Options and challenges for management of plant diversity and landscapes in Australasia

Given, David R. and Spellerberg, Ian F. (2001) Options and challenges for management of plant diversity and landscapes in Australasia. [Proceedings Paper]

The Convention on Biological Diversity is the principle global instrument for conservation of the diversity of life at all levels of ecological and biological organization. However, its global intentions must be translated into regional and local action. Strategies developed at the level of sovereign states are specifically intended to be a major outcome of the Convention, and these require state of the environment reporting, development of indicators of biodiversity health and integrity, and measures both to alleviate causes of extinction and to promote protection. In addition the Convention calls on countries to undertake positive actions for which Agenda 21 provides a blueprint, through a wide range of sectors and at levels down to the local community. There has been a tendency, to which Australia and New Zealand are not exceptions, to see the task of conserving biodiversity as over rather than just the beginning, to under-estimate the resources needed to enact the aims of the CBD at country level, to under-value biodiversity because it is not a vote-calcher; to under-appreciate the need to give up cherished freedoms and modifying some long cherished activities, and to act at a wide range of levels from global down to local. The CBD principles muse be reflected in every sector of human activity including commercial operations and it Lakes time for this to be accepted. Most importantly, there is need for shared visions of the kind of world in which people want to live. These factors are examined in the context of Australia and New Zealand as two highly contrasting 'hot spots' of biological diversity which are economically highly developed. Crucial agenda items for sustaining biodiversity into the new millennium include biosecurity and invasive exotic species, a landscape approach to biodiversity stewardship, conservation protocols on private and production land, seeking sustainability in forest and agricultural landscapes, the economics of species recovery, and recognition of property rights and non-Western approaches to conservation for traditional peoples. Over and above these specific issues is the need to develop cross-sectoral dialogue and devolution of conservation responsibility, as part of a radically new societal attitude to nature, biodiversity and wilderness.

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Abstract

The Convention on Biological Diversity is the principle global instrument for conservation of the diversity of life at all levels of ecological and biological organization. However, its global intentions must be translated into regional and local action. Strategies developed at the level of sovereign states are specifically intended to be a major outcome of the Convention, and these require state of the environment reporting, development of indicators of biodiversity health and integrity, and measures both to alleviate causes of extinction and to promote protection. In addition the Convention calls on countries to undertake positive actions for which Agenda 21 provides a blueprint, through a wide range of sectors and at levels down to the local community. There has been a tendency, to which Australia and New Zealand are not exceptions, to see the task of conserving biodiversity as over rather than just the beginning, to under-estimate the resources needed to enact the aims of the CBD at country level, to under-value biodiversity because it is not a vote-calcher; to under-appreciate the need to give up cherished freedoms and modifying some long cherished activities, and to act at a wide range of levels from global down to local. The CBD principles muse be reflected in every sector of human activity including commercial operations and it Lakes time for this to be accepted. Most importantly, there is need for shared visions of the kind of world in which people want to live. These factors are examined in the context of Australia and New Zealand as two highly contrasting 'hot spots' of biological diversity which are economically highly developed. Crucial agenda items for sustaining biodiversity into the new millennium include biosecurity and invasive exotic species, a landscape approach to biodiversity stewardship, conservation protocols on private and production land, seeking sustainability in forest and agricultural landscapes, the economics of species recovery, and recognition of property rights and non-Western approaches to conservation for traditional peoples. Over and above these specific issues is the need to develop cross-sectoral dialogue and devolution of conservation responsibility, as part of a radically new societal attitude to nature, biodiversity and wilderness.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. QH75 A1I61 2000 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	biodiversity
AGROVOC Term:	landscape conservation
AGROVOC Term:	ecosystems
AGROVOC Term:	vegetation
AGROVOC Term:	natural resources
AGROVOC Term:	environmental management
Geographical Term:	Australia
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	21 Jul 2025 06:21
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2025 06:21
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/597

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