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Convention on Biodiversity The Convention on Biodiversity is one of the main driving forces behind global conservation programmes for biodiversity. The Convention is continuing to develop approaches to biodiversity conservation leading to acceptance of the need to recognise the role of geological and geomorphological processes in supporting biodiversity. The application of what the Convention terms the 'Ecosystem Approach' now offers an opportunity to promote geoconservation concepts through this convention. For more information about the Convention on Biodiversity, go to http://www.biodiv.org/ The Ecosystem Approach seeks to integrate social, economic and ecological factors, balancing sustainable use of natural resources of all kinds with equitable sharing of costs and benefits. It seeks to 'make good' the limitations of single sector approaches to nature conservation that focus on specific species or protected area systems. The need to step beyond these approaches to encompass entire landscapes (and seascapes) is widely recognised and the EA attempts to do this, not as a substitute for the traditional approaches but as a logical and necessary extension to their application. There is a clear role for geodiversity management within the Ecosystem Approach. There is as yet no International Convention on Geodiversity to match the Convention on Biodiversity. However, following on from the Convention on Biodiversity, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan was created, to deal with biodiversity conservation in the UK in response to the Convention. In a similar vein, Local Geodiversity Action Plans are being developed, in part from the model of BAPs, to provide a framework for the delivery of geoconservation. They have adopted the process of settign clear aims and objectives, with measurable targets, for local geoconservation. Further information about LGAPs, and the recent development of a UKGAP, can be found here: |
UNESCO and the World Heritage Convention Other international initiatives
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