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SUMMIT CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA, 1996
BIODIVERSITY
Technical Document
September 13, 1996
CONTENTS
Introduction
Given the particularly rich biodiversity endowment of the Hemisphere, there is a need
to establish cooperation among nations and within the precepts of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, other Rio agreements, and the Miami Plan of Action.
Better access to reliable information can influence how people perceive biodiversity,
improve cooperation and decision-making, and enhance citizen and business participation.
Improved compatibility of data would allow better analysis and understanding of trends in
biodiversity for international cooperation, particularly on shared resources. Cooperation
is needed to assure improved access to information on national biodiversity held outside
each country. New technologies provide an opportunity to enhance connectivity between the
American countries.
Rivers, lakes, and seas in the Americas are often used and affected by several
jurisdictions. Watersheds existing in one country may be responsible for water supply in
another country, but inadequate forest management systems in one affects the other.
Similarly, unsustainable use of biodiversity or pollution from several countries has the
potential for harming these countries. Cooperative agreements and collaborative management
approaches are critical for addressing these problems.
The role of small businesses, civic organizations, and environmental agencies requires
strengthening for implementing the sustainable use of biodiversity. And finally, given
that the sustainable use of biodiversity is the source of an economically viable solution
to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth, we recognize the need to identify and
create mechanisms to promote and orient the sustainable use of biodiversity.
Background
In preparation for the Bolivia Summit on Sustainable Development, and as follow-up to
the Miami Summit of the Americas, the Biodiversity Support Program (BSP) was requested by
the U.S. Agency for International Development to facilitate a consultative process to
elicit specific recommendations for consideration by hemispheric policy makers, donor
agencies, and other key stakeholders on how biological diversity can be integrated into
sustainable development. Four institutional co-sponsors for this consultative process were
identified: the Directorate of Biodiversity Conservation in the Ministry of Sustainable
Development and Environment of the Government of Bolivia, the IUCN South American Regional
Office, the Comisión Centroamericana para Ambiente y Desarrollo, and the Fundación
Pro-Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
To contribute to this consultative process, a high-level advisory committee with
representatives from governments, NGOs, donors, the private sector, and research/academic
institutions has been convened. This committee, known as the Inter-American Commission on
Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, is composed of biodiversity and sustainable
development experts and key stakeholders from throughout the Americas. The initiatives
below represent their recommendations.
Initiatives
(For a full description on these initiatives or others not included in this summary the
sections which follow should be consulted)
In order to build on our commitments to the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity, the following initiatives are proposed:
- I. Inter-American Dialogue on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
We propose the establishment of an Inter-American Dialogue on Biodiversity and
Sustainable Development with the aim of defining and enhancing cooperation among the
countries of the Americas in all key areas concerned with biodiversity, such as forest
management, intellectual property rights and genetic resources, the relationship among
indigenous/local communities and biodiversity, and poverty and biodiversity.
- II. An Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network
We propose the establishment of an Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network to
promote improved collection, compatibility, management, and dissemination of information
on biodiversity in the Americas relevant to decision-making, education and dialogue.
- III. Improved Cooperation for the Management of Transboundary and/or Common Aquatic
Resources and Associated Biodiversity
We propose the development and promotion of a framework for hemispheric cooperation on
the management, and sustainable use of common and transboundary aquatic resources and
biodiversity.
- IV. Establishment of Innovative Financing Mechanisms to Promote the Conservation and
Sustainable Use of Biodiversity
We propose the development of innovative financing mechanisms supporting the
economically sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity, including venture-capital
funds; endowments for grants to innovative small business and NGOs; and user fees to
support government environmental agencies.
Biodiversity encompasses the entirety of life on Earth. It is the ultimate source of
food, health,and primary materials for all the people of the planet. Our hemisphere is
particularly richly endowed, containing as much as half of the world's biodiversity. This
biodiversity has the potential to satisfy human needs, improve the quality of human life,
and enhance the sustainability of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in the Americas.
Current trends in the loss of biodiversity are alarming. Agenda 21, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, the Americas Partnership for Biodiversity of the Miami Summit, and
other related international instruments and meetings have recognized the need to diminish
the rate of biodiversity loss by improving our collective efforts to understand, assess,
and sustainably use the living resource base.
It is proposed that the Governments of the Americas, in order to build on our
commitments to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and in the context of
the agreements, statements, and accords mentioned above, take following actions:
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I. Establish a Permanent Inter-American Dialogue on Biodiversity and Sustainable
Development.
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II. Promote the exchange of information relevant to decision making, dialogue, and
education on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity through the
establishment of an Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network.
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III. Improve cooperation for the management of shared (common) water resources and
associated biodiversity.
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IV. Promote innovative financing mechanisms for economically sustainable use and
conservation of biodiversity.
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V. Promote the sustainable use of biodiversity through social and ecological
certification programs for the trade and marketing of biodiversity products.
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Establish a Permanent Inter-American Dialogue on Biodiversity and
Sustainable Development
Background
Many of the principal economic and social problems of the Americas have been addressed
by the community of nations through the creation of consultation and discussion bodies
that smoothed the way to mutually agreeable solutions for many of the conflicts that have
arisen.
The protection of biodiversity cannot be an exception in a milieu where progress in
production has resulted in the radical transformation of our environment and where the
consequences of this transformation are felt in soil degradation, air pollution, and the
disappearance of important segments of plant and animal life, as deforestation accelerates
and important local and indigenous communities who depend on the existence of healthy and
permanent natural resources are negatively affected.
Initiative
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Create a mechanism for discussion at the inter-American level of topics related to
biodiversity and sustainable development, which would seek to set the basic strategies for
confronting the main threats to the conservation of the hemisphere's biodiversity, such as
problems related to forestry; relationships between communities, sustainable development,
and biodiversity; and intellectual and property rights to genetic resources on the part of
peoples to whom they belong.
The creation of such a mechanism requires the promoting of national-level meetings
(associations, working groups, advisory bodies, etc.) of civil society, nongovernmental
organizations and governments to debate specific points and make recommendations for
consideration by an annual ministerial meetings, which could be organized within the
framework of the OEA. This ministerial meeting, besides serving as a forum for dialogue,
would make decisions and recommendations related to governmental policies that influence
the management and use of biodiversity the region.
Among the main topics for the Dialogue would be:
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a. Sustainable management of protected natural areas.
b. Relations among local communities, minority ethnic groups, and biodiversity.
c. The problem of poverty and biodiversity in the nations of the Americas.
d. Systems and mechanisms of production and service that promote sustainable development;
and
e. Individual and collective intellectual-property rights.
The Dialogue would be a body that included and consisted of representatives of
governments and nongovernmental organizations of each country and of other groups in civil
society directly or indirectly concerned with these issues.
It is proposed that the Inter-American Dialogue on Biodiversity and Sustainable
Development function as an organ of the Organization of American States, as this is the
organization with the broadest continental scope and whose aims coincide with those of the
present proposal.
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Promote the Exchange of Information Relevant to Decision-Making,
Dialogue, and Education on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity
through the Establishment of an Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network
Background
The Miami Summit of the Americas approved an Action Plan with four main areas, the fourth
being "Ensure the Sustainable Development and Conservation of Our Natural Environment
for the Future Generations," with three initiatives agreed. One of these was the
"Partnership for Biodiversity," which included, among other actions, the
launching of a "Decade of Discovery" to promote hemispheric technical and
scientific cooperation and to facilitate the exchange of information relevant for the
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. While a variety of useful
bilateral and subregional efforts in this area have taken place since Miami, the
establishment of a multilateral facilitation mechanism is still needed to extend and
accelerate regional cooperation in this area.
Both Agenda 21 and the Convention on Biological Diversity, signed by all the American
states, call for cooperation on the production and dissemination of information needed for
the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The Convention calls for
cooperation on research and training (Article 12), public education and awareness (Article
13), exchange of information (Article 17), and technical and scientific cooperation
(Article 18). More specifically, it calls for the establishment of a clearinghouse
mechanism to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation (Article 18c).
Agenda 21 further speaks to the need to fully incorporate the different stakeholders-such
as the scientific, business, and NGO sectors and local communities- in the decision-making
and implementation processes to achieve sustainable development.
Better access to reliable information can influence how people perceive and value
biodiversity, improve cooperation and decisionmaking, and enhance citizen and business
participation. Cooperation is needed to assure improved access to information on national
biodiversity held outside each country. Improved compatibility of data sets is needed to
allow better analysis and understanding of trends in biodiversity for international
cooperation. New communication technologies and policies provide an opportunity to enhance
connectivity among the American states, further reducing historical barriers in the
Americas.
The establishment of an information network through the Internet is an efficient,
costeffective, transparent, and practical means to facilitate and promote information
exchange, communication, and cooperation among stakeholders in the various countries. The
experience of the Biodiversity Information Network (BIN21), a special-interest network
established as an international voluntary initiative, might be of relevance. Two workshops
were held to discuss the needs and specifications for such a network. The first,
"Needs and Specifications for a Biodiversity Information Network," held in 1992,
discussed the broad issues and established a working process. The second, "Linking
Mechanisms for Biodiversity Information Resources," was convened in 1994 to implement
the concept at the technical level. Both were sponsored by the United Nations Environment
Program and the Brazilian Government. A third workshop, organized in 1995 by BIN21 and
sponsored by the Brazilian Government, proposed an action plan to implement a
"ClearingHouse Mechanism on Biological Diversity."
Initiatives
The goal of the following four initiatives is the establishment, maintenance, and
strengthening of a broadly accessible network of information sources, users, and technical
resources for the understanding, conservation, use, and sustainable development of
biological diversity. In order for such a network to succeed, there must be a focused
attempt to bring into coherence the disparate efforts of a wide variety of government and
private entities (Initiative No. 1). To support this effort, governments could and would
take action to increase access to information (Initiative No. 2), improve the coordination
of the collection and use of information (Initiative No. 3), and improve connectivity and
access to necessary technical tools (Initiative No. 4).
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In order to develop an agenda for regional technical cooperation regarding information
needs and exchange, the governments would organize an initial technical conference, open
to leaders of relevant governmental and nongovernmental institutions. The aims of the
conference will be to create a wider understanding of initiatives of relevance for
biodiversity information in the Americas, in particular on the collection, compatibility,
management, and accessibility; to discuss the obstacles, both technical and institutional,
that inhibit the exchange of useful information in this area, and to frame an ongoing
agenda for cooperation in information exchange. In addition to framing this cooperative
agenda, a goal of the initial conference would be the drafting of appropriate terms of
reference for an Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network working group, with
representatives from the American states and key stakeholders on biodiversity information,
to provide guidance on partnerships and funding opportunities, information needs,
connectivity constraints, data management, and metadata information.
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Recognizing the goal of making biodiversity information widely available, particularly
to researchers, decision-makers, and the public in countries where such information has
been collected, governments would seek means to promote increased access to existing
biodiversity data available in public institutions, through new communications and
information technology, including the establishment of Web sites to organize and
facilitate such access, and the elaboration of databases and directories of institutions
and people working with biodiversity in the Americas.
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Recognizing the practical utility of developing on-the-ground experience in information
sharing, data exchange, and public education, and the benefits of exchange of information
on biodiversity status, conservation, and sustainable use, including the identification
and dissemination of successful experiences and projects, governments would nominate
prospective sites or management units that would participate in an electronic network of
research and conservation sites to explore issues of information collection, compatibility
and exchange, and to share experiences with public outreach, local involvement, and other
issues of importance to on-the-ground management of sustainable use. This network of
demonstration sites could focus on transboundary parks, reserves, and ecosystems.
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Governments would promote the enhancement of communication connectivity among the
American states through appropriate use of new technologies and policies, the development
of technical solutions and tools, and the incorporation of emerging information and
communication technologies, and through participation and capacity-building with respect
to communications and information technology.
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Improve Cooperation for the Management of Shared (Common) Water
Resources and Associated Biodiversity
Background
Issues of conservation and sustainable use of water are especially relevant to the
Hemisphere, which possesses the largest endowment of freshwater resources in the world
today. Increasingly, this natural inheritance is coming under threat from unsustainable
development. It is urgent that collaborative hemispheric action be adopted without further
delay if irreversible damage to this valuable resource base, and to the people who depend
upon it for survival, is to be avoided. Water management has been the subject of several
international, regional, and subregional compacts by countries. The UNCED Agreements,
including the Forest Principles, the Convention on Biological Diversity and Agenda 21,
make specific references to the need for urgent action on the conservation of freshwater
and coastal and marine resources.
The interdependent and interlinked nature of ecosystem functions that contribute to
efficient water production and the maintenance of water quality requires multisectoral,
multidisciplinary, and often multinational collaboration on water management in the
Hemisphere. Many watersheds, rivers, lakes, and seas are resources shared by two or more
countries of the Americas and, in the case of the Caribbean Sea, by as many as 39
countries bordering this valuable hemispheric resource. It therefore becomes necessary to
promote increased national and multinational focus on the conservation of biodiversity as
an integral process in the management of the water resources of the continent.
Because development actions within one country that may be inconsistent with the
sustainable management practices necessary for maintaining adequate water supply and
quality have the potential for contributing to severe environmental, economic, and social
hardships in neighboring countries, or in the case of the Caribbean Sea, of countries
thousands of miles away from the source of the problem, hemispheric cooperation on the
management and sustainable use of common aquatic resources and associated biodiversity is
essential.
A range of intergovernmental agreements have indeed been adopted in the region to
address problems related to water management between two or more countries--for example,
the Cartagena Convention on the Protection of the Caribbean Sea and its related protocols
and the bilateral agreement between Peru and Bolivia for Lake Titicaca. However, limited
implementation capacities within countries constrain their abilities to adequately manage
shared or common water resources and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The result has
been, in general, a poor record on concrete follow-up action on water- management issues
in the Americas.
Greater impact on water conservation and sustainable use of the water resources of the
hemisphere can be realized if joint efforts are undertaken for the development,
financing, and implementation of water-management programs among countries which that
water and associated biodiversity resources. Hemispheric cooperation on water management
must be one of the cornerstones of sustainable development. Where options for national
action exist or are preferred, this must also be undertaken within the context of regional
or bilateral policy-level collaboration. Although a few examples of successful
initiatives for such collaboration on the management of resources exist within the
hemisphere, the idea of joint implementation has not been sufficiently advanced. In
general, the technical, financial, and institutional capacities of most countries are
limited, and attempting to strengthen these on an individual-country basis can be
considered probably unattainable, even the long-term future. Maximizing the use of limited
capacities through collaboration is a more sustainable approach toward natural-resources
management, particularly for water-resources management. The poor implementation record of
several existing intergovernmental agreements, not only in the Americas but globally, may
be tied to this limited historical focus on joint management of water and other related
natural resources.
If it is considered that capacity building for natural-resources management is one of
the essential pillars of sustainable development, then investment to meet these needs is
required. Investment sources include governments, the private sector, international
donors, and other benefactors. A key starting point for support, especially from donors,
would be in the area of the development and/or improvement of policies and
strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other resources
related to water supply and water quality. A further step in this process would be
investment in implementation strategies that are themselves sustainable. These should
include the development of conservation trust funds; improvement the legal framework for
creating incentives and disincentives for sustainable use of forests, wetlands, coral
reefs, and other biodiversity resources and ecosystems related to the management of water;
improved law-enforcement techniques; and the involvement of private-sector investment in
the sustainable use of biodiversity.
The demonstration of tangible social and economic benefits to the countries involved
must be the primary focus of such sustainable development strategies and be among the key
outputs of capacity-building exercises for water management in the Americas. Thus, for the
realization of such benefits, in addition to using traditional management approaches,
innovative financing strategies and arrangements for sustainable use of water and
associated natural resources are now imperative for the Hemisphere; in particular, the
involvement of the private sector is central to this process.
Initiatives
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Each country in the hemisphere would agree to renew its commitment under existing legal
bilateral and multilateral agreements related to the conservation of water resources.
These include the Western Hemisphere Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, the
Cartagena Convention on the Protection of the Caribbean Sea, the MARPOL Convention,
Programme of Action and the Ramsar Convention of the Small Island Developing States.
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Each country in the Hemisphere would agree to examine the effectiveness of existing
international, regional, or bilateral agreements on biodiversity and water management and,
where appropriate, agree to build upon or create new site-specific agreements, including
joint projects, for the management of shared or common water and associated natural
resources.
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Countries with shared or common watersheds, rivers, lakes, or seas would each undertake
to determine the scope and dimensions of resources that they share or that are common to
them, and to establish priorities for biodiversity conservation and water-management
activities to be implemented either nationally or on a cooperative/collaborative basis.
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Each country in the Hemisphere would agree to develop appropriate legislative and
financial instruments and strategies, including the use of economic incentives and
disincentives to promote sustainable forestry, sustainable fishing, sustainable tourism,
and efficient waste management, as strategies for protecting common resources.
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Bilateral and multilateral donors, research and scientific institutions, nongovernmental
organizations and other philanthropic organizations should be urged to provide financial
and technical support to countries with shared or common water and associated natural
resources to assist countries in examining needs either for development of new agreements
or for the strengthening of existing cooperative agreements on the management of these
resources. These agencies should also be encouraged to strengthen the institutional and
technical capacities of relevant governments and civil society organizations charged with
responsibilities for sustainable development policy and program development and
implementation. Where appropriate, agreements on sharing expertise for joint
implementation activities should be explored.
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Each country in the Hemisphere would agree to build upon relevant existing multinational
water-management initiatives such as the International Coral Reef Initiative and the
Action Plan of the Caribbean Environmental Programme.
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Governments would support the creation of regional networks for critical transboundary
rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal marine areas to strengthen cooperation and to improve
the management of these aquatic and associated biodiversity resources.
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Promote Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Economically Sustainable
Use and Conservation of Biodiversity by the Private Sector
Background
Biodiversity is a source of national pride and potential comparative advantage. A
nation's use of biodiversity can only be sustainable and promote conservation if
sufficient economic incentives are present to use it in nondestructive ways. Promising
examples may be (1) alternative and organic agriculture, (2) timber from sustainable
forest management, (3) non-timber products from forests and wildlands (nuts, fruits, oils,
etc.), (4) ecotourism, and (5) responsible bioprospecting for pharmaceutical and
agrochemical products.
Responsible uses of biodiversity require creative business approaches, which are often
pursued by smaller private enterprises. They involve higher risks (both perceived and
real), and their initiation requires special financing incentives, support from NGOs and
government, and innovative financing mechanisms. Sources of capital need to be readily
available to do feasibility studies and to facilitate technology transfer so that local
capacity can be built.
To date, little has been done to stimulate the creative efforts and energies of small
biodiversity-based businesses. Despite recent interest in microenterprise development, the
main focus of most national and international development organizations is still on
large-scale projects. Yet small and medium sized enterprises, much like the biotechnology
industry in the United States, may very well spawn the business innovations that will
create the local infrastructure and expertise capable of adding substantial value to
biodiversity. NGOs and other stakeholders, including governments, can piggyback on and
catalyze these entrepreneurial efforts. This would facilitate private-sector development
of enterprises dedicated to sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity.
The Convention on Biological Diversity requires financial resources for its
implementation by the parties. Developed countries are to provide new and additional
financial resources to enable country parties to meet the full incremental costs of
implementing the Convention by means of appropriate funding mechanisms. These funds need
to be appropriately used to promote benefit-sharing arrangements and technology transfer.
Recently signed Andean Pact legislation calls for the establishment of an Andean Fund to
finance conservation efforts. To date, few if any innovative funding mechanisms dedicated
to biodiversity, small businesses, and the private sector have been established.
Self-sufficiency and profitability are medium- to long-term goals that, however
difficult, must be realized to sustain biodiversity-based business initiatives. Leaving
this task to the private sector would result in the start-up of few business initiatives.
In the short to medium term such businesses need an "incubation period" allowing
them to build capacity, acquire appropriate technology and know-how, and engage in
activities that support the Convention. The link between innovative financing mechanisms
and sustainable use of biodiversity is likely to be the strongest if incubation is
facilitated through various institutional, public and private financing mechanisms that
serve as financial catalysts. Following certain unifying principles, this approach
necessitates collaborative efforts among the various stakeholders in biodiversity,
including but not limited to the private sector, government, NGOs, international
development organizations, and local or indigenous peoples. A commitment both to the
principles of the Convention, and to the development of the private sector is required.
Initiative
The sources of funding should, whenever possible, include concepts such as
"revenue-based user fees" and "green tax-exempt savings and
investments" in addition to the more traditional sources of funding. The overall
capitalization should be at such level that meaningful biodiversity-based private
sector-development is being catalyzed over a period of five to ten years. Once the sector
is up and running and enterprises can be expected to succeed in the marketplace without
special support, grants and soft financing mechanisms would be discontinued. The
management of the funds would be predominantly local with the support of international
advisers, including some from the private sector.
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative advocates the design and establishment of an
independent, but complementary set of funding mechanisms across the Americas, including
biodiversity venture-capital funds, biodiversity trusts and endowments, biodiversity
technology-transfer funds, watershed-protection funds, and the establishment of socially
responsible banking institutions for biodiversity-based businesses. Taken together, these
mechanisms offer a harmonious and synergistic blend of sources of capital for the
development of a biodiversity-based business sector. To promote synergy among the funding
mechanisms, the proposed mechanisms would have the common objective of screening projects
according to the financing criteria outlined below. Fund/mechanism managers should
communicate and share experiences regarding the development of this nascent sector via a
Web-based Biodiversity Finance Intranet.
The proposed funds could start on a regional and/or national basis. Depending on the
success of the actual Biodiversity Finance Initiative, phased expansion and specialization
could take place. The targeted project size would be less than US$10 million. Any
independently existing or forthcoming funding mechanisms could collaborate with (or be
integrated into) the Initiative to avoid duplication of efforts.
It is critical to ensure that if financing is made available to sponsor
biodiversity-related projects, funds are disbursed to promote sustainable biodiversity use
based on certain investment and financing criteria. A general criterion would be that such
projects have good profit potential and comply in letter and spirit with the Convention,
including any forthcoming regional or national legislation. Additional criteria for
eligibility would be to screen projects on the basis of (1) the proposed level of
technology transfer, (2) the proposed level of local capacity building, (3) the mechanisms
for fair and equitable distribution of benefits, and (4) compliance with existing or
self-imposed product certification procedures.
It is recommended that the Biodiversity Finance Initiative be given firm support by the
Governments of the Americas through resolutions to (1) support the broad principles of the
Initiative; (2) obtain broad governmental support for the Initiative, including that the
ministries of finance, environment, and science and technology; and (3) fund studies on
the exact scope of the Initiative and create an implementation plan.
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Promote the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity through Social and
Ecological Certification Programs for the Trade and Marketing of Biodiversity Products
Background
Throughout the world, a series of initiatives aimed at setting parameters or mechanism
for controlling the environmental impact of major productive activities have been tried,
particularly in the third world. Among these are the certification for sustainable logging
in the region of Indochina and of banana cultivation Costa Rica. Similarly, the
International Standards Organization is preparing a series devoted primarily to assessing
environmental impact of good and services producers.
In addition, the worldwide hotel industry is being classified and certified under
systems that seek to rank hotels according to standards of quality and in some cases--as
in that of the World Ecotourism Society-- with respect to their interaction with the
environment. It should be noted that the Government of Costa Rica, through its Ministry of
Tourism, is currently undertaking one of the most promising programs of classification of
tourism businesses based on their actions and measures in the area of environmental,
sociocultural, and economic sustainability. This initiative, called the Program of
Certification for Tourism Sustainability (CST), is a mechanism through which the private
sector will be encouraged to adopt initiatives that will bring about improvements in
activities that impinge, in one way or another, on the environment, communities and the
local culture.
All these mechanisms contribute to a greater or lesser extent to the work of preserving
biodiversity because they encourage coexistence between the sector of society that produce
goods and services and their surroundings and national resources.
This proposal has as its main objective the identification of a series of mechanisms
that could support the sustainable use of biodiversity in all countries of the Americas.
Its goal is sustainable interaction between society and the environment through the
evaluation of environmental behavior, environmental and sociocultural impact, and the
means of production of goods and services.
Initiative
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Assign to the Inter-American Dialogue on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development the
task of disseminating information on the experiences countries have already had, both
positive and negative, concerning human interaction with the environment. The Dialogue
would also be in charge of obtaining more information on the different mechanisms employed
for the rational and responsible exploitation of biodivertiy and disseminating it to all
countries of the Americas.
Among the main topics addressed would be sociocultural and environmental certification
mechanism for agricultural production, extractive activities, and the tourism sector, and
specific examples, both positive and negative of human interaction with the environment
and biodiversity. Realistic and cross-cutting studies that take into consideration the
specific situations of the countries of the Hemisphere should be prepared on the
implementation of these social and ecological certification programs. Governments of the
Hemisphere, nongovernmental organizations, and other sectors of civil society would
participate in this process, which would take place under the auspices of the
Inter-American Dialogue on Biodivertiy and Sustainable Development.
Efforts should be made to provide access and international price incentives for
biodiversity products.
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