| Biodiversity issues have been high on the agenda of the IUCN Environmental Law Programme (ELP) since its inception. In particular, the ELP has contributed significantly to the development of a number of important international conventions on the conservation and sustainable use of species and ecosystems, as well as biodiversity per se. Among them: CITES, CMS, CBD. The ELP has also addressed a wide range of issues related to the implementation of biodiversity-related international instruments. Recently, key topics have included Invasive Alien Species, Biosafety, Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), and other cross cutting issues.
Access and Benefit-Sharing
A major project on ABS was carried out in the past years which included extensive research and capacity-building activities and provided technical legal input and advice to ongoing international processes.
Publications
- Accessing Biodiversity and Sharing the Benefits, EPLP No. 54 (2004)
- Explanatory Guide to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, EPLP No. 57 (2005).
For a comprehensive list of outcomes and activities of The ABS Project see here. Currently, the publication of a comprehensive six-volume ABS Series under the Law Centre’s EPLP Series is in the process of being completed.
Projects and activities on Access and Benefit-sharing remain on the agenda of work of the Environmental Law Centre (ELC) for the coming years.
Biosafety
Activities of the ELP on issues of biosafety in the past years included inter alia analysis, publications and legal advice.
Publications
- An Explanatory Guide to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, EPLP No. 46 (2003)
- Genetically Modified Organisms and Biosafety: A background paper for decision-makers and others to assist in consideration of GMO issues (2004).
Invasive Alien Species
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are a problem of growing concern and a cross-cutting issue throughout biodiversity-related conventions. The Environmental Law Centre has been active in giving legal and policy advice to national and international bodies and is currently preparing a series of technical manuals to assist national legislative and administrative personnel in developing institutional and legal frameworks for addressing IAS issues.
Publications
- National and Regional Legislation for Promotion and Support to the Prevention, Control and Eradication of Invasive Species (February 2006).
- A Guide to Designing Legal and Institutional Frameworks on Alien Invasive Species,
EPLP No. 40 (2000).
For more work of IUCN on IAS see
- Activities of the IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group
- IUCN Marine Programme’s Considerations on Alien Species in Aquaculture Guide
- Toolkit of Best Prevention and Management Practices of the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP), in which IUCN is collaborating.
Wildlife Trade
The ELC is collaborating in a joint TRAFFIC-IUCN project looking at the European Commission (EC) Wildlife Trade regulations. As part of the assessment of the effectiveness of the EC Wildlife Trade Regulations, the ELC is undertaking an in-depth analysis of the provisions, noting whether there are any issues or inconsistencies. In particular the analysis is reviewing possible inconsistencies within and between the EC Wildlife Trade Regulations as well as with the provisions and Resolutions of CITES and European Union Policies and Law, such as the Habitats Directive or the Birds Directive and the EC policy on Invasive species.
Biodiversity & Climate Change
As climate change is becoming a major threat to biodiversity, international legal regimes increasingly address this cross-cutting issue by adopting decisions, recommendations, work programmes, etc. To facilitate a coherent implementation, IUCN-ELC has developed the Biodiversity and Climate Module under the UNEP Issue Based Modules project. Other cross-cutting issues, for which modules have been developed under the project, include: sustainable use of biodiversity, inland waters, and invasive alien species.
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