1. Institutions Envisioned by the
CBD and the Challenge of
Implementation
Biodiversity!
Michael Patrick MacDonald
Earth Day, 2009
Pols 259
Professor Robert Bartlett

2.  1992 Rio Earth Summit
• Development and signing of the CBD
• Shifted thinking from species preservation to
ecosystem and biodiversity conservation
• 191 Parties to the Convention (US not one)
• Secretariat located in Montreal
• … Inclusion or Dictation?

3.  In order for the CBD to successfully accomplish
its goals of a global community of biodiversity
conservation, it must address the lack of
interest from the north in supporting southern
conservation efforts as well as make
conservation measures more enticing for the
third world and developing countries of the
world.

4.  Elliot
• Brundtland Commission and ‘sustainable’ definition
 Park et al. (Kütting Chapter)
• Asymmetrical wealth distribution
 Najam
• Organizational tinkering

5.  Equatorial Third World
 Rising Population
• Growing Fishery
• Growing Urban Development
 Other Environmental
Problems
• Rising Temperature
• Air Pollution Issues
 Economics
• Simply cannot afford
conservation; other key issues
more important

6.  ‘Relative’ Third World
 Economy
• Largely based on oil
production
• Agriculture- 1%
 Politics and Public
Perception
• Misconception that
biodiversity is not an issue
 Sustainable Agriculture
• Will it make a difference?

7.  CBD has no proper funding mechanism
• GEF in charge of funding
• Volunteerism at its finest
• What about the South?
 Can they foot the bill?
 Does the GEF even make a difference?

8.  Elliot
• No definition of the South’s needs
• Biodiversity as a commodity
 Protecting state interests
 Ignoring Indigenous Groups
 Park et al.
• Asymmetry of Wealth
• CBD Headquarters in the North
 Najam
• Reliance on organizational changes rather than
institutional shift

9.  CBD must create proper funding
mechanism to achieve goals
 More attention needs to be paid to the
North-South economic discrepancy
• Northern efforts in sustainable development are
not necessarily an all-encompassing solution
• Recognition of the fact that the global south
holds many of the world’s most biodiverse
regions
• No real incentive for poor countries to
participate

10.  CBD must create proper funding
mechanism to achieve goals
 More attention needs to be paid to the
North-South economic discrepancy
• Northern efforts in sustainable development are
not necessarily an all-encompassing solution
• Recognition of the fact that the global south
holds many of the world’s most biodiverse
regions
• No real incentive for poor countries to
participate