GLOBAL LEGISLATION
Biodiversity is global, and there has been global legislation enacted regarding it. In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development took place in Rio de Janeiro. This conference has been widely known as the “Earth Summit”. The summit was intended to bring environmental protection together with the world’s economic development. The Earth Summit was also the largest gathering of world leaders in history.
There were five international agreements that came out the Rio gathering:
- The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development;
- Agenda 21;
- Forest Principles;
- The Framework Convention on Climate Change;
- The Convention on Biodiversity.
The Convention on Biodiversity has been ratified by more than 190 countries, including Canada. Its goals are to conserve biodiversity; to use the components of biodiversity sustainably; and to share the share the economic and other benefits that arise from the use of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. The Convention on Biodiversity has structures set up to help bring its goals into being. For example, there is Conference of the Parties, which meets every two years to achieve agreement on issues which will help reach the goals of the Convention. There are also scientific and technical bodies working to support the Convention, as well as a secretariat, (located in Montreal) and working groups and a network designed to promote the sharing of scientific and technical information. The Convention on Biodiversity also has its own website with information on the Convention itself, and the events that are ongoing around it.
In addition to the above, there is the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. This research arose as it became apparent in the 1990’s that there was a need for more scientific assessment than was being provided under the existing mechanisms of the Convention on Biodiversity. Scientists also wanted to have an international ecosystem assessment. Working meetings occurred from 2001 to 2005, with the results of the Assessment being released in March, 2005.
When the Millennium Assessment findings were released, they revealed that human activity has strained the earth’s ecosystems to the point that their ability to support future generations is no longer guaranteed. The Assessment also showed that the effects of human activity on many ecosystems can be reversed over the next 50 years, but only if changes are made to policy and practice are made now.
CANADIAN LEGISLATION & ACTION
The Convention on Biodiversity was singed at the Earth Summit in June of 1992. In December of that same year, Canada became the first industrialized country to ratify it. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments joined together to implement the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. Its purpose is to ensure that we as a country meet our obligations under the Convention on Biodiversity. There are four areas that are worked on jointly:
- Invasive alien species;
- Biodiversity status and trends;
- Biodiversity science and information;
- Biodiversity stewardship.
The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy is implanted from Environment Canada’s Biodiversity Convention Office. The Office coordinates action with other government departments and facilitates policy development. In 1996, Environment Canada set up the Canadian Biodiversity Information network. The Network is tasked with delivering information on the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, and being Canada’s connection to the network designed to share scientific and technical information that is mentioned above.
Canada is also part of the 2010 Biodiversity Target. This agreement was reached in March of 2002, and under it, Canada and other nations who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity agreed that by 2010 they would achieve ‘ a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level’. This goal was set as ‘a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth.
Part of Canada’s strategy in dealing with biodiversity is to be transparent and to have public participation in the process. As such, Canada is one of only two countries in the world to have included non-governmental organizations as part of the delegations sent to meetings on the Convention on Biodiversity.
MANITOBA LEGISLATION
In Manitoba, The Endangered Species Act covers species that are under threat. They are monitored by the Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch.
The Conservation Agreements Act has been passed by the Province of Manitoba to allow for voluntary protection of natural areas on private land. A Conservation Agreement is an agreement between landowners and conservation authorities to protect plants, animals and the ecosystems which hold them, while still allowing the owner to use the land and to develop it. Once the agreement is entered into, it is filed on the Certificate of Title to the land and runs with the land.
Manitoba also has a Conservation Agreements Board, which facilitates discussion around conservation agreements and their implications, helps in dispute resolution, and completes the functions the Board must undertake by law.
Manitoba also keeps records of plants and animals at risk at the Biological Conservation Data system of the Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch. The information held there helps in conservation, planning for development, research and education.
Manitoba has also been a part of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) since 1978, and has been involved in the Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife's (RENEW) strategy since 1988.
Many species on the planet are unknown: