i) Endeavor to provide the conditions needed for compatibility between present uses and the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components;
(j) Subject to its national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices;
(k) Develop or maintain necessary legislation and/or other regulatory provisions for the threatened species and populations;
(l) Where significant adverse effects on biological diversity has been determined to Article 7, regulate or manage the relevant processes and categories of activities; and
(m) Cooperate in providing financial and other support for in-situ conservation outlined in subparagraphs (a) to (1) above, particularly to developing countries.
Article 9 – Ex-situ Conservation – EACH CONTRACTING PARTY SHALL, as far as possible and appropriate, and predominantly for the purpose of completing in-situ measures:
(a) Adopt policies for the ex-situ conservation components of biological diversity, preferably in the country of origin of such components;
(b) Establish and maintain facilities for ex-situ conservation of and research on plants, animals and micro-organisms, preferably in the country of origin of genetic resources;
(c) Adopt measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of threatened species and for their reintroduction into their natural habitats under appropriate conditions;
(d) Regulate and manage collection of biological resources from natural habitats for ex-situ conservation purposes so as not to threaten ecosystems and in-situ populations of species, except where special temporary ex-situ measures are required under subparagraph (c) above; and
(e) Cooperate in providing financial and other support for ex-situ conservation outlined in subparagraphs (a) to (d) above and in the establishment and maintenance of ex-situ conservation facilities in developing countries.
Article 10 – Sustainable Use of Components of Biological Diversity
EACH CONTRACTING PARTY SHALL, as far as possible and as appropriate;
(a) INTEGRATE CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES INTO NATIONAL DECISION-MAKING;
(b) Adopt measures relating to the use of biological resources to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on biological diversity;
(c) Protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation or sustainable use requirements;
(d) Support local populations to develop and implement remedial action in degraded areas where biological diversity has been reduced;
(e) Encourage cooperation between its governmental authorities and its private sector in developing methods for sustainable use of biological resources;
Article 11 – Incentive Measures – EACH CONTRACTING PARTY SHALL, as far as possible and as appropriate, ADOPT ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY SOUND MEASURES THAT ACT AS INCENTIVES FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF COMPONENTS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITTY;
Source: Multilateral, Convention on biological diversity (with annexes), Concluded at Ri de Janeiro on June 5, 1992, Authentic texts: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish; Registered ex officio on 29 December 1993.
The CBD “contract” was signed by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on June 4, 1993 for the United States. However, by the provisions of the Constitution, this treaty (contract) was never ratified by two-thirds of the members present in the US Senate. Therefore, this “contract” does not formerly exist between the US and the UN but, after reading the articles above, it is quite clear that numerous “entities” of government (and politicians) have voluntarily adopted the CBD…
Later,
Jim.
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CSRAJim
