Abstracts available here - Society for Conservation Biology

25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011
market in Kumasi, Ghana, an econometric analysis was conducted to
determine to what degree fluctuations in key commodities influence the
supply of bushmeat into the market. Although bushmeat supply was shown
to be relatively constant over this period, there were significant changes in
species composition entering the market and climatic variation was shown
to play a major role in explaining changes in overall biomass entering the
market. The results indicate, that changes in rainfall patterns may have
consequences for the overall intensity of hunting in the region and ability of
certain species to persevere under increased levels of exploitation.
2011-12-07 14:00 Through the lens of time: Evaluating success in the
longer term
McNeely, JA*, IUCN;
Many conservation initiatives, based on sound principles of conservation
biology, have proven their success over time. Many sacred sites, for
example, have served a conservation function for hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of years based on what, in retrospect, are sound biological
principles. And constraints on human behavior that serve a biologicallysound
conservation function, such as taboos on hunting females during
breeding seasons, have also proven their worth. But early success is no
guarantee of sustainability, especially with social, economic, political,
and ecological conditions changing rapidly in many parts of the world.
If a protected area established for the conservation of certain species and
ecosystems is no longer effective when climates change, what responses
are available to conservationists? How can conservation biology inform
more durable approaches to conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services?
How can political and public support enable these new approaches? What
are the risks posed by greater flexibility in conservation? What are the
potential gains? And how are these costs and benefits to be assessed? This
presentation will suggest some options for consideration, suggesting that
eternal vigilance in monitoring the effects of conservation measures should
be a fundamental principle of conservation biology.
2011-12-07 14:15 Status and trends of high conservation value forests
in Asia
McNeely, JA*, IUCN;
Asia contains a vast diversity of forest types, from the taiga of Siberia to the
tropical rainforests of Indonesia. These include some of richest forests in the
world, in terms of genes, species, and ecosystems (biodiversity). They also
include a diversity of approaches to forest management, though virtually all
countries (Iraq is an exception) have protected areas and agencies devoted
to forest conservation. Asia also supports about half of the world’s human
population, and their increasing demands are putting greater pressure on
the forests in terms of direct harvesting, replacement of species-rich forests
with monospecific plantations, and overharvesting of forest products. A
few countries, such as Japan and China, have reduced the rate of forest
loss, compensating by imports of timber and other forest products from
other countries (called “displacement” in the climate negotiations).
Others, such as Thailand, have virtually halted the harvest of old-growth
forests, depending on plantations for most domestic needs. But the vast
majority of Asian countries are losing their forests, though at variable rates.
Forest conservation includes assigning management rsponsibility to local
communities (community-based forest management), strengthening forest
management agencies, and devoting particular attention to conserving
forests of high conservation value. This presentation will review the
status and trends of high conservation value forests in each country, the
conservation measures being taken, and ways that the international
conservation community can help support these critically important forest
resources.
2011-12-08 14:00 Swimming in the Alphabet Soup: Key opportunities
and challenges of global conventions and programs
McNeely, JAGovernments have now established a reasonably
comprehensive international framework of conventions for
conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. These include,
among others, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
the Convention on*, SCB;
Governments have now established a reasonably comprehensive
international framework of conventions for conserving biodiversity and
ecosystem services. These include, among others, the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance (Ramsar), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the
Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS), the World Heritage Convention
(WHC), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES). These have been supplemented by programs such
as the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) and the new
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES). The multitude of instruments may seem daunting, but they offer
conservation biologists many opportunities for influencing policy at local,
national, and international levels. This presentation will provide guidance
on how to do so effectively.
2011-12-09 14:30 A New Conservation Ethic - Can conservation
survive without indigenous peoples?
Mead, ATP*, IUCN CEESP, Maori Business (VMS);
Indigenous peoples and conservationists have strong values and visions
for the wellbeing of the environment, but historically and up to this day,
they have been and are still often in conflict with each other at national,
regional and international levels. Two sectors of society who should be
able to find common ground relatively easily and yet are often at opposite
ends of environmental and indigenous development issues. The cause of
the conflict is not just ‘personal’ or emotive at a ‘local’ level, it has been
entrenched in global conservation policy on issues such as diverse as the
designation of protected areas, sustainable livelihoods of indigenous and
local communities, sustainable harvesting of whales or other threatened
species, genetically modified organisms, biofuels, indigenous land
settlements, to name but a few. At the heart of many of these conflicts are
not only differences in approaches to conservation but also to economic
development. There are a multitude of global initiatives underway which
signal a rapidly growing movement amongst indigenous peoples and
citizens generally, to look beyond capitalism without boundaries, and
consider a future which requires us to make more of a commitment to
nature - to Mother Earth. For example, the Earth Charter, the World
Assembly of Inhabitants, the Vth World Parks Congress Durban Accord,
the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Bariloche
Declaration, the Draft Universal Declaration of the Common Good of
the Earth and Humanity, the CEESP Conference, “Sharing Power: A New
Vision for Development”, and others. Many of these initiatives advocate
a rights-based approach to conservation. What is a rights-based approach
to conservation? What methods have proven successful for implementing
rights-based approaches that achieve measureable progress? What concrete
benefits can be expected from its adoption and implementation? Who
will enjoy those benefits? This presentation examines the notion of a
‘new conservation ethic’ which brings together indigenous peoples and
conservationists through a common ethical framework.
2011-12-07 14:45 Lessons Learned from the Conference ‘Sharing
Power: A New Vision for Development’
Mead, ATPM*, Chair, IUCN CEESP; Snr Lecturer, MBUS-VMS;
January 12-15, 2011, the IUCN Commission on Environmental,
Economic & Social Policy (CEESP) convened a global Conference called
‘Sharing Power: A New Vision for Development in Whakatane, NZ. The
Conference was a partnership between two global organisations/networks
- the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and
the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic & Social Policy
(CEESP), and two Mäori (indigenous) organisations, Te Rūnanga o
Ngāti Awa (a tribal authority) and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
(a tribal university). The Conference brought together over 180 scientists,
economists, indigenous leaders, environmentalists, academics, policy
makers in national governments and international agencies, and many
others who care about the quality of heritage this generation passes on
to future generations, from 47 countries. Structured over four working
days, with plenary sessions and ninety-eight presentations in workshop
sessions, participants looked at the need for policy and decision makers in
governments and corporations to accommodate a greater level of inclusion
of indigenous peoples and all citizens, in national and international policies
on the management and governance of bio-cultural resources, and advocates
the rights of mother earth – the planet. Keynote speakers included; Elinor
Ostrom (Nobel winner in Economics 2009), Ashok Khosla (President of
IUCN and the Club of Rome), Winona La Duke (Honour the Earth,
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