| European
Tropical Forest Research Network |
Internet workshop
7 - 25 January 2002, and
policy seminar 21
May 2002
convened by the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford
Some definitions
Biodiversity assessment
Ecosystem approach
Involving communities and local stakeholders in biodiversity monitoring
Involving volunteers in biodiversity monitoring
Strategic training and data gathering
Impact assessment
Theme 2: Biodiversity values
Theme 3: Methods and tools
Theme 4: Information needs
Theme 5: Synergy
Theme 6: Enabling factors
Some definitionsAlthough we acknowledge the keen debate concerning definitions of ‘biodiversity’, our stance is that perceptions of biodiversity will depend on who you are, your professional training and roles, what you value as an individual or as part of an institution, and what is ‘expected’ from the environment. We do not propose to debate definitions, either in this overview paper or within the workshop itself. If you are interested you might like to look at these two website: For the official
CBD definition of biological diversity (biodiversity): What is biodiversity?
Two articles on the Biodiversity Center’s website: Terms relating to biodiversity information-collectionAssessment: often used to mean a one-off detailed survey of biodiversity. We also use it here as a generic term to cover any of the following. Inventory: quantitative assessment of particular species Monitoring: assessment to measure change; often based on indicators. Evaluation: method of prioritisation that recognises that different components of biodiversity have different values within a given context. |
Biodiversity assessmentThe Millenium Ecosystem
Assessment is described at Cultural and Spiritual
Values of Biodiversity, ed. Darrell Posey. The book is described at European Community - Biodiversity Clearinghouse Mechanism (EC-CHM) Larsson, T.B & Esteban J.A. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Conference on cost-effective biodiversity indicators to assess biological diversity in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity: Convention on Biological Diversity – Handbook: European Biodiversity Monitoring and Indicator Framework (EBMI- F): An initiative led by ECNC and EEA that aims at enhancing European monitoring and indicator efforts and to creating a stronger linkage to European biodiversity policies. It is closely linked to the implementation of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy. Swedish Environmental Protection Agency through Swedish EnviroNet. Advice and information on the concept of biological diversity, measurement of biological diversity, and the ecosystem approach: National Biodiversity Databank (NBDB) Uganda: http://www.bou.org.uk/pubuganda.html |
|
Involving communities and local stakeholders in biodiversity monitoringSummary of ‘Ecological
Surveys, Monitoring and the Involvement of Local People in Protected Areas
of Lao PDR’ by Robert Steinmetz Biodiversity in Development Series, a project of the EC, DFID and IUCN: Guiding Principles Madhav Gadgil’s publications,
made available for this workshop: on his website, at A preliminary assessment of forest management certification systems (prepared for IUCN by Carey, 2000): Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convetion): http://www.unece.org/env/pp/ AVA Network: Awareness, Values and Actions: Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Public Participation Programme: Northwest Connections – Community-Based Conservation and Education: The Whitefeather Forest Initiative: Joint Forest Management India, the Energy and Resources Institute: Community Forestry in Nepal, Panasia-NepalNet: International Network of Forests and Communities: World Rainforest Movement, including country profiles: Options for supporting on-farm conservation in Eastern and southern Africa: |
Involving volunteers in biodiversity monitoringBritish
Trust for Ornithology - Garden BirdWatch scheme see also their page
on monitoring and survey: The National Biodiversity
Network: The UK Butterfly
Monitoring Scheme University of Oxford - Biowatch UK |
Strategic training and data gatheringDeveloping local
capacity for biodiversity surveys in Papua New Guinea and the Parataxonomist
Training Center People’s biodiversity
registers by G. Utkarsh: See the draft People’s
Biodiversity Register manual on: Empowering local
people to manage the biodiversity of El Salvador |
Impact assessment Environmental Risk Assessment for European Agriculture (ENRISK) - An EU concerted action that test agri-environmental indicators for their use for environmental risk assessments. One component is on (agri)biodiversity: Final project report of the Concerted Action project of Environmental Indicators for Sustainable Agriculture (ELISA) developing agri-environmental indicators: UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/7/13. Sept 2001. Indicators and Environmental Impact Assessment: Brooke, C. 1998. Biodiversity and Impact Assessment, prepared for the conference on Impact Assessment in a Developing World, Manchester, England: Cromwell, E., P. Kambewa, R. Mwanza, and R. Chirwa. 2001. IMPACT ASSESSMENT USING PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES: ‘STARTER PACK' AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN MALAWI . Agricultural research and Extension Network Paper No. 112. ODI, AGREN: |
Theme 2: Biodiversity valuesMEASURING BIODIVERSITY
VALUE: a paper by the UK Natural History Museum presenting their own view,
and with valuable links to other scientific perspectives World Commission
on Protected Areas network on ‘non-material values of protected areas’: Good example of an
economic assessment of biodiversity: and a workshop where
aspects of economic assessment are considered in relation to targets for
the CBD: International Workshop on Biodiversity and Economics: Biodiversity and Livelihood Group. Project summary Recognising local biodiversity values: |
Theme 3: Methods and tools Biodiversity Economics Assessing
the Sustainability of Uses of Wild Species: Case Studies and Initial Assessment
Procedure by Robert and Christine Prescott-Allen The abstract of:
Hellier, A. A. Newton and S. Ochoa Gaona 1999. Use of indigenous knowledge for rapidly assessing trends in biodiversity: a case study from Chiapas, Mexico . Biodiversity and Conservation 8 (7): 869-889. The draft People’s
Biodivesrity Register manual: The
World Bank toolkit on biodiversity and
Environmental Assessment (2000): Campbell, Bruce and
Marty Luckert (eds) (2002) Uncovering the Hidden Harvest: valuation
methods for woodland and forest resources.
People and Plants Conservation Series,
Earthscan, London: An outstanding example
of the impact of participatory research into biodiversity assessment:
Shanley. 2000. Extending Ecological Research to Meet Local Needs: a Case from Brazil: Eldis Participation Guide: Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation methods (a key document discussion): Eldis results-based participatory monitoring and evaluation (of projects): CIFOR and a whole range of partners has developed methods for assessing 'what really matters' to communities living in tropical forest landscapes. Known as ‘MLA' (Multidisciplinary Landscape Assessment) this method discusses and shares data from surveys in Indonesia, Mozambique, Bolivia and Cameroon: CIFOR website on local people, devolution and adaptive collaborative management programme, provides toolboxes, briefs and newsletters: Biodiversity Stories, project of the Scottish Natural Heritage: IIED's Participatory Learning and Action Collection: Estrella, M. & J. Gavente. Who Counts Reality? Participatory monitoring and evaluation: a literature review IDS Working Paper 70: Natural Resources Management – Changelinks.net IDRC-Environment and Natural Resource Management. CBNRM Social Science Toolkit. Vol 8: Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation: IUCN Monitoring & Evaluation site (under construction) Participatory Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Resource Portal |
Theme 4: Information needsFocusing Biodiversity
Research on the Needs of Decision Makers Not specific to biodiversity but useful in this context are: Terri Willard. 2001. Dating the Decision-makers: Moving from
Communications to Engagement Version 1.1. IISD Whose decision is
it anyway? A paper prepared by Life II for Rio +10 |
Theme 5: SynergySummary of ‘Ecological
Surveys, Monitoring and the Involvement of Local People in Protected Areas
of Lao PDR’ by Robert Steinmetz Tyranny or democracy? Pros and cons of participation: Emery, Alan. 2000. Guidelines: Integrating indigenous knowledge in project planning and implementation. With support form the ILO, World Bank, CIDA and KIVU Nature Inc. C ourtesy of KIVU Nature Inc.: |
Theme 6: Enabling factorsConvention on Biological Diversity: Convention on Biological Diversity – Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA): Earth Negotiations Bulletin enb@iisd.org , published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): ENB coverage on meetings of biodiversity and wildlife: |