International Cooperation on Nature Conservation
in order to conserve the biodiversity, nature and environment must be protected;
many species are endangered;
there are various legal forms to protect nature.
justify the need for international cooperation to prevent threats to the natural environment;
provide examples of various conventions and international treaties which aim is to conserve the biodiversity as well as to describe their main objectives;
provide examples of international forms of nature protection in Poland;
describe the importance of the Natura 2000 network for the conservation of the biodiversity in Europe.
Biodiversity - common good of all nations
A key element of biodiversity is sustainable developmentsustainable development. After the United Nations' Conference known as the Earth Summit, the idea became widespread, turning into a political doctrine. Conference was organised in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro under the name Environment and Development. The representatives of 172 governments and of around 2400 non‑governmental organisations took part in the summit. Several documents concerning joint (international) activities to protect the nature and the environment against the negative influence of human civilisation and the preservation of the resources of the planet were signed. The most important documents were Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological Diversity an Agenda 21Agenda 21.
In the available sources find detailed list of the tasks mentioned in the Convention on Biological Diversity and Agenda 21. Point out the most important tasks from the point of view of a person living in Poland and justify your choice.
Natura 2000 network
The implementation of the idea of sustainable development in the EU Memeber States consists in protection of species and ecosystems and it is primarily carried out in the Natura 2000 networkNatura 2000 network.The aim of the network is to facilitate the movement of wild organisms and exchange of genes between different populations, thereby contributing to the biodiversity. It does not replace the national system of protected areas but enriches it. The Natura 2000 sites are designated by the Member States mainly on the request by the scientists who research the ecosystems.
A good example of Natura 2000 site is the Rospuda Valley– one of the most precious primary peatlands in Europe.
The Natura 2000 areas have been introduced to the Polish Nature Protection Laws as a result of application of two European directives: Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds known as the Birds DirectiveBirds Directive and Directive on the Conservation of natural habitat and of wild fauna and flora informally known as the Habitats DirectiveHabitats Directive.
International forms of nature protection in Poland
International protection of biodiversity can be much more effective than actions undertaken by single states. That is why many international conventions have been created which aim is to create protected areas for the conservation of biodiversity. In order to preserve the world's most valuable natural areas, in 1971 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established a worldwide network of protected areas, called Biosphere ReservesBiosphere Reserves. Those have been established within the framework of the programme Man and the Biosphere (in short MAB). Currently there are 621 such areas, out of which 10 are in Poland. Unique and valuable natural areas can also be included in the UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage List. One of those in Poland is Białowieża Forest.
Poland also acceded the Ramsar Convention signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. This documents binds the Member States to protection of the wetlands, a home to numerous species of endangered animals, mainly birds.
Poland has also signed the Bern Convention on conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats and the Helsinki Convention on the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area. There are also other international treaties in place, helping the endangered or rare species in Poland. Some of those are the Bonn Convention on the conservation of the migratory species, agreement Eurobats on the conservation of populations of bats and Ascobans agreement on conservation of small cetaceans of Baltic and North Sea.
The Washington Convention (CITES)
In order to reduce the demand on the exotic animals and plants and on products they are the source of, international laws prohibiting trade in live specimens of the most endangered animals and plants as well trade in their parts and products made out of them as well as controlling trade in other wildlife species. Those rules are contained in the Washington ConventionWashington Convention.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed on 3rd March 1973 in Washington as a response to the growing threat to the natural occurrence of many species. Today it is binding for 180 countries. Poland adopted CITES on 3rd November 1989.
Arrange a crossword, whose main password will be related to the content the lessons.
What conditions should social and economic development fulfill in order to be sustainable?
- It should satisfy the needs of people without upsetting the natural balance
- It should satisfy the needs of all people, regardless of the degree of the interference with nature.
- It should focus on the preservation of nature, regardless of the people's needs.
- It should focus on transforming the nature in order to maximise the financial returns.
Which of the following are required by the Washington Convention?
- reduction of the consumption of tangible goods (in developed countries)
- development of national strategies and programmes to prodect the biodiversity
- identification of processes and activities that have or may have a negative impact on biodiversity
- reduction of the exploration of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emission into the atmosphere
Fill in the gaps.
certificates, trade, illegal, endangered, CITES
The Washington Convention (in short ........................) focuses on the conservation of the most ........................ species. According to CITES, ........................ in both live and dead specimens of endangered species without a permit is strictly prohibited. Exotic animals purchased in Poland, listed in the Washington Convention must have appropriate ........................ which prove that they have been registered. Otherwise it is ........................ to own such an animal.
Summary
Preservation of the biodiversity is a common interest of us all
International cooperation is the key to preservation of the biodiversity.
Keywords
Washington Convention, Natura 2000, Biosphere Reserve
Glossary
Agenda 21 – dokument określający zasady przygotowania i wdrażania w życie lokalne programy rozwoju zrównoważonego, sporządzony 5 czerwca 1992 r. na konferencji Narodów Zjednoczonych zwanej Szczytem Ziemi
dyrektywa ptasia – (ang. Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds ) – potocznie używana nazwa dyrektywy (aktu prawnego) Wspólnoty Europejskiej nr 2009/147/WE z 30 listopada 2009 r. w sprawie ochrony dzikiego ptactwa, wskazująca metody ochrony gatunków dzikich ptaków występujących na terenie Unii Europejskiej, zasady handlu nimi, dozwolone sposoby ich odłowu oraz sposoby przeciwdziałania ich zabijaniu; razem z dyrektywą siedliskową stanowi podstawę tworzenia europejskiej sieci obszarów Natura 2000
dyrektywa siedliskowa – (ang. Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora ) – potocznie używana nazwa dyrektywy (aktu prawnego) Wspólnoty Europejskiej nr 92/43/EWG z 21 maja 1992 r. w sprawie ochrony siedlisk przyrodniczych oraz dzikiej flory i fauny
konwencja o różnorodności biologicznej – (ang. C onvention on Biological Diversity ) – międzynarodowa umowa określająca zasady korzystania z zasobów bioróżnorodności, monitorowania jej stanu i ochrony oraz zapobiegania negatywnym zmianom w ekosystemach, które mogą skutkować wymieraniem gatunków; sporządzona 5 czerwca 1992 r. na Konferencji Narodów Zjednoczonych na temat Środowiska i Rozwoju, zwanej Szczytem Ziemi
konwencja waszyngtońska – (ang. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora , w skrócie CITES) – międzynarodowa umowa regulująca zasady międzynarodowego handlu dzikimi zwierzętami i roślinami gatunków zagrożonych wyginięciem, sporządzona 3 marca 1973 r. w Waszyngtonie
rezerwat biosfery – ekosystem charakterystyczny dla danego kraju, chroniony ze względu na swoje wysokie walory przyrodnicze jako część światowej sieci obszarów chronionych, powołany w ramach programu Człowiek i biosfera (ang. Man and the Biosphere , w skrócie MAB)
Natura 2000 – program Unii Europejskiej określający zasady tworzenia europejskiej sieci obszarów chronionych, którego celem jest zachowanie najcenniejszych przyrodniczo ekosystemów Europy oraz rzadkich i zagrożonych w skali kontynentu gatunków; jego podstawą prawną są dyrektywa siedliskowa i dyrektywa ptasia
zrównoważony rozwój – inaczej nazywany ekorozwojem; rozwój społeczno‑gospodarczy, który nie narusza równowagi w przyrodzie i zaspokaja potrzeby wszystkich ludzi