Protection of Global Biodiversity

by Guruswamy, Lakshman D.; McNeely, Jeffrey A.; Raven, Peter (CON)

• ISBN13: 9780822321880
• ISBN10: 0822321882
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-08-01
• Publisher: Duke Univ Pr

Summary

The rate of extinction of biological species is greater today than at any time in the last 65 million years. Some predict that if this rate continues, two-thirds of all living species will disappear during the next century. Because reaching consensus on specific courses of action involves complex issues, any adequate response to this impending crisis must include coverage of many areas of inquiry and understanding.Protection of Global Biodiversityfeatures essays by distinguished international experts who communicate with each other across disciplinary boundaries to address the challenge of formulating policies to protect biodiversity. Although the global community has recently adopted a Convention of Biological Diversity, the agreement sets forth only abstract goals. Contributors to this volume advance the Conventionrs"s initial steps by providing workable solutions that can be implemented regionally, nationally, and locally. The contributors-including natural, social, and political scientists; economists; lawyers; and environmentalists; and decisionmakers in business, agriculture, and government-have united to create a common discourse and to evaluate and propose strategies for halting this alarming loss of biodiversity. In recognizing the diverse aspects of this task-scientific, economic, institutional, moral, and legal-this book presents a new picture of emerging action.Contributors.S. James Anaya, Gregory Benford, Graciela Chichilnisky, S. Todd Crider, Yvonne Cripps, Robert T. Fraley, Anil K. Gupta, Lakshman D. Guruswamy, G. M. Heal, Brent Hendricks, Robert B. Horsch, Laura L. Jackson, Annie Lovejoy, Ariel E. Lugo, Jeffrey A. McNeely, Brian G. Norton, Elinor Ostrom, Peter H. Raven, John W. Reid, Walter V. Reid, Mark Sagoff, Roger A. Sedgo, R. David Simpson, Ana Sittenfeld, Christopher D. Stone, Gary H. Toenniessen

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Identifying the Problem: An Overview

Biological Extinction: Its Scope and Meaning for Us

Biodiversity and Public Policy: The Middle of the Road

Scientific Responses

Biotechnology Can Help Reduce the Loss of Biodiversity

Agricultural Industrialization and the Loss of Biodiversity

An Ex Situ "Library of Life" Strategy

Economic Responses

Sustainable Development and North-South Trade

Markets and Biodiversity

The Commercialization of Indigenous Genetic Resources as Conservation and Development Policy

Institutional Responses

Scales, Polycentricity, and Incentives: Designing Complexity to Govern Complexity

Halting the Loss of Biodiversty: International Institutional Measures

Rewarding Local Communities for Conserving Biodiversity: The Case of the Honey Bee

International Research on Crop Plants: Strategies for Utilizing Biotechnology and Proprietary Products

The Mayagna Indigenous Community of Nicaragua: Moving from Conflict to a Convergence of Interests

Biodiversity Prospecting Frameworks: The INBio Experience in Costa Rica

Moral Responses

Biological Resources and Endangered Species: History, Values, and Policy

On the Uses of Biodiversity

Legal Implementation

What to Do About Biodiversity: The Earth's Biological Riches in Law and Economics

Aspects of Intellectual Property in Biotechnology: Some European Legal Perspectives

Animals as Inventions: Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights

The Convention of Biological Diversity: A Polemic

Transformative Possibilities: Reinventing the Convention on Biological Diversity

Conclusion: How to Save the Biodiversity of Planet Earth

Appendix

Contributors

Index

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