Society and Environment

Conservation in turbulent times: Holding the line

The world is experiencing a number of serious and potentially escalating wars, a resurgence of the far right and in some places a backlash against environmental controls. There are some critical decision points over the next few months. Issues of climate change, environmental breakdown and biodiversity decline can easily be overwhelmed when other urgent crises emerge, but we don’t have time to set aside these concerns until a theoretical future when things are easier. What can we do if governments lose interest in these issues? This Equilibrium Research Briefing sketches out some options.

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Integrating grasslands and savannahs into national biodiversity and climate commitments

This briefing, produced by Plantlife, WWF-International, and Equilibrium Research, outlines the vital role that grasslands and savannahs, and their carbon stores, can play in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. It highlights the opportunities for governments to plan joined-up actions as Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). An important message for the UNFCCC 28th Conference of the Parties at the end of 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Link: www.plantlife.org.uk

Guerrilla species restorations and reinforcements

Guerrilla rewilding is a phenomenon that has been gaining attention in the media, particularly the British media, and traction with the public more broadly. This ECOS article aims to define the term, its relevance to species restorations and policy and map out the potential benefits and consequences of illicit species releases.

Link: www.ecos.org.uk

What's on the horizon for community-based conservation? Emerging threats and opportunities

Community-based conservation can support livelihoods and biodiversity, while reinforcing local and Indigenous values, cultures and institutions. Understanding trends in community-based conservation is pertinent to setting and implementing global goals. This paper reports the results of a horizon scan which prioritised 15 emerging threats and opportunities expected to impact the future effectiveness of community-based conservation. Topics relate to global biodiversity policy; human rights; shifting human geography; inclusion, diversity, equity, and access; conservation finance and income; and economic reforms. The findings offer guidance on strengthening community-based conservation to achieve global environmental and development goals.

Link: trends/ecology-evolution

Living with Tigers - Coexistence with large carnivores

Our species' relationship with large carnivores has always been complex. At our hands, most have experienced substantial population declines and range contractions. After decades of decline, tigers population estimates show a potential increase to around 4,500 individuals, but population gains are fragile: the species remains the world's most threatened cat, occupying less than six per cent of its historic habitat. However, expanding tiger populations may not always be welcomed by people living where wild tigers roam. This paper gives an update and overview of the report Equilibrium lead for WWF in 2022: Living With Tigers. The report examines how people have learned to live alongside tigers and other large cat species, to develop lessons of coexistence that can be applied and scaled across the tiger range.

Link: www.ecos.org.uk

Area-based conservation and the Sustainable Development Goals: a review

Area-based conservation is more than just a contribution to protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Establishment and effective management of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation mechanisms (OECMs) could accelerate progress for a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for which progress is currently too slow to meet targets by the 2030 deadline. We report the first global analysis of the wider role of protected areas and OECMs in SDG implementation. Better representation of area-based conservation in the SDGs will require us to take four steps: (i) recognition of wider SDG targets addressed by protected and conserved areas; (ii) integration of ecosystem services into site-level policies and national SDG strategies; (iii) enhancement of the relevant values through management approaches; and (iv) consistent reporting of these as a contribution to the SDGs

Link: www.tandfonline.com

Securing Communal Tenure Complemented by Collaborative Platforms for Improved Participatory Landscapes Management and Sustainable Development: Lessons from Northern Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Ken

Community lands play a critical role in community well-being and conservation, but community lands can be at odds with statutory land systems. This chapter (in Land Tenure Security and Sustainable Development edited by Margaret B. Holland, Yuta M. Masuda & Brian E. Robinson), presents two case studies from the Kenya-Tanzania border that illuminates the risks of top-down approaches imposing misaligned privatized tenurial systems onto the community, and the potential of community-based organizations (CBO) to promote collaboration in a socially fractured landscape via communal titles. It concludes that applying a private tenure system in a misaligned cultural setting can fracture cultural and ecological coexistence between communities and the land. The full devolution of rights must be sensitive to communities' culture, traditions, and history, while ensuring avenues for collective action.

Link: springer.com/

Living with Tigers: How to manage coexistence for the benefit of people and tigers

This new report is a response to a conservation success story; the rise, in some areas, of wild tiger populations following a 2010 agreement by tiger range countries and their partners to safeguard wild tigers. If governments intend to secure their tiger recoveries over the long-term, or further expand these gains, they will need to reimagine and expand their coexistence approaches. It will also require integrating tiger conservation into the human development agenda, with Indigenous peoples and local communities, and social science experts playing leading roles in bringing this to fruition.

Link: www.worldwildlife.org

Using carbon management as a sustainable strategy for protected and conserved areas

The REDD+ scheme and similar carbon offsetting initiatives offer opportunities for investors to tackle a wide range of socio-economic and environmental challenges simultaneously and is one of the clearest examples of multiplying benefits. Although these options are far from perfect, they already have a proven track record of bringing sustainable finance into conservation areas that have few other alternatives. This paper looks at the pros and cons of using carbon management as a sustainable strategy for protected and conserved areas and argues that conservation institutions need to be scaling up their ambitions to bring carbon offsetting initiatives more into the mainstream.

Link: www.tandfonline.com

Response to the first draft post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Grassland, savannah and rangeland ecosystems: Targets 2, 3 and 10

The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework provides a unique opportunity to focus attention on the protection, management and restoration of grassland, savannah and rangeland ecosystems which play a critical but often hidden role in a wide range of ecosystem services, including climate change mitigation and adaptation. This short paper calls for special attention in the Framework on grasslands, savannahs and rangelands as over 40% have already been converted. The framework should ensure protection, management and restoration targets for grassland, savannah and rangeland ecosystems and remove perverse incentives such as the financial support for afforestation of ecologically significant natural grasslands ecosystem.

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Investigating the biodiversity impacts of investments by a pension fund

This Equilibrium Briefing draws on a review we did of almost 2,000 companies for a major pension fund in Europe, to identify investments seriously damaging biodiversity. The briefing outlines lessons from the analysis: summarises sources of information used and how they worked, biodiversity impacts used as criteria, type and quality of company, reporting, observations on results and key information sources.

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Global Wetland Outlook

The 2021 Global Wetland Outlook, prepared for the Convention's 50th anniversary and as an update to the 2018 Global Wetland Outlook, presents new findings on the status and value of wetlands globally, particularly in the context of the global pandemic, climate and biodiversity crisis.

Link: www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org

Biodiversity footprints in policy- and decision making

Methods to better integrate biodiversity considerations into public and private decision-making are key to achieving the transformative change needed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. This new briefing for IEEP starts by defining 'biodiversity footprints' and provides an overview of the key needs for these measures within the current EU and global policy context.

Link: ieep.eu/publications/

Building on nature: Area-based conservation as a key tool for delivering the Sustainable Development Goals

A global partnership between IEEP, IUCN WCPA, UNDP, World Bank, TNC, WCS and WWF, this new report highlights how protected and conserved areas can benefit sustainable development. The guidance identifies the many ways in which effective area-based conservation can be a pro-active tool for delivering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and includes 30 detailed case studies that illustrate how conservation around the world is already delivering various SDGs. Guidance and tools are provided to explain how governments, industry and civil society can integrate area-based conservation into their SDG strategies and reporting processes.

Link: ieep.eu

Resilient human-wildlife co-existence: Background research for developing a standard

Conflicts between humans and wildlife are increasing, as human populations continue to grow and activities such as agriculture, ranching and forestry extend steadily into natural ecosystems. The Luc Hoffman Institute and Griffith University are exploring the possibility of developing a new global standard that recognises and incorporates improved governance and respect for human rights to help drive healthier, sustainable and equitable human-wildlife coexistence. Equilibrium Research were asked to provide some input into a range of strategic questions relating to the development and implementation of the proposed standard as part of this wider effort aimed at reducing conflict between humans and wildlife.

Link: mcusercontent.com/

Covid-19, Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Natural Resource Governance

This paper in a special issue of PARKS, reports on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), especially those who govern, manage and conserve their lands and waters. The paper explores the themes of access and use of natural resources, solidarity, decision-making, the role of governments and IPLCs in managing COVID-19, and the uptake of traditional medicine. These themes are explored through a global online survey in English, Spanish and French. We collected and analysed 133 surveys from 40 countries, using a software that enables analysis of micronarratives based on how respondents classify their own stories. We explore the themes further through case studies from Benin, Fiji, France, Gabon, Guyana, Guatemala, India and Madagascar, highlighting challenges and opportunities in how IPLCs responded to COVID-19. The paper concludes with key actions to support IPLCs navigate future pandemics while protecting their lands and waters

Link: parksjournal.com

Building Civil Society Support: A Good Practice Guide for BirdLife Partners

BirdLife International is a network of over 115 national conservation organisations united by a shared vision to conserve over 13,000 priority sites for the benefits of birds, biodiversity and people. These BirdLife Partners range greatly in size around the world, but all rely on social engagement in one way or another. This Good Practice Guide reflects the hard-earned experience of over a hundred people working for the BirdLife International Partnership around the world, and who have learned through test and trial what works and what does not when engaging civil society in conservation.

Link: landconservationnetwork.org/

The New Lion Economy: Unlocking the value of lions and their landscape

Lions are iconic species. Yet populations are collapsing and lions have already disappeared from many African countries. In a drive to build economies and eliminate poverty, governments are reluctant to spend money on conservation. This new report, commissioned by the Lion Recovery Fund, provides a ‘state of the art’ overview of ecosystem services from lion landscapes and calls for governments and international donors to invest in lion conservation and restore lion populations as indicators of healthy ecosystem services.

Link: lionrecoveryfund.org/

Global Wetland Outlook: State of the World’s Wetlands and their Services to People

Conservation and wise use of wetlands are vital for human livelihoods. The wide range of ecosystem services wetlands provide means that they lie at the heart of sustainable development. Yet policy and decision-makers often underestimate the value of their benefits to nature and humankind. The Global Wetland Outlook summarizes wetland extent, trends, drivers of change and the steps needed to maintain or restore their ecological character.

Link: https://www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org

The essential role of other effective area-based conservation measures in achieving big bold conservation targets

The new designation of “other effective area based conservation measures” (OECMs) provides the opportunity for formal recognition of and support for areas delivering conservation outcomes outside the protected area estate.We argue that OECMs are essential to the achievement of big and bold conservation targets such as Half-Earth. But integration of OECMs into the conservation estate requires fundamental changes in protected area planning and how the conservation community deals with human rights and social safeguards ssues; it therefore challenges our understanding of what constitutes “conservation”. It will only succeed if the key drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem service loss are addressed in the whole planet. A broad, multifaceted and innovative approach, coupled with ambitious targets, provides our best hope yet of addressing complex conservation challenges.

Link: www.sciencedirect.com/

Ensuring Co-benefits for Biodiversity, Climate Change and Sustainable Development

This paper stresses the need to enhance synergies among global agreements and avoiding unintended and negative consequences, particularly on biodiversity. Published in the Handbook of Climate Change and Biodiversity edited by Walter Leal Filho, Jelena Barbir and Richard Preziosi, the paper describes the major inter-linkages between global commitments for conservation and development. It provides examples of best practices and describes some of the pitfalls that occur when implementation of one agreement does not explicitly seek to enhance co-benefits with other agreements. The paper concludes by presenting the case for the central role of nature-based solutions in simultaneously attaining global commitments for biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development.

Link: link.springer.com/

Editorial essay: Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures: From Aichi Target 11 To The Post‐2020 Biodiversity Framework

At the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10/CBD), Parties agreed to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011–2020) with twenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Among these, Aichi Target 11 includes the first appearance of the term ‘other
effective area-based conservation measures’ (OECMs) in international law.IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) established aTask Force in 2015 to develop guidance for IUCN members and CBD Parties on the definition and application of the concept of OECMs. This paper provides an overview of the Task Forces work and conclusions..

Link: parksjournal.com/slides/special-issue/

Why should we save the wild relatives of domesticated animals?

All domesticated animals originated from wild ancestors. Many of these wild ancestors — such as the wild ass, the ancestor of the donkey — are in danger of extinction.The global community has long recognized the importance of conserving the wild relatives of domesticated plants but appears to be largely blind to the plight of vitally important species such as banteng, guar, wild yak, guanaco, wild ass, Mexican subspecies of wild turkeys, wild pigs and wild Bactrian camels. This paper suggests a focused programme of work is needed to fill current knowledge gaps and propose effective responses.

Link: www.cambridge.org/

Nature for Water, Nature for Life: Nature-based solutions for achieving the Global Goals

The purpose of this publication is to highlight the importance of safeguarding nature in order to secure water-related services, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This publication serves as a call to action, to governments, to land use planners, to corporations, and to citizens everywhere to take urgent action to secure nature for life.

Link: www.undp.org/

Forests as nature-based solutions for ensuring urban water security

This paper, for a special issue of Unasylva on forests and sustainable cities, reviews the opportunities to deploy natural solutions, i.e. smart, green and cost-effective, water management policies in towns and cities and their hinterlands.

Link: reliefweb.int/

Global Land Outlook

The first edition of the Global Land Outlook (GLO) published by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is a major new publication bringing together a diverse group of international experts and partners. The GLO addresses the future challenges and opportunities for the management and restoration of land resources in the context of sustainable development. It demonstrates that informed and responsible decision-making, improved land management policies and practices, and simple changes in our everyday lives, can, if widely adopted, help to reverse the current downward trends in the state of our land resources.

Link: https://global-land-outlook.

Agriculture and biodiversity: a review

Agriculture is the largest contributor to biodiversity loss with expanding impacts due to changing consumption patterns and growing populations. The sparing or sharing debate contrasts two response pathways: intensifying agriculture to release other land for protection versus biodiversity-friendly farming over larger areas. The Global Land Outlook of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification released in September 2017 highlights how modern farming is undermining the sustainability of large land areas. This paper argues intensification has not solved the biodiversity crisis and has often made it worse. Effective responses must involve both producers and consumers, and require a mixture of conservation, sustainable management and restoration.

Link: Biodiversity

Will small farmers survive the twenty-first century – and should they?

Smallholder farmers, the backbone of rural livelihoods and food production for millennia, are under immense strain from land degradation, insecure tenure and a globalised food system that favours concetrated, large-scale and highly mechanised agribusiness. This paper argues that a new deal for small-scale farmers is required, which puts biodiversity and ecosystem services at the heart of the enterprise rather than at the periphery

Link: Biodiversity

How should conservationists respond to pesticides as a driver of biodiversity loss in agroecosystems?

This paper discusses the fact that despite new evidence, conservation organizations have tended not to fully recognize the impacts of pesticides on biodiversity, and current conservation strategies pay little heed to addressing this threat. It notes that a comprehensive suite of strategies is required to reduce and rationalize pesticide use and mitigate risks to species conservation and thus proposes six steps by which conservationists can address pesticide problems.

Link: www.sciencedirect.com/

Impact in the Forest: The Potential for Business Solutions to Combat Deforestation in Large Forest Landscapes in Asia

An exploration of ways to create business solutions for deforestation-free trade chains in Asia. Analyzing the policy and entrepreneurial context in three landscapes across Asia, the report highlights how supporting innovative small-scale green businesses could help reverse the current trend where business incentives for promoting deforestation remain greater than those for preventing it. Unfortunately at prsent this trend persists despite recent deforestation-free commitments made by several countries and the UN push to halt deforestation by 2020. The report shows that there is strong potential for innovative green business approaches. Sectoral analyses show the kinds of enterprises that might contribute positively to addressing deforestation, such as rubber, cocoa, rattan, essential oils and medicinal plants.

Link: wwf.panda.org/

African Economic Outlook 2016

Equilibrium Research, under contract to WWF, contributed to an internal research paper which fed into the African Economic Outlook 2016. The theme of this years publication, Sustainable Cities and Structural Transformation, reflects that two-thirds of Africans are expected to live in cities by 2050. Thus the path cities take towards urbanization will be critical to the continent’s future growth and development. Adequate policies driving this urbanization can help advance economic development and sound environmental management by, for example, addressing the effects of climate change, the scarcity of water and other natural resources, controlling air pollution, developing clean cost-efficient public transportation systems, improving waste collection, and increasing access to energy.

Link: www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/african-economic-outlook%202016

The Growth of Soy: Impacts and Solutions

Equilibrium were the lead researchers in this report which provides an overview of the soy industry and the issues around it. The report outlines the uses of soy, chart its extraordinary rate of growth, and presents data on where soy is produced and consumed.Those regions most at risk from the expansion of soy production are assessed, along with the environmental and social impacts of soy. Finally some possible solutions for reducing soy’s footprint are given.

Link: awsassets.wwfdk.panda.org

Evidence for the Effectiveness of Faith-Based land and water management as a Tool for Conservation in Human Integrated Management Approach Conference Proceedings

Hima is a traditional protected area, developed in the Middle East over a millennium ago and refined and democratised by the Prophet Muhammad. Today conservationists in the region are making an effort to revise hima as a community-based protected area mechanism. This paper, co-authored with Liza Zogib, was presented at a conference in Kuwait and outlines our work on the conservation benefits of sacred natural sites.

Link: hima.kisr.edu.kw/main/assets/publications/HIMAProceedings.pdf

Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better choices

WWF’s Living Planet Report is a biennial publication that documents the “state of the planet”: the changing state of biodiversity, ecosystems and humanity’s demand on natural resources; and explores the implications of these changes for biodiversity and humanity. At our current rate of consumption, the Earth needs 1.5 years to produce and replenish the natural resources that we consume in a single year. The Living Planet Report 2012 reports an alarming rate of biodiversity loss – in total 28 per cent global reduction between 1970 and 2008.

Link: wwf.panda.org/

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Report for National and International Policy Makers

A central chapter in the influential TEEB report, aimed at summarising what is known about the economic benefits of biodiversity for policy makers. Nigel Dudley was one of the lead authors and Sue Stolton a contributing author on the protected areas chapter, which provides a concise overview of the potential economic benefits of biodiversity within protected areas.

Link: www.teebtest.org

Global Recognition Efforts for ICCAs: The Broader Conservation Community

Short paper prepared for the International ICCA Workshop, Shirakawa (Japan), October 2010 and published in the proceedings: Building Capacities and Generating Support for the Sustainable Future of Indigenous Peoples’ Conserved Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ICCAs) reviewing the challenges and opportunities for including ICCAs within international protected area reporting.

Link: www.iccaforum.org/

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Report for Local and Regional Policy Makers

This report in the TEEB series examines what local governments can do with respect to natural resource use and management, maintaining and supporting biodiversity, local and regional urban and spatial design, as well as market-based approaches, such as Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). Nigel Dudley was co-author of the chapters on ecosytem services in protected areas and in rural areas and natural resource management.

Link: www.teebtest.org

Agriculture and Wildlife in Europe

A chapter in the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) book State of the Wild 2010–2011. The chapter reviews the agricultural management techniques employed in Europe to benefit wildlife.

Link: www.wcs.org/stateofthewild/table-of-contents.html

The Intersections of Biological Diversity and Cultural Diversity: Towards Integration

Conserving nature alongside human cultures presents unique challenges, but saving biodiversity is only likely to succeed if we also appreciate and protect cultural diversity. This paper explores the interconnections between biological and cultural diversity and recommends that future policy responses should target both biological and cultural diversity in a combined approach to conservation.

Link: www.conservationandsociety.org/

The potential environmental and social impacts of a plantation project in Uruguay

The results of a 2-year research project into the social and ecological implications of a major pulp plantation being established by Stora Enso in Uruguay. The study used local experts to assess biological value, social conditions and likely impacts and suggested a variety of tools and management standards. A full version of the study is available on request.

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Climate Change, Energy Change and Conservation: Policy Matters 16

Policy Matters is a periodic publication of IUCN's Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP). IUCN has announced its intention of engaging far more fully with the climate change debate in the programme arising from the 2008 World Conservation Congress. This issue of Policy Matters provides an important chance to input into the debate that will accompany IUCN’s increased role in this critical issue. At present there is a gulf between what climate experts predict and suggest and what the rest of us do; this gulf exists even within government departments and non-governmental organisations working on the environment and within companies that are active in areas critical to the climate change issue. The papers collected in this issue provide a stimulating array of responses from many countries on the most appropriate way of halting and/or mitigate the consequences of climate change; all the questions may not be answered, but this volume sh

Link: www.iucn.org

Managing forests for cleaner water for urban populations

Article printed in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) journal Unasylva (No. 229 Vol. 58, 2007/4).

Link: www.fao.org

Conduire Le Réaménagement Des Carrières / Driving Quarry Restoration

A long-term partnership between WWF and Lafarge focused on a range of issue including a quarry rehabilitation management system. Because of this long experience in developing restoration, generic guidance on monitoring was required. This publication details the system developed, along with case studies of specific monitoring plans for a number of restored sites around the world.

Link: www.cbd.int/financial/privatesector/france-privatewwflafarge.pdf

Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity

A short summary leaflet for IFOAM's online download series of key issues related to organic agriculture.

Link: www.ifoam.org/organic_facts/benefits/index.html

Organic Agriculture for Biodiversity

A succinct four page leaflet reviewing the links between organic agriculture and biodiversity, including short case studies and policy, research and marketing recommendations.

Link:   Download PDF

Organic Agriculture for Biodiversity

Nineteen papers reviewing the 'current contributions and future possibilities' for organic agriculture and biodiversity world wide. The volume includes an inspiring contribution from Klaus Töpfer, the Executive Director of UNEP. Field experiences are recorded from across the globe and subjects range from developing the role of organic agriculture in international conventions to the experiences of working with farmers and pastoralists to develop biodiversity friendly agriculture.

Link: shop.ifoam.org/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=208

Sharing Information with Confidence: 'The Biodiversity Commons' past experience, current trends and potential future directions

Paper prepared for the “The Biodiversity Commons” meeting hosted at IUCN HQ in Switzerland in May 2004. Building on the past work of BCIS (Biodiversity Conservation Information System) and the experience of many similar initiatives around the world, the basic premise of the meeting was that while the quantity and quality of biodiversity information and data has increased exponentially, this information is still often difficult to access or understand. The paper commissioned by IUCN provided a background to issues of biodiversity information management and made some suggestions for a framework for information sharing within the biodiversity sector.

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The Potential of Organic Farming for Biodiversity

Proceedings of a joint workshop organised by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) and IUCN - The World Conservation Union in Poland in March 2002. The workshop explored the relationship between organic farming and biodiversity, through examining the potential contribution of organic farming to maintain and enhance biodiversity on a global scale. The workshop also looked at the development of standard setting in relation to the role of biodiversity conservation in organic agriculture and issues of funding biodiversity and organic agriculture initiatives.

Sustainable Livelihoods, Sustainable World: A study of sustainable development in practice from promising initiatives around the world

Launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development Pre-Com in Bali, 2002, this document looks at how the relationship between poverty, livelihoods and the environment can be tackled in an ever more globalised world. Eight case studies provide concrete examples of how these objectives interrelate and are being addressed around the world. In particular, they show the many links between the sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation agendas. The case studies emphasise different approaches to conservation that can reconcile both people’s needs and conservation objectives.

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To Dig or Not to Dig: Criteria for Determining the Suitability or Acceptability of Mineral Exploration, Extraction, and Transport from Ecological and Social Perspectives

In 2000, IUCN The World Conservation Union passed a resolution that mining activities should not take place in Category I-IV protected areas. But where are they acceptable from environmental and social perspectives? Guidelines produced for WWF provide a clear process to help companies, governments, land owners and local communities to make balanced decisions about the suitability of quarrying, mining and fossil fuel extraction. The report was described by the Forest Policy Experts (CIFOR-POLEX) electronic listserver of The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) as “a clear, coherent and practical set of guidelines that governments and companies can follow”

Link: www.oecd.org

The relationship between biodiversity and organic agriculture: Defining appropriate policies and approaches for sustainable development

Within Europe there has recently been a realignment of agricultural policy towards more environmentally sustainable systems - notably through the agri-environment programmes of the EC. Within this policy framework, organic agriculture has played a central role in many countries’ national agri-environment policies. The main reason for this policy support has been the perceived positive environmental effects of organic agriculture. This paper, commissioned by the Working Group on Agriculture and Environment for the Council for the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, explores the scientific evidence of these benefits to biological and landscape diversity and examines a series of examples of projects and policies that are encouraging the dual aims of biodiversity conservation and organic agriculture within Europe.

Link:   Download PDF

Biodiversity and Organic Agriculture

An IFOAM background paper which looks at the role organic agriculture can play in maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. The paper explores the scientific evidence that this relationship is beneficial and provides examples of projects worldwide that are encouraging biodiversity conservation and organic agriculture.

Organic Agriculture an Biodiversity: Making the Links

A 4-page brochure summarising the links between organic agriculture and biodiversity.

The Relationship between Nature Conservation, Biodiversity and Organic Agriculture

The proceedings of an International Workshop held in Vignola, Italy in 1999. The workshop provided the opportunity for IUCN and IFOAM to draw up the joint Vignola Declaration and Action Plan, which recognises the role of organic agriculture in conserving biodiversity and suggests a number of policy options for achieving these aims. The proceedings include the declaration and action plan and over 30 papers presented at the conference divided into four sections: Genetic diversity; Diversity of agroecosytems and rural landscapes; Protected areas - laboratories of sustainable development; and Policies towards improving agricultural biodiversity.

The publication can be ordered from Earthprint for US$20.00

Link: www.earthprint.com

Biological diversity and environmental protection

In Forest Resources of Europe, CIS, North America, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, the UN-ECE/FAO contribution to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000, FAO and UNECE, Geneva and Rome, 2000.

Link: www.unece.org/trade/timber/fra/pdf/contents.htm

Organic agriculture in protected areas - creating partnerships for development

Published in the proceedings of the 13th International IFOAM Scientific Conference, The World Grows Organic: Proceedings from Scientific Conference 2000 edited by Thomas Alfoldi, William Lockeretz and Urs Niggli. The paper presents the links between organic agriculture and biodiversity conservation, concentrating in particular on protected areas, and suggests policy options for partnerships between conservation organisations and IFOAM for further work in these areas.

Organic Cotton: From Field to Final Product

The first book to provide an overview of organic cotton production, processing and consumption for all involved with cotton. The book is organised according to the stages in the ‘cotton chain', from farmer to consumer, and covers each topic authoritatively with contributions from over 50 people in 20 countries. Illustrative case study material is included and most of the current organic cotton projects worldwide are discussed.

Case Studies on the Role of Major Groups in Sustainable Oceans and Seas

A series of 12 case studies, published as background paper number 6 for the Commission on Sustainable Development, Seventh Session, 19-30 April 1999, New York.

Link: www.un.org/esa/sustdev/mgroups/bdoc99-6.pdf

The timber trade and global forest loss

A paper summarising the results of Bad Harvest? -see below.

Link:   Download PDF

Trade as an underlying cause of forest loss and degradation: a European perspective

A paper prepared for the European Regional Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) Intersessional Process: Underlying Causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation, reproduced in both the European and global report of the process.

A framework for environmental labelling

Paper comparing organic and forest certification schemes.

Spotlight on Solutions - A People's Agenda A Handbook of Case Studies on Local Implementation of Agenda 21

A handbook published with funding from DANIDA to examine ways in which local communities have attempted to implement Agenda 21, produced for a meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development (Rio +5).

Taiga News

Editors and designers of the newsletter of the Taiga Rescue Network, Jokkmokk, Sweden, 1997-1999

Link: www.taigarescue.org

Pulp Fact: Environmental Implications of the Paper Cycle

Link:   Download PDF

The Timber Trade

A report for the Expert Panel on Trade and Sustainable Development, 1996

Air Pollution and Biodiversity

A report on the impacts of air pollution on wild plants and animals, drawing a series of general ecological conclusions.

Link:   Download PDF

Seeking Permanence

A short book summarising the first fifteen years of research of an independent organic farm and research centre, including work contracted by the UK government and the European Union.

Biosfera volume 7 Boscanes decídues

A volume in a series looking at the world's biosphere reserves and the links between ecosystems and humans, published originally in Catalan in association with UNESCO. To be published in English.

Link: www.grec.net/home/grec/enciclo.ped/5.htm

Bad Harvest? The Timber Trade and the Degradation of the World's Forests

A book drawing on several years' work and previous reports and papers to provide an overview of environmental impacts of the global timber trade.

Agriculture and forestry

Transnational Companies and Global Forest Resources

An assessment for WWF UK produced as a submission to the Commission on Sustainable Development.

Link:   Download PDF

The East Asian Timber Trade

Analysis of important trends and environmental implications.

Food Quality: Concepts and Methodology

Conference proceedings introducing a new, wider definition of food quality.

Link: www.efrc.com

Conservation, Biodiversity and European Forestry

Some Like it Hot - Climate Change and Biodiversity

A book analysing the likely impacts of climate change on susceptible ecosystems and particular groups of species, with recommendations for mitigation.

Ecology and Farming

Land is Life: Land reform and sustainable agriculture

This book links, probably for the first time, two movements for agricultural reform: the organic farming movement and the land reform movement. A series of case studies from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe explore the need for land reform and how such reform might contribute to sustainable agriculture.

The Significance of Organic Farming to the Forestry Commission

Agribusiness, Environment and the Organic Option

A paper written for Katalyse, for presentation at a conference in Bonn, October 1992 (published in German as Politische und ökilogische Auswirkungen des Welthandels im Agrarbereich in Ökologischer und Fairer Handel).

Elm Farm Research Centre Bulletin

Founding co-editors and designers of newsletter for the UK's leading independent organic research centre, EFRC, Berkshire UK: 1992 - 1999

Link: www.efrc.com

The Living Earth

Importing Deforestation: Should Britain Ban the Import of Tropical Hardwoods

Paper for WWF that analysed the impacts of bans on imports and made the case for replacing these with a certification system.

G is for ecoGarden

Popular encyclopaedia-style handbook on minimising the environmental impacts of domestic gardening.

The Soil Association Handbook

A non-technical summary of the main issues addressed by the Soil Association in the UK, written when the author was executive director of the Association.

Good Health on a Polluted Planet

An analysis of domestic environmental hazards and how to avoid them, drawing upon research originally carried out for the Consumers' Association in the UK. The book has also been translated into Norweigen and published by J.W. Cappelens Forlag a.s.

The Pesticide Handbook

Technical handbook on pesticides focusing on health and environmental issues and minimisation of risks during application. Prepared in association with a trades union working group on pesticide safety.

The Logging Ban in Thailand

Report of a field investigation into the impacts of the Thai government's logging ban and the resulting sharp increase in illegal logging.

Transnational Companies and Forest Resources: A Paper Prepared for the World Wide Fund for Nature by Earth Resources Research Ltd as a Submission to the United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporat

Guidelines for Conservation

 Pamphlet summarising steps that organic farmers can take to maximise conservation benefits on their farm, produced as an accompanying document to changes in the Soil Association organic standards, in association with a dozen UK conservation organisations. <

Nitrates: The Threat to Food and Water

This book provides a summary of a research study undertaken for the London Food Commission, looking at the debate about health impacts of nitrate pollution, impacts on groundwater sources and attempts to reduce nitrate leaching from agriculture.

Pesticides in the Local Authority: An appraisal of current applications and possible alternatives - A report prepared for Norwich City Council

Formed the basis of a continuing project with local authorities looking at ways of reducing pesticide use, currently run by PAN UK.

A Green Code for Tourism

Effects of the Proposed Waste Treatment Plant at Kirk Sandall on Wild Plants and Animals

Pesticides: A View from the Organic Movement

Changing public perception of air pollution

Yugoslavia

A chapter in The Rough Guide to Mediterranean Wildlife, edited byPete Raine, Harrap Columbus, London, 1990

Chapters on rainforest, air pollution and tourism

In The State of the Earth - An Atlas of Environmental Concern, edited by Joni Seagar, A Pluto Project, Unwin Paperback, London, 1990

Air Pollution

Transnationals and Oil in Amazonia

Summary of research undertaken for Friends of the Earth on the role of transnational companies on tropical forests.

Pesticide Residues and Organic Food

Drifting into Trouble: fighting back against pesticide problems

Paper providing legal advice on how to collect evidence of and claim against a spray drift incident.

The Hidden Ozone Depleters

Analysis of some of the lesser known sources of ozone depleting chemicals and how they might be controlled.

Maximum Safety: Pest Control and Organic Farming

Memorandum to the House of Commons Select Committee on Environment: Memorandum on air pollution effects in Britain

Memorandum to the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment: Options for Air Pollution Control

Two memoranda prepared for Friends of the Earth looking at impacts of pollution on biodiversity and on options for pollution control.

Memorandum by the Soil Association to the House of Lords European Communities Committee (Sub Committee D)

The Potential for Developing Organic Agriculture as a Mainstream Policy Option for Reducing Surpluses and Protecting the Environment

The first attempt to calculate the impacts of a large scale conversion to organic agriculture within the UK.

A Hard Wood Story: Europe's Involvement in the Tropical Timber Trade

A study of the European trade in tropical timber, which showed that industry claims about the scale of the trade were serious under-estimates and identified specific companies and their practices, particularly in West Africa, undertaken for Friends of the Earth International. Summaries of the book were published in six languages.

This Poisoned Earth - The truth about pesticides

A book providing a popular summary of issues relating to the use of pesticides, with particular emphasis on environmental side effects, spray drift, issues relating to developing countries and use in domestic gardens.

Cause for Concern - an analysis of air pollution damage and natural habitats

Initial analysis of changes in certain plant and animal groups, using historical literature on distribution and contemporary research on impacts

A Manifesto for Organic Agriculture

Launched to coincide with a General Election in the UK to test parties' opinions about organic agriculture.

Air pollution and wild plants

Nitrates in Food and Water

Report commissioned from the Greater London Council's food commission, focusing on health questions and environmental impacts

Air pollution control policy in the United Kingdom

Chapter in Green Britain or Industrial Wasteland, edited by Edward Goldsmith and Nicholas Hildyard, Polity Press, Oxford, 1986

How Does Your Garden Grow?

A concise pamphlet about the dangers from using pesticides in the home and garden. Includes a table of over 70 commonly used pesticides.

Garden Pesticides - A Special Report to the Soil Association

Provides toxicological and environmental data on all pesticides sold for use in domestic gardens.

The Food and Environment Protection Act

How Does Your Garden Grow?

A concise pamphlet about the dangers from using pesticides in the home and garden. Includes a table of over 70 commonly used pesticides.

Memorandum to the House of Commons Select Committee on Agriculture (1986)

Part of a study on The Effects of Pesticides on Human Health, prepared for the Soil Association, and printed along with oral evidence, 1st May 1986.

Environmental and economic constraints on spraying systems

The Acid Rain Controversy

A book analysing of impacts of acid pollution on freshwaters, soils, agricultural crops, forests and the built environment, prepared with a grant from the Swedish NGO Secretariat on Acid Rain and used as the basis for Friends of the Earth International's work on acid rain.

Safety Never Assured - the case against aerial spraying

Assessment of the risks from aerial spraying of pesticides in the UK.

Aerial spraying - an unnecessary evil?

Pall of Poison

Pamphlet on threats from spray and vapour drift from pesticides and the particular implications for organic farmers

Acid Rain: the Politics of Pollution

Thin Ice

An analysis of the impact of aboriginal whaling on the population of the bowhead whale off the coast of Alaska.

Ecological side-effects of using biomass as an energy source