Suchergebnisse

Explores biodiversity conservation as a hybrid space characterized by the relationship between the space of places (nature areas, buffer zones, stepping stones) & the space of flows (ie, social & ecological networks). Key issues in current debates on biodiversity are introduced, highlighting the conceptual cases for "global life support," the moral rights of nature, & local values. Implications for the evaluation of physical & social dimensions of biodiversity are discussed. These conceptual cases are then linked to the social & physical networks involved in biodiversity conservation. Four configurations in the realm of biodiversity are distinguished: classical nature conservation, local development, global ecology, & product chains. These configurations are assessed & some theoretical points are made in closing. Tables, Boxes, References. D. Edelman

Explores biodiversity conservation as a hybrid space characterized by the relationship between the space of places (nature areas, buffer zones, stepping stones) & the space of flows (ie, social & ecological networks). Key issues in current debates on biodiversity are introduced, highlighting the conceptual cases for "global life support," the moral rights of nature, & local values. Implications for the evaluation of physical & social dimensions of biodiversity are discussed. These conceptual cases are then linked to the social & physical networks involved in biodiversity conservation. Four configurations in the realm of biodiversity are distinguished: classical nature conservation, local development, global ecology, & product chains. These configurations are assessed & some theoretical points are made in closing. Tables, Boxes, References. D. Edelman

The colonization of indigenous people's knowledge & resources is discussed in relation to the global market. Impoverishment & dispossession occurs as commercial harvesters, public demands to cease traditional hunting practices, & limitations imposed on indigenous people by conservation managers. The different views of conservation biologist's versus indigenous peoples reflect the conflict between world views of humans apart from or a part of nature. The author concludes that sustainable use of biodiversity in remnant indigenous homelands through propriety rights will provide the maintenance for their traditional way of life, & an economic base to reduce the inequities. References. J. Harwell

In the first part of this article we survey general similarities and differences between biological and social macroevolution. In the second (and main) part, we consider a concrete mathematical model capable of describing important features of both biological and social macroevolution. In mathematical models of historical macrodynamics, a hyperbolic pattern of world population growth arises from non-linear, second-order positive feedback between demographic growth and technological development. Based on diverse paleontological data and an analogy with macrosociological models, we suggest that the hyperbolic character of biodiversity growth can be similarly accounted for by non-linear,
second-order positive feedback between diversity growth and the complexity of community structure. We discuss how such positive feedback mechanisms can be modelled mathematically.

"This chapter deals with the currently developing systems of knowledge conservation with a special emphasis on local knowledge. The relevance of this local knowledge seems to represent a knowledge-gap or actually a blindspot in the industrial world. Paradoxically, certain local knowledge (in developing countries) has been discovered as valuable source for industrial innovation. This does not only lead to its extraction but may even cause its destruction. After a Jong and intensive discourse on biopiracy and the conservation of intellectual property rights attached to biodiversity, many questions remain unsolved, and, apparently, legal instruments alone cannot guarantee the protection and maintenance of local knowledge." (author's abstract)

Digital networking & genetic engineering are two clusters of new technologies having tremendous impact on global security. Although many assume that technological change is positive, it can have drawbacks. Problems related to digital networking include uneven diffusion within & between nations, the effects of exposure to advanced cultures on traditional societies, threats to authority from disaffected groups, & excessive dependence on certain networks. Digital networking also brings information theft, viruses, & subterfuge. Problems related to genetic engineering include interference in evolution, demographic change, erosion of biodiversity, new vulnerabilities, & threats to religious beliefs. Genetic engineering can bring lethal pathogens, is nearly impossible to control, & may be dominated by business interests over human rights. M. Pflum

Focusing on environmental nongovernmental organizations, this chapter employs the EAR instrument to illustrate the political influence that NGOs exercise on global environmental politics. It investigates the effects of NGO power on the Framework Convention on Climate Change & the Convention on Biological Diversity (1990-1995). It begins by outlining the role that NGOs play in a globalized world. The chapter then discusses political power & political influence. The following sections examine the EAR instrument itself, followed by an application of the EAR instrument to a specific element of the Climate Convention: the issue of "joint implementation." Eighteen cases from the Climate & Biodiversity Conventions are summarized, & an analysis of the pros & cons of the EAR instrument is presented. 2 Tables. K. A. Larsen

The decision-making processes of transnational social movement organizations are studied to indicate how such organizations determine where to deploy their conservation strategies. An overview of transnational organizations concerned with various conservation issues is presented, emphasizing these organizations' primary strategies for preserving biodiversity. Informed by the thought of transnational conservationists & the concept of political opportunity structure, the participation of various transnational social movement organizations in Ecuador, Chile, & Peru is investigated. The domestic political structure, presence of nongovernmental organizations, & involvement of transnational organizations in each nation are analyzed, & factors responsible for the high level of transnational organization involvement in Ecuador, the moderate level of participation in Peru, & the low level of involvement in Chile are noted. Differences between transnational conservation, environmental, & human rights movements are pointed out. 1 Table, 76 References. J. W. Parker

Arguing that transborder environmental problems can foster conflict in the Caspian Sea, threats to biological resources & environmental stability are delineated. The sea's biodiversity is at high risk, but the principal imperiled biological resource is the sturgeon; drops in sturgeon hauls are described as catastrophic. This has led to a rise in criminal structures around the fishing of sturgeon, & because the legal status of the Caspian Sea remains unresolved, no progress has been made on preservation & use of the sturgeon. The deleterious economic impact of oil & gas development on Caspian fishing is well into the billions of dollars. Attention turns to the environmental problems confronting the region, focusing on the degradation of the water ecosystems particularly in terms of chemical & biological pollution. This is compounded by sea level fluctuations & natural regional seismicity. The pursuit of an acceptable agreement on the Caspian Sea's legal status is touched on, & some directions for Russian efforts at ensuring environmental security are suggested. J. Zendejas

People who want sustainable agriculture support local production as necessary to maintain freedom & democracy, & to assure a safe, affordable, plentiful supply of nutritious food. A sustainable agricultural system economically productive, environmentally healthy, socially responsible, & humane. Food can have a political & monetary voice when it is purchased directly from the local farmer, grown in a home garden, or processed in a cooperative. Buying convenience food supports the giant corporations that control the seed production, transportation, processing, & packaging of food. Such companies contribute to the impoverishment of farmers & farm communities, & promote practices that cause soil erosion, pollution, the decline of biodiversity, & genetic engineering of produce. They are not accountable to families, farmers, the poor, or the environment. The author highlights grassroots specific efforts by the Center for Rural Affairs, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, the Northeast Organic Farming Associations, Community Supported Agriculture, Community Food Security Coalition, the Land Instit, & the National Farmers Union, as well as their combined efforts to pass helpful legislation. L. A. Hoffman

The European Union's environmental policy is used to investigate various aspects of multi-level governance. An overview of contemporary definitions of multi-level governance is provided; four characteristics of multi-level governance are highlighted, eg, the mobilization of subnational authorities & the influence of supranational actors upon policy-making. The authority possessed by nation-states within a multi-level governance scheme & within A. Moravcsik's (1994) liberal intergovernmental theory of European integration is subsequently compared; it is noted that Moravcsik contended that European integration has augmented, not decreased, the authority enjoyed by individual member-states of the European Union. Two biodiversity & two land use directives announced by the European Union are subsequently analyzed to ascertain the consistency of multi-level governance across different policy sectors; the involvement of particular UK government & environmental interest groups in the passage of this legislation is closely studied to determine multi-level governance's & liberal intergovernmentalism's explanatory power for European integration. Suggestions for further exploring multi-level governance's explanatory power within the European Union context are offered. J. W. Parker

"The projected impacts of climate change, not only flooding and the urban heat island, but also gradual changes, such as biodiversity loss or a reduction in the groundwater level, can become societal problems. The complex inter-relationships between stakeholders and societal coordination can be included under the term 'governance'. The attributes of climate change governance will be outlined in this chapter. Attention is focused on societal scopes for designing and regulating climate change. Firstly, the specific demands for climate change governance are presented. Subsequently, the term governance is introduced, together with its various applications, and the different approaches and concepts regarding climate change governance are discussed. The conceptualization of climate change governance is based on this spectrum. As this paper discusses, climate change governance is not an entirely new concept, but one that has many parallels with existing models for governance in other settings. Nevertheless, a re-evaluation of its role in this context still appears reasonable since climate change-related measures are characterized by specific features requiring their own regulatory framework. This includes the cooperation of different institutions and actors in addition to hierarchical forms of regulation, and describes the development of self-organizing structures. Climate change governance can therefore be described as a broad range of options of coordination concerning climate change adaptation and mitigation." (author's abstract)