Ecosystem services have been disturbed to such an extent that, unless remedial action is taken urgently, reaching both the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) target of slowing biodiversity loss by 2010 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 could prove impossible (MA, 2005a). This report looks at the reasons behind this crisis, pinpointing governance as the crucial factor to get right.

Despite widely voiced concerns about some of the negative implications of protected areas, and growing pressures to ensure that they fulfil social as well as ecological objectives, no standard methods exist to assess social impacts.

Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are extremely important biodiversity areas due to their populations of the highly endangered mountain gorilla. Gazettement of the parks in 1991 caused high levels of conflict and resistance from the surrounding communities, seriously threatening the ability of the protected area authority to manage the parks.

We're in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. For those of us in the North, that can seem abstract; for the rural poor in the  developing world, it's all too real.

Impulsées par de nouvelles idées sur les mérites des régimes décentralisés de gouvernance collective des ressources et par les expériences créatives menées sur le terrain comme CAMPFIRE au Zimbabwe, ces approches communautaires ont évolué dans une variété de contextes écologiques, politiques et sociaux aux quatre coins de l’Afrique.

US$15.00 to Non-OECD countries

Patents, intellectual property rights, biopiracy... these terms are appearing more and more frequently in the news. It is clear even to the lay person that these are controversial issues. What is not clear is what they mean. What implications do they have for an ordinary citizen? Why are they such a hot topic of debate? What connection do intellectual property rights (IPRs) have with biological resources? What is the link to India's traditional knowledge, such as the medicinal properties of turmeric that were patented in the USA a few years ago? This handbook is a step towards filling the gap of user-friendly information and encouraging mainstream debate on IPRs, biodiversity and traditional knowledge. This handbook introduces the world of IPRs in clear, simple language. Presented in a Question & Answer format, it begins with the most basic questions and progresses to more complex issues, making it easily accessible to laypersons as well as those who are already familiar with the subject This publication is part of the Biodiversity Information Pack which includes three components. The other titles are: 'A Guide to the Biological Diversity Act 2002' and 'Understanding the Biological Diversity Act 2002'

In May 2002, there was a review of the approach taken in management of the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve in Brazil. This review yielded many valuable lessons regarding how to begin to reconcile conservation and development objectives with an economically poor and socially marginalized area. It analyses the approach adopted for collaborative management in fisheries and forestry, in creating enabling policy frameworks, and the introduction of alternative economic activities based on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

This review documents how community conservation can contribute to human well-being and the preservation of natural resources in southern Africa. Additional examples and experience are drawn from India, South East Asia and Central America. The report provides eight recommendations to further advance community conservation processes

This paper presents the Indigenous Biocultural Heritage Register, an approach developed by Andean communities in Peru in order to protect their knowledge against biopiracy and gain legal rights relating over their knowledge. The main objective of the register is to ensure the conservation, protection and promotion of indigenous peoples’ knowledge systems for sustaining their livelihoods and traditional resource rights. The Indigenous Biocultural Heritage Register, based on traditional Andean science and technology, also uses modern tools for collecting, documenting, storing, and administering the contents of the register.